River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-10-28
THE MAD LOVER.

Win U.S. we nau lovely tlmei anu |
then she added. as a truer thought
lighted her eye, ''the inmates seemed |
TO enjoy our music so much that think
| never tried harder to acquit myself
well, ami | liatter myself succeeded,
too.
We'll, Amy, / am glad you went"
replied her friend; .'but visiting insane
asylums, to entertain tho inmates, is
not exactly in my line; | always had
an uncomfortable aversion to every
being who is not in his right mind. /
had little adventure once, too, which
| can never forget"
IAN adventure! | dote on anything
of that kind; Go tell me about it," and
Miss Amy folded her pretty hands and
prepared TO listen.
1T ism / much of story, Amy, out it
was serious matter to me at the time
You remember the visit 1 made to
father S relatives in the eastern part of
the State. Soon after my arrival at
cousin Julia's | met at little party
one evening the most peculiar and at
the same time fascinating young man
ever saw. He was very large, swar-
thy as an Italian; he wore heavy
beard. black as night; his hair, which
eccentric habit of standing straight up
from his forehead, in aggressive style. >
BLESS me! You call that fascnat-
ing MANI
'Just wait till tell you of his won
derlul eyes. His eyebrows were
very heavy and almost
met; of course, his eyes were
black; but they had such peculiar ex-
preston: they seemed to draw you,
somehow, even against your will. The
most trivial remark he made assumed
an Importance that no one else ever
impaired to it.
From the first | was rather awed
by him, and he seemed to be quite at
tracted by little me. | forgot to tell
YOU his name was Mr.. Chase. He sent
me flowers. and wore his carnations,
though YOU know | don't admire them
at all and | never want to see one
again. OF course, | was leased a good
deal about my conquest. and | really
began to dread his calls, and con-
trived to have some one present al
ways, as | feared he would ask me TO
marry him, and did not know how to
answer him. One evening he found
me alone, and had just begun a most
touching remark, when to my relief
little Elite ran into the room and
eflectually put stop to sentiment. lie
left very soon with sort of longing in
his eyes which impressed me strangely.
The next evening my host re-
marked to his wife:
Poor Chase has been obliged to
60 back 10 the asylum; they took him
to Harrisburg to-day.
$50 here was the end of my ro-
nance, and the solution of the myster-
ious influence he had over me. / had
always felt there was something un-
cannv about him, and this explained
it. had heard of insane persons hav-
ing such power over others. and |
must say | breathed easier to know he
was out of the way before ! had been
borne entirely under the spell of those
wondrous eyes. Imagine my feelings
when, a few days after, the servant
brought me his card and told me he
had asked to see me alone. Cousin
Julia was out. else | would have in
sisted on her going to the parlor with
me. ! thought of all the tricks OF in
sane people that | had read. The
more | thought the more nervous
grew, but length, summoning all my
self-posscssion, / went down stairs.
He was moving restlessly about the
room when entered, came at once TO
meet me. and taking my hand eX-
claimed:
s..At last II seems an age since |
saw YOU
Terrified as l was, my innate love
of truth compelled me 20 say:
= 1T is just a v eek.
aAh. yesn he murmured, but time
i. measured by what we enjoy or suf
fer, and so it seems TO me long, weary
time since saw you. Perhaps you
have heard | was obliged to go out of
town after saw you last, and | have
but Just now returned from harrisburg;
indeed, ] have not been home yet. |
felt must see you first.
ale was sitting close by me and
leaned caressingly toward me as he
said:
al was wearying for a sight of your
dear face. for you must surely know
that YOU are very dear to me.
II felt as if was slowly turning to
stone. Here was, mere mite, in the
complete power of this giant of an es-
caped lunatic. | shall never forget the
horror of it. just here fate in the per
son of Cousin Julia interposed before |
had ina way committed myself.
".Ah, MIR. Chase, she said, Il am
glad to see YOU; when did you return?
was sorry for the occasion OF your
absence; how did YOU leave your broth
er?'
"'He was more quiet when left
him, but fear he will never be entire
~ cured.
Il sat as one IN maze. what did
it meanp He soon took his leave, and
/ Immediately asked my cousin why |
had never heard of Mr.. Chase 5 brother
before.
"'Well, | don't know. am sure
never thought of it, aud he would not
be apt to speak of it, People, as rule,
do not parade their family skeletons.
Poor Al has been greatly tried with his
brother, and has been devoted TO him,
trying every way to help him, but see
he is discouraged now. BY the way,
what did interrupt? | did not think
he seemed delighted TO see me- nothing
serious / hope, for | esteem him too
highly 10 thwart him in any way.
Il wisely kept my own counsel, and
TO this day cousin Julia does not know
of my absurd mistake, and wonders
why / came home so suddenly. And |
never think OF the insane without
shudder, as recall the creeping hor-
ror of that day.
Why, MIR. Browning is coming
through the gate. and he looks just like
that lunatic Won have been describing.
well. SO he is. He followed me
home; be assured me that iunacy was
not a hereditary trait; that bis brothers
had been brought on by business trouo-
les; that he had returned from the
asylum cured; and what could | doe
| loved the man. and so | married him
after all. IL. b. Larcly.
Indiana Relics.
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