Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-07-24
The Stnrp Teller.
HIS AWFUL MISTAKE.

o"% o. *~"S 0*""~"~
HIS AWFUL MISTAKE.
DIR. Wilfred Atkinson and DR.. Frederick
Read sat in pleasant room in city hotel,
chatting confdentially.
Both were young, somewhere between
twenty-five and thirty, and both were en-
thusiastic students of the noble profession OF
medicine.
They had become intimate at college, and
strong friendship existed that had known
no jar or break.
It was Fred Read who said:
'tYou will accept this offer?"
"Accept it ?" cried his friend. 81 should
think SO. It is what I want most in the
world. You see, have always been more
interested in the study of insanity than in
any other form of disease, and to be resident
physician in an asylum, where have only
made weekly visits, gives me opportunity
for study that could never have else
where"
eyes; know all that, but it will be very
confining. think prefer general practice,
after all. But you may expect to see me
often. How shall miss you, old fellow ~
And then the talk drifted into other chan
nels, until DR.. Atkinson discovered that it
was time for his train to l., where his
new home and field of duty lay.
"You will come over often," he urged, in
parting from his friend; ''and if l am busy
or away, make yourself at home. The
grounds are large, and very pleasant, and if
you meet any of the patients, be sure those
who are allowed to roam about inside the
walls are harmless. Some of them are alb
.solutely sane on every point but one; touch
that, and off they 60. But the eyes tell the
story"
ssYes it is hard to hide it there"
''And contradiction brings out the truth.
AS long as the delusions are humored they
are generally amiable enough, but once cross
them-wheW
81 shall come over often and hear the re-
suits of your experience. My enormous
practice takes about three hours day.
In pursuance of this promise, DR.: Read
took the train about once week, and spent
an hour or two with his friend, finding him
generally busy, as his duties included gen.
eral superintendence of the asylum, and de-
tails that were quite independent Of profes-
siOnal work.
But Fred, as he became more familiar
with the place, began to share his friends
interest in the study of mental disorders,
and would often spend hours roaming
through the wards and grounds, with only
few words to DR.. Atkinson.
It was when June was young, and the air
soft and pleasant, that DIR. Read, strollinng
about in the prettiest part of the grounds,
saw lady in summer house, whose face
tod i'm of
1t was avery pale face, and the large dark
eyes were languid, while the slender figure
seemed weak, as if from recent illness.
But. it was, too, a beautiful young face,
shaded by waving brown hair, and with
purely oval outline and regular features.
ga new patient" was Fred's mental ex-
clamation "What a lovely face"
Then he sauntered over to the summer
house and spoke to the lady.
To his CONSERVATION, she startled, gave a
quick gasping sob, and tainted.
It was not very long insensibility, and
under Fred's prompt treatment, the large
ewes opened, and she whispered:
"Oh, am so sorry to trouble you! But l
have been very ill, and you startled me-"
81 was very much to blame," he said pen
itently, "and hope you will pardon me.
Are you we'll enough now for me to run up
to the house for glass of Wine?"
II am we'll enough, but do not need it;
and she sat up again, and took up piece of
hands. Her fingers still trembled, and a
pretty flush came moment into her pale
face as she said:
care you one of the physicians here?"
"Only by courtesy" he replied. II have
the run of the place; but DR.. Atkinson is
the physician. Old DR.. Hare is the head
doctor, but he does very little" :,
"Yes, know! 1t is a lovely place. is it
not? Out here, mean! inside" and she
shuddered, "the, sounds are often dreadful:
But the doctor at home thought change of
air would be good for me, and SO mamma
sent me here"
"Change of air." thought Fred. "Poor
little thing! Quite unconscious of her in
trinity"
And he chatted away with her, discuss
ing the weather, the beauty of the grounds,
the songs of the birds in the trees around
them, and so gradually drifting to books, to
comparisons Of opinion and criticism. And
all through a delightful hour Fred vainly
tried to discover the one point upon which
the new patient was insane.
Whatever it was, it evaded him, and he
looked as vainly for any wandering or va
cancy in the soft brown eyes that met his
own, full of intelligence.
They were still cOnverSing when one of
the nurses came down the path leading to
the summer house.
"Miss Bessie" she said, CDR. Atkinson
sent me to say you had better lie down now
for an hour or two, and he has sent some
medicine to your room. Let me help you?"
DR.. Read, being physician, made no at
tempt to detain the fair patient, noting with
sincere sympathy how weak she was, and
how wearily she leaned upon the nurses
strong arm.
He did not feel inclined to have any Jest
ing about his interest, such as his friend
was wont to indulge in when ladies were
the subject, so he said nothing Of his expe-
rience, and Joined DR.. Atkinson in his
"rounds" without limiting at any desire to
see one especial patient-a desire not graft
fed, for there were only familiar faces IN
the wards.
But the summer-house was soon found to
be Miss Bessie's resort. TWAS in secluded
part of the grounds, shaded by thick
clump of trees, and provided with rustic
table and comfortable chairs. Here the
young girl made a cosy nest for herself, and
the place looked homelike with her work
basket, her books, knitting, or sketch-book,
her cushions and footstool.
''The doctor said l must be in the open
air as much as possible" she told Fred one
day, ''and as no one seems to care much for
this summer-house, l have appropriated it.
Sometimes I have visitors" and her face
saddened, "the poor patients here, you
know, but they do not like the quiet, and
soon leave me to myself"
She never classed herself with her COM
panions, Fred noticed, often speaking pity
ingly Of those more heavily afflicted. But
tbiS nhaSa Of mental daluSiOn was very