The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-12-08

has sent some medicine to your room.
Let me help your
DR.. Read being physician, made no
attempt to detain the fair patient, noting
with sincere sympathy how weak she
was, and how YEARLY she leaned upon
the nurses strong arm.
He did not feel inclined to have any
| testing about his interest, such as his
| friend was wont to indulge in, when
ladies were the subject, so he said moth
| ing of his experience, and joined DIR.
| Atkinson in his grounds" without hint
ing at any desire TO see one especial pa
| tient-a desire not gratitied, for there
were only familiar faces in the wards:
But the summer house was soon found
to be Miss Besse's resort. 1t was in a
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 a
coy nest for herself, and the place
looked home-like with her work-basket,
her books, knitting, or sketch book, her
cushions and footstool.
"The doctor said | 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, l
have appropriated it. Sometimes 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 her
companions, Fred noticed, often speak
ing pityingly of those more heavily af-
fiicted. 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
covcT 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
one knows am the Queen of Sheba." "
But Fred had not, when July closed,
found out the delusion of the sweet
little girl he called "Miss 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, OF
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
mate of a lunatic asylum. He had de-
luded himself with the thought that it
was pity, professional interest, even
curiosity, that drew him again and
again to the summer-house, where he
was sure to meet warm, if shy, wei
come, and where the hours flew by in
utter content.
But so simple matter as the read
ing of a poem had opened his eyes to
the truth. 1t had become quite COM
mon thing for him to read scraps of news
paper intelligence, little bits from one
of the books on the table, or a selection
from favorite 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 newspaper.
1t was not wonderful production of
genius, but it was pretty and tender
Looking up Fred saw a 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 infrmity that had caused this
beautiful young creature to be sent to
an asylum? Would she forget him, or
dreadful possibility A.! - 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 ard looked the situation squarely
in the face. His own share of the af-
Fiction he put aside for the present.
He was 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 a pure, sweet heart
only to wound it, caused him bitter
pain. Long meditation brought him to
one resolutions: He must see DR.. At
kinson, make clear confession, and
have his opinion of the danger to be
anticipated.
''He knows where the weakness |
have failed to discover lies,n Fred
thought, land he can tell me whether
it is safe to break OF, my visits sudden
ly or gradually"
1t was not an easy matter to catch
DIR. AtFipSon, 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,