The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-01-03

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 vacancy 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 lead
ing to the summer house.
B 80 Miss Bessie she said, s'Dr Atkin-
son 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 your
DIR. Read being physician, made no
attempt 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
jesting about his interest, such as his
friend was wont to indulge in, when
ladies were the subject, so he said moth
ing OF his experience, and joined DR..
Atkinson in his rounds without hint
ing at any desire TO see one especial pa
tient-a desire not gratified, for there
were only familiar faces in the wards.
But the summer house was soon found
to be Miss Bessie's resort 1t was in a
secluded part of the grounds, shaded
by thick clump of trees, and provided
with a rustic table and comfortable
chairs. Here the young girl made a
cozy nest for herself, and the place
looked home-like with her work-basket,
her books, knitting, or sketch book, her
cushions and footstooI.
'tThe doctor said l must be in the
open air as much as possible" she told
Fred, one day; land as no one seems
to care much for this summer-house, I
have appropriated it. Sometimes have
visitors, and her face saddened, s'the
poor patients here, you know, but they
do not like the quiet, and soon leave
me-"
companions, Fred noticed, often speak
ingpityingly of those more heavily af-
flicted. But this phase of mental de-
Elfsion was very common. There had
been one very sweet-faced, elderly lady
of whom Fred had grown quitefond, and
whose mental infirmity he did not dis
cover 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 delusion of the sweet
little girl he called miss Bessie" She
had gained perfect health in the two
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
to interesting conversation. .sas
In those two months Fred had
scare rcely seen DR.. Atkinson. His SUI
perior in Office, DIR. Hare, had gone
away for summer vacation, and
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 new building, the resident physi-
clan had scarcely 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 a1unatic 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 warm, if shy, well
come, and where the hours flew by in
utter content.
But so simple matter as the read
ing of poem had opened his eyes to
the truth. 1t had become quite COM
mon thing for him to read scraps ofnews-
paper intelligence, little bits from one
of the books on the table, or selection
from 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 pair of blushing
cheeks, downcast eyes, trembling fin
gers, and his heart stood still.
He read the truth in a flash. He
loved the lovely girl before him, and
she-alas! 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 asylump Would she forget him, or
dreadful possibility = would the
whole reason give way if he deserted
herp fss ll.aI
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.s That he loved,
where his love must die. was, in great
measure, his own fault and 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 DR.. At
kinson, make a clear confession, and
have his opinion of the danger to be
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