Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-11-27
UP THE RIVER WITH A LUNATIC.
An English story.

lhA h1iAs3 ASM SbUEys
Alf Dixon, Tom Giffard and I haC
gone up the river, camping out; we haC
done our second days work. 1t was
early morning on the third day, glo
rious weather. l was in the boat, get
ting the steering lines in order; GiffarC
and Dixon were on the bank, talking tC
DIR. Rawle. AS | understood it the
doctor was at the head of a private asy.
lum for lunatics. He had been taking
a constitutional when he happened tC
fall in with us just as we were sitting
down to our open-air breakfast; the
chance meeting led to Gitfard inviting
him to share our gypsy meal. De did.
He was a pleasant fellow, not too old
and not too young, liked him exceed
ingly. We talked of things in general,
and of lunatics in particular. Some
thing led to his mentioning-I think il
was speaking of the cunning of GER
tain class of lunatics, and the difficulty
of keeping them within four walls-the
fact that one Of his inmates had es-
capped day or two previously, and had
not yet been retaken. This was the
more singular, as it was certain he had
not gone far away, and search had been
made for him in every direction.
As GiHard and Dixon were saying
goodbye, preparatory TO getting into
the boat, the doctor laughingly said:
"ShoUld you happen to come across
him, shall consider you bound to
bring him back safe and sound. He's
man of forty-four or five, tall and
bony, iron-gray hair, and has a habit
of showing his teeth and winking his
left eye. Don't look out for raving
lunatic; for on most points he's as right
as you and l. He's wrong on two
things. Whatever you do, don't let
him lose his temper; for whenever he
does, though ever so slightly, he in
variably goes in for murder r-he's all
but done for two keepers already. And
don't talk to him of England and En-
glishmen; for if he should get upon his
native land, he will favor you with
some observations which will make you
open your eyes"
We laughed. ALI and Tom shook
hands with him and got into the boat.
We promised him if we should happen
to meet him we would certainly see him
returned to custody. Alf stood up and
showed us from the shore; we sang out a
last goodbye, and left the doctor stand
ing on the shore.
1t was q beautiful morning. The
river was delicious, clear as crystal; we
could see the bottom, and every stone
and pebble on it; just gentle breeze,
tanning the surface of the waters into
a ripple. We lit our pipes and took it
easily. / am good bit of traveller,
know many lovely hooks and crannies
in foreign lands; have lived abroad as
much as at home; but l will match the
higher reaches of our own Father
Thames for beauty and for charm
against any scenery in Europe. And
on an early summer morning, after a
spell of glorious weather, it is in all its
prime, the water so cool, so clear; the
banks so green, SO charming; the state
ly trees on either side; the mansions
seen over the meadows, or peeping
out among the trees. You may choose
your Rhine, Garda, or your Maggiore,
or your golden Bay of Naples, but
leave Cookham and old Father Thames
to me.
Presumably, we had come for river
beauties and camping out, presumably,
but as a matter of fact there was a
young lady lived not SO far ahead, a
mutual friend, Lillian Travers. Sepa-
ratelv and Jointly we had high opinion
of Miss Travers, not only Of her beauty,
but of other things as we'll; and having
come SO far, we hoped we should not
have to return until at least we had a
peep at her. Unfortunately, though we
knew Miss Travers, we had no acquaint-
ance with Mr.-there was no Mrs. We
had met the young lady at several
dances and such like; but on each Occa-
sion she was accompanied by old Mrs.
Mackenzie. Apparently Mr.. TraVers
was not a party man. But Lillian had
promised to introduce US to him when
ever she got q chance, and we were
not unhopeful she would get that chance
now. SO you see that little excursion
riverward had more, in it than met the
eye.
We went lszily on, Just dipping the
oars in and out, smoking, watching the
smoke curling through the clear air,
All thoughts of the doctor and Of his
parting words had gone from our
minds; we talked little, and that little
was Of Lillian and the chances Of our