The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-03-04
HIS AWFUL MISTAKE.

Both were young, somewhere between
twenty-five and thirty, and both wer,
enthusiastic students of the noble pro
fessi0n of medicine,
They had become intimate sc col
lege, and q strong friendship existed
that had known no jar or break.
II was Fred Read who said:
"You will accept this ofer?" a.
Accept it?" cried his friend. q
should think so. 1t is what / war;
most in the world. You see, have al
ways been more interested in the study
of insanity than in any other form 81
disease, and TO be resident physician IL
an asylum, where 1 have only made
weekly visits. gives me opportunity for
study that | could never have else.
where.
Eyes; | know allthat, but it will be
very combining. think prefer general
practice, after all But YOU may ex-
pect to see me often. How shall miss
you, old fellowr' gov 9 III +
And then the talk drifted into other
channels, until DIR. Atkinson discov-
cred that it was time for his train to
L., 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 mt
home. The grounds are large, and
very pleasant, 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 abb
solutely sane on every point but one;
touch that. and off they go,f But the
eyes tell the story
Eyes; il is hard TO hide it there
''And contradiction brings out the
truth. AS long. rs the delusions are
humored they are generally amiable
enough, but once cross them-whewr
II 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 DIR.
Read took the train about once asweek,
and spent an hour or two with his
friend, finding him generally busy, as
his duties included general superin-
tendence OF the asylum, and details
that were quite Independent of pro-
fessioEal AYork.
But Ffed, 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..
Atkinson.
1t was when June was young. and
the air soft and pleasant, that DIR.
Raod cfrollipor ,bo,,f Il, tIa ,,,at 4;ee4
part of the grounds, saw a lady in
summer-house, whose face attracted
him at once. "a 49,
1t was a very pale face, and the
large dark eyes were languid, while
the slender figure seemed weak, as if
from recSat Illness. fr
But it was. 100, beautiful young
face, shaded by waving brown hair,
and with purely oval outline and regu-
lar features.
"a new patient" was Fred's mental
exclamation. "What lovely FACET
Then he sauntered over to the sum-
mer-house and spoke to the lady.
To his CONSERVATION, she started,
gave quick gasping sob, and tainted
1t was not a very long insensibility,
and under Fred's prompt treatment,
The large eyes opened, and she whis-
pered;
''Oh, i am so sorry TO trouble you!
But l have been very i'll, and you
startled me-
Il was very much to blame" he
said penitently, land | hope you will
pardon me. Are you well enough now
for me to run ND to the house for a
glass of wine?"
II am well enough, but l do not
need it," and she sat up again, and
took up piece of needle-work that
had dropped from her hands. Her
fingers still trembled, and pretty
flush came a moment into her aale
face as she said:
Are you one of the physicians
herePn
''Only by courtesy he replied. 81
have the run of the place; but DR.. At
kinson is the physician. Old DR.. Hare
Is the head doctor, but he does very
little"
Eyes, / know! 1t is lovely place,
is it not2 Out here, / mean! Inside"
and she shuddered, s'the sounds are
often dreadful. But the doctor at
home thought a change Of air would be !
good for me, and so mamma sent me
here
Change Of airl' thought Fred. |
''Poor little thing! Quite unconscious
Of her infirmity."
And he ehatted away with her, dis
cussing the weather, the beauty Of che
grounds, the songs Of the birds in che
trees around them, and SO gradually /
drifting to books, TO comparisons of
opinion and criticism. And all through
a delightful hour Fred vainly tried to
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.
miss Bessie she said, "Dr. Atkin-
Son sent me 10 say you had better lie
down now for an hour or two, and he
has sent some medicine to your room
Let me help youP"
DR. Read, being q physician, made
no attempt TO detaln the fair patient,
noting with sincere sympathy how
weak she was, and how YEARLY she
leaned upon the nurses strong arm.
He did not feel inclined to have any
testing about his interest such as his
friend was wont to indulge in when
aides were the subject so he said
1othing Of his experience, and Joined
Dr.. Atkinson in his rounds without
limiting at any desire to see one especial
oatientr-a desire not gratified, for
here were only familiar faces in the
wards.
Bnt the summer-hoIse was soon
ound to be Miss Bessie's resort Ii
vas in secluded part of the grounds,
haded by thick clump of trees, aud
provided with rustic table and ON
ortable chairs. Here the young gifi
made cosy nest for herself, and the
place looked home-like with her work
basket her books, knitting, or sketch
,ook, her cushions and footstool.
The doctor said / must be in tho
'pen air as much as possible, she told