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

was not wonderful production of
genius, but it was pretty and ten
der.
Looking up, Fred saw pair Of
blushing cheeks, downcast eyes,
trembling fingers, and his heart
stood still.
He read the truth in a fash. He
loved the lovely girl before him,
and she-alaS returned his love.
His first feeling was one Of keen
self-reproach. What ifhe had ad-
ded to the mental infrmity thathad
lcaused this beautiful young crea-
ture to be sent to an asylum?
Would she forget him, Or dread
full possibility = would the whole
reason give away if he deserted
her?
He scarcely knew how he reach
ed home; but once there he sat
down and looked the situation
squarely in the face.
His own share Of the afliction he
put aside for the present.
He was a man, and he could bear
his trouble manfully. That he loved
where his love must die, was, in
great measure, his own fault and
folly; but that he had won pure
sweet heart, only to wound it, caus-
ed him bitter pain and regret.
Long meditation brought him to
one resolution. He must see DR..
Atkinson, make a clear confession,
and have his opinion Of the danger
to be anticipated.
'He knows where the weakness
| have to discover lies,' thought
Fred, 'and he can tell me whether
it is safest to break off my visits
suddenly or gradually
Itwas 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 him
self in his private Office with Fred.
At first he listened eravely
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.
'Oh,' Fred said, 1T is funny, isn't
it'll 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 toa angry to an,
wer.
'And she loves you-at least, ,you
think so-and you want to know if
it is a durable case, and Well, |
will not torment you any more.
Your charmer, Fred, is not a patient
nor, as far as l know, lunatic'
Fred gave a long sigh, but only
looked his eager questions.
'She is my sister. Bessie Atkin-
son, who has had a long winter of
illness from typhoid fever, and is
paying me a visit. thought she
was quite safe from intrusion in
that summer-house, as the atten-
dants have orders to keep the pa
tients away from there, and | did
not think of you. But since you
have been prOwling around so long
perhaps you had better come now
and be introduced in form
'One moment, VIII. have been
puppy, it seems, in taking her
love for granted but if | have won
itY
Il am her eldest brother, and her
father died years ago. | am quite
sure that what approve my moth
will sanction, and you must know
nothing could please me better than
to know Bessie has lover l es-
TEEN so highly as | do yOup
'And-you will not tell her-will
you, my awful mistaken
Il can't promise. I'll try TO keep
the secret, but and the doctor roar.
ed again, 'the idea of Bess as a
raging lunatic Well, there, won't
tell her, at all events, until you
have told her something more in
teresting.'
And he kept his word so loyalty |
that Bessie Atkinson had been |
Read more than a year before she
knew that her husband had ever
considered her an interesting pa
tient in a lunatic asylum.
'What is the cause of this illumi-
nation ? asked a travelling English
man of the waiter at a hotel in
a German town. 'Her royal