Omaha daily bee., 1888-09-30
bed at night and strange sounds were
heard in her cell.

nearu IN ner cell.
"She sleeps too warm, perhaps" said
the keeper; give her u cooling show
er!" And this merry fellow babe them
hold her under the icy douche until
she fell, chilled and exhausted, to the
ground. This occurred twice. After
that there were no more nocturnal dis
turbances. The keeper chuckled. IL
know their tricks" said he.
The girl became very quiet and cir
cumspect. She began to manifest inter-
est in objects abo ut her. She was
strangely observant, and occupied her.
self for hours in examining the scanty
appointment of her cell. Once the
keeper fancied he saw her fumbling
with the bars of her grated window.
He wen in and examined the place.
She watched him with stealthy eyes.
When he turned she spoke to him
pleasantly. She was always gay with
him now. The brave man never de-
tected "a false note in the clear, crystal
tones of her laughter-his ear like his
eye, made no fine distinctions. After
this episode, however, she was more
prudent and gave nc cause for suspicion.
She was thoughtful-oh! very thought
full at times-preoccupied but patient,
good-tempered and obedient. Soon she
began to talk nationally, and answered
all questions with sense n judgment.
One day, in the late fall, the keeper
summoned the doctor.
"If Monsieur the Doctor would call
and see No. 80, who seems quite recov-
ered?" 90
Monsieur the doctor called. But
Monsieur the Doctor was, as it hap
ened, an old and ski llful practitioner,
who for many years had studied every
form of insanity under the light of his
own interests. Monsieur the Doctor had
no intention Of speedily Kidding the asy-
lum Of any patient who materially in
creased his income.
"H'm!" said the doctor, ''wait a while
longerl 1t is best to be prudent"
"The girl is harmless3"
Perfectly sol"
"She can be given a little li~berty?"
"Assuredly, yes! She is quite harm
less!" and the worthy physician smiled
and rubbed his hands softly together,
and, thinking OF the clear, quiet eyes
which met his so steadily, the cool
hand which restly obediently in his,
the girls normal, composed manner,
repeated to himself, "Oh, certainly!
Quite harmlessl"
1t was after this hat the keeper made
himself easy. The examination of cell
No. 30 was no longer considered neces
sary. No. 30 herself grew paler and ate
but little. This could scarcely be said
to distress the keeper, whose family
profitted thereby. Winter came, and
from her grated window the poor young
creature watched the year grow grey.
A few withered leaves fluttered in
through the easement and she treasured
them-poor dead things! They were
redolent of the free life beyond cruel
bars. The swallows in the courtyard
complained shrilly of hunger, and be-
meath the caves they huddled, pluming
themselves and giving piteous little
fed them, but the family Of the keeper
could use even the crumbs, and, harsh
ly, he forbade her to waste good bread.
were brilliant with fever-that consum-
eyes Of all great toilers who fancy they
they have s~triven long and patiently.
Now came the long winter nights,
when the white moonlight lay on the
floor Of the cell. The girl hated the
noon. 1t was a great Eye, she thought.
Calm, impartial, all-seeing, why did it
watch and watch, and wait and wait the
night through to see what she would do?
And it was so cold-ah! so cold! And
she turned her back to the window and
crept to her bed, drawing the covers up
over her head to shut out the hateful
Eye. And at last it wen away, and
there were long dark hours when its
silver face was hidden, and at last she