The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-06

But the summer house was soon found
to be Miss Bessie's resort 1t was in 8
secluded part of the grounds, shaded
by thick clump of trees, and provided
with a rustic table and comfortable
chairs. Here the young girl made 8
coy nest for herself, and the place
looked home-like with her work basket
her books, knitting, or sketch book, hel
cushions and footstoOl.
"The doctor said l must be in the
open air as much as possible" she told
Fred. one day; land as no one seems
to care much for this summer-house,
have appropriated it. Sometimes l have
visitors, -" and her face saddened, ''the
poor patients here, you know, but they
do not like the quiet, and soon leave
me-"
She never classed herself with heI
companions, Fred noticed, often speak,
ing pityingly of those more heavily af-
tilcted. But this phase of mental de-
fusion was very common. There had
been one very sweet-faced, elderly lady
of whom Fred had grown quite fond, and
whose mental infirmity he did not dis
cover for several weeks. But one day,
in passing another patient, she had
turned to Fred, saying:
THAT poor soul we passed is not
quite right here" tapping her fore
head; she fancies she is the Queen OF
Sheba,' and she drew herself up with
stately dignity and said. while every
I one knows l am the Queen of Sheba. "
But Fred had not, when July closed,
! found out the deluSiOn OF the sweet
little girl he called Mss Bessie" She
had gained perfect health in the two
months of quiet and open air; bet while
her eyes had lost their weary express
sion, they never stared or wandered,
but were always steadily tranquil, or
lighted only by the animation natural
to interesting conversation.
In those two months Fred had
scarcely seen DR.. Atkinson. His SUI
perior in Office, DR.. Hare, had gone
away for a summer vacation, and a
new wing was being added to the build
! ing. With the entire care of the house
and the patients, the direction of the
workmen, the work of selecting furni
ture, carpets and other necessaries for
the new building, the resident physi-
clan had scarcely a moment to call his
own and Fred frequently did not see
him at all during his visit.
1t was in July that DR.. Read sudden
ly awoke to the appalling conviction
that he was deeply in love with the in
luded himself with the thought that ii
was pity, professional interest, even
curiosity, that drew him again and
again to the summer house, where he
was sure to meet a warm, if shy, vel
come, and where the hours flew by in
utter content.
But so simple matter as the read
ing of poem had opened his eyes to
the truth. 1t had become quite COM
mon thing for him to read scraps ofnews-
paper intelligence, little bits from one
of the books on the table, or selection
from a fayOrite work he brought with
him, while Bessie sewed or knitted, and
listened to him. And on this particular
July day he had read little love poem
nestled in the corner of a newspaper.
1t was not a wonderful production OF
genius, but it was pretty and tender.
Looking up Fred saw pair of blushing
cheeks, downcast eyes, trembling fin
gers, and his heart stood still.
He read the truth in a flash. He
loved the lovely girl before him, and
she-alas. she returned his love. His
first feeling was one of keen self-re-
proach. What if he had added to the
mental infirmity that had caused this
beautiful young creature to be sent to
an asylum? Would she forget him, or
dreadful possibility = would the
whole reason give way if he deserted
her?
He scarcely knew how he reached his
boarding-house; but once there he sat
down and looked the situation squarely
in the face. His own share of the af-
Fiction he put aside for the present.
He was a man, and he could bear his
trouble manfully. That he loved,
where his love must die, was, in a great
measure, his own fault and folly; but
that he had won q pure, sweet heart
only to wound it, caused him bitter
pain. Long meditation brought him to
one resolution: He must see DR.. At
kinSon, make a clear confession, and
have his opinion of the danger to be
anticipated.
"He knows where the weakness ]
have failed to discover lies" Fred
thought. land he can tell me whether
it is safe to break off my visits sudden
ly or gradually"
1t was not an easy matter to catch
DR.. Atkinson, or, having caught him,
to secure his attention, but something
in Fred's troubled face aroused his
friends anxiety, and he turned his back
for the time upon his manifold duties
and shut himself in his private office
with Fred.
AT first he listened gravely enough,
but as Fred proceeded his face became
more and more amused, until. to the
CONSERVATION of the penitent speaker,
he threw himself back in his chair and
broke into a roar of laughter.
49," Fred said, ''it is funny, is it?
l do not see it in that light. Even if
this poor girl is insane
Stop interrupted his friend.
Don't get angry, my dear fellow.
You really love her, YOU say?"
But Fred was too angry to answer.
''And she loves you-at least you
think so-and you want to know if it is
a durable case, and-well, [ will not
torment you any more. Your charmar,
Fred. is not patient, nor, as far as
know, q lunatic."
Fred gave a long sigh, but only
looked his eager questions.
''She is my sister, Bessie Atkinson,
who has had long winter of illness
from typhoid fever, and is making me
visit. thought she was quite safe
from intrusion in that summer house,
as the attendants have orders to keep