Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-18
''Ehi" said Betsey. whats this? Let

"Quiet, ma'am, quiet. There is a
dear. " said the respectable parsonage.
You will have some supper direct
Iy if you will only compose your
self"
But I want to get out, said Betsey,
rafting at the door.
"Quiet, quiet, quie-t!' soothed the
man. Don't, pray, ma'am, excite your
selfr
What on earth is the meaning of
this?' said the bewildered woman of
Maine.
s'Now, pray, be calm" said the
butler. Quiet-quiet, that is the
way"
But won't be qGlet!" said Miss
Betsey. ''I'll tear the wall down. I'll
shout for help. What have I done to
be shut up like a prisoner, or a mad
Woman?"
Gently, gently, urged the respect
able man in black. Jonas, Ina afraid
you will have TO bring the straight
! jacketr'
'The-straigkt jacket?' Miss Bliven
dropped down on the little stone bench
that was screwed against the wall, as
if bullet had struck her. Was it
possible that they believed her to be
mad?
Stop" said she, trying to calm the
wild, incessant beating Of her heart.
Don't put on that thing. I will be
quiet"
''There's dear souI!" said the man
in carressing accents, as if he were
reasoning with fractions infant.
ITS a great deal the most sensible
thing you can do"
"But there's some mistake here, !"
| pleaded poor Betsey, on whose brow,
in spite of the chillness Of the night,
great drops Of perspiratioD had broken
out I'm not mad"
'No, no." said the naan. "Of
coarse not. You shall have soma tea
directly and @ slice of dry toast, and
-
Bronson, called out clear, dis
tinct voice. you're wanted! Where
are you? What are you dolng?"
I'm with the new patient, sir, an
swered the respectable man. ''Sne's
quieting down very fast, and"
Whats the man talking about p"
interrupted the voice, shrill, sharper,
and more distinct still. ''The new
patient has just come. By special
conveyance from Warrentown."
''Then who is this?" gasped the res
pectable man, his lower jaw falling
like that of a fish.
I'm Betsey Bliven," said our he
rome. Let me out, [ say Betsey
Bhven, from Maine, Pm the new
waitress and chambermaid at $14 q
month, and they've taken me for a
madWoman,"
"Rush-hus1-sh For heavens
sake!" whispered the respectable man
in black, as be made haste to unlock
the door. Nobody is mad here
they're only peculiar. I'm sure
ma'am, beg your pardon. But we
were expecting Mrs Lamarque. from
PortIand-and you correspond almost
exactly with the straightforward we
didn't know that the new waitress
would be here until tomorrow. And
Mrs. Lamarque is subject to danger
GUS turns, and-and | hope, ma'am
you won't mention this to the superin-
tendent"
Ne" said Betscy, with grim
chuckle; she was beginning to see the
humor of the thing now, $50 this is
a-madhouse, eh?"
''It's a private sanitary retreat, {"
lsaid the respectable man. every Sc
lect and exclusive. I'll introduce you
to the bousekeeper at once, mann, if
you'll step this way. You'll find her
most lady-like person, ma'am."
'She amt mad, is she?" asked
Betsey.
Not at ALL said the man rather
shortly.
"Ah," said Betsey, II didn't know
| but that verybody IN this establish
ment was little cracked in the upper
story. You must be, or you never
would have taken me for one Of your
selves"
To which taunt the respectable man
had no answer prepared, on the spur
Of the moment.
Three months afterward Miss Bet
sey Bliven wrote to her cousin, Mrs.
Midget.
''I'm in a mad house. Matilda. my
DEAR" she expressed herself, land
really, except for the name, I find
everything very nice and comforta-
bic. We're very select, and on the
whole find society here a good deal
potter and more ceremonious than it
ls outside the walls And I suppose
you'll say that [ am as mad as the
ladies and gentlemen that [ wait on
when tell you that I'm engaged to
be married to Mr. Babcock, the head
keeper. But I'm getting rather par
tial to insane people and really I see
my way clear to do some good in the
world if I conclude to stay here per-
manently."
So Miss BlIven found the place a
| lifelong benefice, and when Mrs.
Midget was asked by the cousinhoed
what had become Of Betsey" she
was wont to answer in nasal whine:
Poor dear! she's gone into luna~
tic asylum, and she's married to the
head keeper, and don't know but
what it is as bad as being crazy ones
Splf PI,+ Rotco~T To l.i-n