Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-06-18

self"
But I.want TO get out, said Betsey,
rsttling at the door.
/ Quiet, quiet, quie-tln soothed the
flsn: Dent, pray, ma'am, sXcite yours
selff'
What on earth is the meaning of
thisl" said the bewildered woman of
Maine.
Now, pray, be calm" said the
butler. " Quiet-quiet, that is the
way
But I won't be quletn said Miss
Betsey. an tear the wall down. I'll
shout for help. What have l done to
be shut up like prisoner, or mad-
woman"
! Gently, gently, urged the respect.
able man in black. Jonas, Ina afraid
you viii have TO bring the straight
/ jacketln
straight Jacket" Miss Bliyen
dropped down on the little stone bench
that was screwed against the wall, as
4 if a bullet had struck her. Was it
| possible that they believed her to be
madl
Stop" said she, trying TO calm the
Wild incessant beating of her heart.
Don't put on that thing. ! will be
quiet
There's dear soul!n said the man
/ in carressigg accents, as If he were
reasoning with a fractieus infant.
Its a great deal the most sensible
thing you can do.
But there's some mistake here, y
| pleaded poor Betsey, on whose brow,
in spite Of the chillness of the night,
great drops of perspiration had broken
out. I'm not mad.
mo, no" said the man. "Of
coarse not. You shall have some tea
directly and slice Of dry toast, and
~
Bronson, called out a clear, dis
tinct voice you're wanted Where
are youl What are you dongi"
"I'm with the new patient, sir, an
swered the respectable man She
quoting down very fast, and
What's the man talking about "
interrupted the voice, shrill, sharper,
and more distinct still. 1.-The new
patient has just come. BY special
conveyance from Warrentown.
'Then who is this2" gasped the res
pectable man, his lower jaw falling
like that of a fish
I'm Betsey Bliven," said our he
roine. Let me out, say Betsey
Bliven, from Maine, I'm the new
waitress and chambermaid al 81 8
month, and they've taken me for g
madwoman."
"Rush-hush-shl For heavens
Izake ~ whispered the respectable man
in black, as he made haste to unlock
! the door. Nobody is mad here
I they're only peculiar. Ina sure
( ma am, ! beg your pardon. But We
were expecting Mrs. LamarGue. from
/ Portland-and you correspond almost
exactly with the description-and we
didn't know that the new waitress
would be here until to -morrcw. And
Mrs. Lamarque is subject tc danger
Gus turns, and--and / hope, ma'am
you went mention this to the superin.
tendent."
ma" said Betsoy, with a grim
chdckle; she was beginning to see the
humor of the thing now. So this il
a-madhouse, eh2"
tits private sanitary retreat
said tie respectable man. every Sc
lect ard exclusive. I'll INTRODUCES you
to the bousekeeper at onoo, mann, il
you'll step this way. You'll find hen
a most lady-like person, n3a 'am. "
"She amt mad, is She2" asked
Betsey.
OF at all, " said the man rather
shortly.
"Ah," said Kelsey, Il Gidn't know
but tkat everybody in this establish
ment was a little cracked IN the upper
story You mist be, or you never
would have taken me for enc OF your
selves"
To which taunt the respectable mar
had no answer prepared, on the spar
of the moment.
Three months afterwaT, Miss Bet
sey Bli7en wrote to her cousin, Mcs
Midget.
''I'm in mad house, Matilda. nay
dear" she expressed herself, ''an6
really, except Cor the nsme, / find
4 everything very nice and comforta
e Dle. w re very select, ana on Lut
4 whole / find society here a good deal
potter and more ceremonious than Il
Is outside the walks. And / suppose
you'll say that I am as mad as The
ladies and gentlemen that ] wait OF
when | tell you that I'm engaged K
be married to Mr.. Babcock, the head
keeper Hut I'm getting r&ther par
tLal TO insane people and reslly l see
ny way clear TO do some good in the
world if [ conclude 10 stay here per
maaeHtly."
SO Miss Ehven found the place a
lifelong bene6ce, and when Mrs.
Midget was asked by the cousinhoed
what had become of Betsey" she
was won't TO answer ia a nasal whine
Poor dear she's gone into a luna-
tic asy lum, and she's married 10 the
head keeper, and I don't know but
what il is as bad as being crazy ones
self But Betsey seems to like it.
+ Betsey always was peculiar.
Friendly Consideration.
Merchant Traveller.