Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-06-04
His Awful Mistake.

DR.. Wilfred Atkinson and DR..
Frederick Read sat in a pleasant
room in a city hotel chatting conf
dentially.
Both we're young, somewhere be-
tween twenty-five and thirty, and
both were enthusiastic students of
the noble profession of medicine.
They had become intimate at
college, and a strong friendship ex-
listed that had known no jar or
break.
1t was Fred Read who said:
You will accept this Offer?'
accept it?' cried his friend, Il
should think so. 1t is what | want
most in the world. You see, l 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 l
have only made weekly visits, gives
me opportunity for study that l
could never have elsewhere
yes; 1 know all that, but it will
be very confning. l think prefer
general practice, after all. But
you may expect to see me often.
How l shall miss you, old fellow?
And then the talk drifted into
other channels, until DR.. Atkinson
discovered that it was time for his
train to /, where his new home
and field of duty lay.
You will come over often he
urged in parting from his friend
land if am busy or away, make
yourself at home. The grounds are
large, and if you meet any of the
patients, be sure those who are al
lowed to roam about inside the
walls are harmless. Some of them
are absolutely sane on every point
but one; touch that, and off they
go. But the eyes tell the story.
Yes; 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-whewp
Il shall come over often and hear
the results of your experience. My
enormous practice takes about three
hours a day.
In pursuance of this promise DR..
Read took the train about once a
week, and spent an hour or two
with his friend, finding him gener-
ally busy, as his duties included a
general superintendent of the asy-
lum, and details that were quite
Independent of professional 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 a few words to DR.. At
kinson.
1t was when June was young,a g,and
the air soft and pleasant, that DR..
Read, strolling about in the pref
test part of the grounds, saw a
lady in a summer-house, whose face
attracted him at once.
1t was a very pale face, and the
large dark eyes were lanquid, while
the slender figure seemed weak, as
from recent illness.
But it was, too, beautiful young
face, shaded by waving brown hair,
and with purely ova! outline and
regular features.
"A new patient was Fred's NEIL
tai exclamation. 'What a lovely
facet
Then he sauntered over to the
summer-house and spoke to the
lady.
To his CONSERVATION, she started,
gave a quick sob, and tainted.
1t was not a very long insensi-
sibility, and under Fred's prompt
treatment, the large eyes opened,
and she whispered:
.'Oh, ] am so sorry to troubleyou
But have been very ill, and you
startled me-
Il was very much to blame he
said penitently, and | hope you
will pardon me. Are you well
enough for me to run up to the
house for a glass of wiDeY
Il am well enough, bat l do not |
need IL :, and she sat M again. and