The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-02-07

was IN secluded part oil the
grounds, shaded by a thick clump
of trees, and provided with rustic
table and comfortable chairs. Here
the young girl made cozy nest for
herself, and the place looked home
like with her work basket, her books,
knitting, or sketch-book, her cush-
ions and footstool.
"The doctor said ] must be in the
open air as much as possible" she
told Fred, one day; "apd as no one
seems to care much for this sum
mer-house, L 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 her
companions, Fred noticed, often
speaking pityingly of those more
heavily afflicted. But this phase of
mental delusion was very common.
There had been one very sweet
faced, elderly lady of whom Fred
had grown quite fond, and whose
mental infrmity he did not discover
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 deiusion Of the
sweet little girl he called "Miss Bes-
sle.' She hSd 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 only by the animation nat
ural TO interesting conversation.
In those two months Fred had !
scarcely seen DR.. Atkinson. His
superior in office, DIR. Hare, had |
gone away for q summer vacation, !
and a new wing was being added to
lnC w IJu JuG SuJlIG
care of the house and the patients,
the direction of the workmen, the |
work of selecting furniture, carpets
and other necessaries for the new |
building, 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-
vicrion that he was deeply in love
with the inmate of 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 a
warm, if shy, welcome, and where
the hours flew by in utter content.
But so simple a matter as the
reading of poem had opened his
eyes to the truth 1t had become
quite q common thing for him to
read scraps of newspaper intelli-
gence, 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 still.
He read the truth in flash He
loved the lovely girl before him,
and she-alas she returned his
love. His first feeling was one of
keen self-reproach. 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 would the whole rea-
son give way if he deserted her?
He scarcely knew how he reached
his boarding house; but once there
he sat down and looked the situa-
tion squarely in the face. His own
share of the af1iiction he put aside
for the present. He was a man,
and could bear his trouble man
fully. That he had loved, where his
love must die, was in a great meas
ure his own folly; but that he had
won a pure, sweet heart only to
wound it, caused him bitter pain.
Long meditation brought him to
one resolution: He must see DIR.
Atkinson, make clear confession,
and have his opinion of the danger
to be anticipated.
''He knows where the weakness I
have failed to discover lies" Fred
thought, "and he can tell me wheth-
er it is safe to break off my visits
suddenly 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.
90" said Fred, cit is funny, is
it? 1 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 sayT'
But Fred was too angry to an
Swer.
"And she loves you-atleas you
think so-and you want to know if
it is durable case, and I will not
torment you any more. Your
charmer, Fred, is not patient, nor,