Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-06-25

slblc that they believed ner 10 uO 'nauf
"Stop!" said she, trying to calm tho
wild, inccssant beatings of hcr heart
Don't put on tina, thing l will be
quiet
There's dear soul!' said the man
in carcssing accents, us IL he were rea-
souing with fractions infant. "lts q
great deal the most sensible thing you
can do.
Bat there's some mistake here"
pleaded poor Bctscy, on whose brow,
IN spite of the chilincss Of the night,
great drops of perspiration had broken
out. Pm not mad. y
No, no." said the man. ''Of
course not. You shall have some tea
directly and slice of dry toast. and"
"Bronson,' called out clear, dis
tinct voice, you're wanted! Where
are you? What are you doing"
I'm with the new patient, SIR, an
swercd the respectable man. shes
quie ting down very fast, and
What's the man talking aboutp'
interrupted the voice, shriil sharper,
and more distinct still. The new pa
,icnt has just come. by special con-
vcyance from Warrcntown."
Then who is this?' gasped the re-
spectacle man, his lower jaw falling
like that Of fish.
"Im Bctscy Bliven," said our hero
inc let me out | say! Bctsey
Bilvcn, from Maine. I'm the new
waitress and chambermaid at Sl4 q
month, and they've taken me for a
madwoman.
"Hush- hush-sh, For heaven sakef'
whispered the respectable man in
black, as he made haste to unlock the
door. Nobody is mad here they're
only peculiar. I'm sure ma'am, beg
your pardon. But we are expecting
| Mrs, Lamarque from Portland-and
| you correspond almost exactly with
| the dcscriptiOn-and we didn't know
that the new waitress would be here
until tomorrow. And Mrs. Lamarque
is subject to dangerous turns. and
and | hope, ma'am, you won't men,
ton this to the superintendent
"No,' said Betsey, with grim
chuckle; she was beginning to see the
humor of the thing 80 this is a
madhouse, ch9'
It's private sanitary retreat" said
| thc itNHcNlibc iliu. Ntis selc't
and exclusive. I'll introduce you to
the housckccper at once, ma'am, il
you step this way. You'll find her a
most lady-like person, ma'am."
"Shc amt mad, is she?' asked Bet
sey.
Not at ALL" said the man rather
shortly.
"Ah," said Betsey, 81 didn't know
but that everybody in this establish.
mcnt was little cracked in the upper
story. You must be, or you never
would have taken me for one of your
selves.
70 which taunt the respectable mar
had no answer prepared, on the spur o.
the moment.
Three months aftcrward Miss Betse,
Bliyen wrote to her cousin, Mrs. Mid
get:
"lm in mad house, Matilda, my
DEAR she expressed herself, "anC
really, except for the name, fine
everything very nice and comfortably y
We're very select, and on the whole
find society here good deal polite
and more ceremonious than 1t is out
side of the walls. And ! suppose you
say that am as mad as the ladies an,
gentlemen that ! wait on when l tel
you that I'm engaged to be married t
Mr.. Babcoek, the head keeper. But In
getting rather partial to insane peopl
and really see my way clear to dOini
some good in the world if conclud
to stay here permanently.
So Miss Bliven found the place life
long beneiice, and when Mrs. Midge
was asked by the cousinhood "Wha
had become of Betscy" she was won
to answer, in a nasal whine:
Poor dear! she's gone into luns
tic asylum, and she's married to tn
head keeper, and l don't know bu
what it is as bad as being crazy one
self. But Betsey seems to like il
Betscy always was peculiar"