The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-12-19

no not hke the quiet, and soon leave
She never classed herself with her
companions, Fred noticed. often speak
ing pityingly OF those more heavily af-
tiicted. But this phase Of mental de-
lusion was very common. There had
been one very sweet-faced, elderly lady
Of whom Fred had grown quite fond. and
whose mental intirmity he did not dis
cover for several weeks. But one day,
In passing another patient she had
turned 10 Fred, saying;
"That poor soul we passed is not
quite right here" tapping her fore
head; she fancies she Is the Queen of
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
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
10 interesting conversation.
In those two months Fred had
scarcely seen DIR. Atkinson. His SUI
perior In Office, DIR. Hare, had gone
away for summer vacation, and q
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 nsw building, the resident physi-
clan had scarcely q 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 q lunatio 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 q warm, II shy, well
come, and where the hours flew by In
utter content
But so simple q matter as the read
ing of q 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 a 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 a wonderful production Of
genius, but it was pretty and tender.
Looking up Fred saw q pair of blushing
cheeks, downcast eyes, trembling fin
gers, and his heart stood still.
He read the truth in flash. He
loved the lovely girl before him, and
she-alasl 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 asyluma Would she forget him, or
dreadful possibility = would the
whole reason give way if he deserted
here
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 man, and he could bear his
trouble manfully. That he loved,
where his love must die, was, in 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
hnson, make a clear confession, and
have bis opinion of the danger to be
anticipated.
s.He knows where the weakness 1
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
DIR. Atkinson, or, having caught him,
to secure his attention, but something
in Freds 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
consternation of the penitent speaker,
he threw himself back in his chair and
broke into roar of laughter.
'.O," Fred said, .'it Is funny, is itf
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 saya"
But Fred was too angry to answer.
sAnd she loves you-at least you
think so-and you want to know if it is
q curable case, and-well, I will not
torment you any more. Your charmer,
Fred, is not q patient, nor, as far as ]
| know, 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. i thought she was quite safe
from intrusion in that summer house,
| as the attendants have orders to keep
the patients away from there, and did
not think of you'll But since you have
been prowling around so long, perhaps
you had better come now and be intros
duced in form" H
Zone moment, win. have been q
puppy, it seems, in taking her love for
granted; but If i have won itP"
al am her oldest brother, and hes
father died years ago. 1 am quite sure
that what approve my mother will
| sanction, and you must know nothing
could please me better than to know
Bessie has lover esteem so highly as
I do your'
-And-you viii not tell her--will
youp my awful bfundere"
81 can't promise. I'll try to keep
the secret, but" and the doctor
roared again, s.the idea of Bess as 6
raging lunaticl Well, there, won't
tell her, at all events, until you have
told her something far more interest
ing"
And he kept his word so Loyalty thai
Bessie Atkinson had been Bessie ReaC
more than a year before she knew that
her husband had ever considered heI
an interesting patient in lunatic asy'
lum.-N. Y. Ledger.
The Liability OF Bank Directors.
The large defalcations at the Rivel