Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-01-26

told Fred, one day; ''and AS no one
[ seems to care much for this summer
house. | haveappropriated 1t. Some
times / have visitors" and her face
sadsienel, "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
speaking pityingly of those more
heavily afflicted. But this phase of
mental sielusiol was very common.
There had been one very sweet
faced, elderly lady of whom Fred
had grawn quite fond, and whose
mental intirmity he did not discov-
er 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 Tam the Queen OF
Sbeba."
But Fred had not, when July
closed, found out the deluslon OF the.
sweet little girl he called Miss Bes-'
sie.n She had gained perfect
health in the two months OF quiet
and open air; but while her eyes
had lost their weary expression,
they never stared or wandered, but
were always steadily tranquil, or
lighted olaly blythe animation nat
ural to is' resting conversation.
In tn, : two months Fred had
scarcelts seen DIR. Atkinson. His
superior in Office, DIR. Hare, had
gone away for summer vacation,
and neW wing was being added to
the building. With the entire care
of the house and the patients, the
direction Of the workmen, the work
OF selecting furniture, carpets and
other neceSsaries for the new build
ing, the resident physician had
scarcely moment to call his own
and Fred frequently did not see him
at all during his visit.
1t was in July that DIR. Read sud
denly awoke to. the appalling con-
viction that he was deeply in love
with the inmate of a lunatic asylum.
He had deluded himself with the
thought that it was pity, profession
al interest, even curiosity, that drew
him again and again TO the summer
| house, where he was sure to meet
warm, if shy, welcome, and where
the hours flew by in utter content.
But SO simple matter as the
reading of poem had opened his
ewes to the truth. 1t had become
quite a common thing for him to
| read scraps of newspaper lnteill-
genee, 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
a little love poem, nestled in the
/ corner of a newspaper. 1t was not
a wonderful production of genius,
but it was pretty and tender. Look
ing up Fred saw pair of blushing
cheeks, downcast eyes, trembling
fingers, and his heart stood sun.
He read the truth in flash. He
loved the lovely girl before him,
| aud she-alas she returned his
love. His first feeling was one oi
keen selfreproach. What II 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--dreadfui
possibility would the whole rea-
son give way if he deserted her?
He scarcely knew how he reached
his boarding house; bat once there
he sat down and looked the situa-
| tion sauarely in the face. dis own
| share of the affliction he put aside
for the present. He was a man,
and could bear his trouble maniully
That he loved, where his love must
die, was, in Il great measure, MS
own fault and folly; but that re
I had won pure, sweet heart only 10
wound il. caused him bitter pain
j Long meditation brought him to
one resolution: He must see DIR
I Atkinson, make a clear confession
and have his opinion of the danger
to be anticipated.
ale knows where the weakness
[ have failed to discover lies, Fred
thought, "antl he can tell me wheth
er il i safe to break on my NlSitr
suddenly or gradually"
1t was not an easy matter tC
catch DIR. 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 snp
, himself in his private Office witt
Fred.
Afffrst he listened gravely enough
,, but as Fred proceeded his face be
ea,nea,aore and more amused, until
to the CONSERVATION of the penlten
speaker, he threw himself back il
! mis- chair and broke into a roar o
laughter.
"O.n said Fred, sit is fanny,is it
l. do not see it in that light. Ever
, | il 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 an
/ swer.
! "And she loves yOu-at least yo
: think so-and you want to know
, it is "A durable case, and well, Wi
! not torment you any more. You
chariner, Fed, is not a patient, nDl
q as far as / know, "A lunatic."
Fred gave long sigh, but oni
looked his eager questions.
+ "She is my sister, Bessie Atkir
i son, who has had long winter
q illness from typhoid fever, and
making me visit. l thought sh
:, was quite safe from intrusion
), that summer house, as the attene
q ants have orders to keep the pa
Q tlenis away from there, ana hi
= not think of you! But since yo
= have been prowling around so Ions
perhaps you had better come no
and be introduced in form"
). lone moment, Will. L nav
been a puppy, it seems, in takln
: her love Tor granted, but II L nay
v won it :'
y IL am her oldest brother, and n
n father died years ago. am qui
~ ~ sure that what approve my moil
= er will sanction, and you mu
II know nothing could please me. be
~ - ter than to know Bessie has low
~ / esteem so highly as / do you u
II "And-you will not tell her-wi
"a YOU ?-my awful blunder"
=. a. "I can't promise. I'll try to ke'
~ the secret, but" and the doet
- roared again, "the idea of Bess as
N raging l1natic! Well, there, | wor