Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-22


"Then consider that it is . fraud upon
upon the public, Captain Mervyn. Gentle
mems dress is so dingy and monotonous
that consider it distinctly the duty of.sol-
diers to give us little light and color when
thev get the chance"
every well, Miss Blackmoor, will bear
it in mind; and next time my mother gives a
ball, the regiment, it it is within reach, shall
come in uniform. By the way, do you know
who is the man my cousin is dancing with?
There are lots OF faces don't know here;
being seven or eight years away makes a
difference in quiet country place"
'That is Mr.. Gulston. He is First Lieu
tenant of the flagship at Plymouth. I
know it because he was introduced to me
early in the evening, and we danced to-
gether, and capital dancer he is, too"
HE is an uncommonly good-looking fell
low" Ronald said.
Margaret Carne seemed to think so too,
as she danced with him two or three times
in the course of the evening, and went down
to supper on his arm.
Ronald having, as the son of the house,
to divide his attentions as much as possible,
did not dance with his cousin. Lieutenant
Gulston had been accompanied by the third
lieutenant and by the doctor, who never
missed an opportunity of going to ball be-
cause, as he said, it gave him an opportuni-
ty OF studying character.
"You see, :" he would argue, ION board
ship one gets only the one side of human ma
ture. Sailors NAV differ a bit one from an
other, but they can all be divided into two
or three classes-the steady honest fellow
who tries to do his work well; the reckless
fellow who is ready to do his work, but is up
to every sort of mischief and devilment, and
the law, loafng fellow who neglects his
duty whenever he possibly can, and is al
ways shamming sick in order TO get off it.
Some day or other / shall settle on shore
and practice there, and 1 want to learn
something about the people shall have to
deal with; besides, there's nothing more
amusing than looking on at a ball when
you have no i1ea OF dancing yourself H's
astonishing what a lot of human nature you
see if you do but keep your wits about
you"
In the course Of the evening be c anne up
to the first lieutenant.
"Who is that man you have just been
talking to, Gulston? I have been watch
ing him for some time. He has not been
dancing, but has been standing in corners
looking on"
"He is Mr. Carne, doctor; a cousin, o.
rather a nephew, of our hostess"
SIS he the brother OF that pretty girl you
have been dancing with?''
The lieutenant nodded.
Then 1 am sorry for her," the surgeon
said, bluntly.
Sorry what for?"
The surgeon answered by another ques-
tion.
do you know anything about the family,
Gulston?'
'I have heard about them. Why?"
"Never mind now," the surgeon said.
81 will tell you in the morning; it's hardly
question to discuss here" and he turned
away before the lieutenant could ask fur
ther.
1t was o'clock before the dancing ceased
and the last carriage rolled away. Then
the military and naval men, and two or
three visitors from Plymouth, gathered in
the library, and smoked and talked for an
hour, and were then conveyed to the station
to catch an early train. The next day, as
they were walking up and down the quarter
deck, the first lieutenant said: "By the
way, doctor, what was it you were going to
say last night about the Carnes? You said
you were sorry for Miss Carne, and asked
me-if ] knew anything about the history OF
the family"
"Yes, that was it, Gulston; it wasn't the
sort Of thing to talk about there, especially
as 1 understand the Mervyns are connec-
tions OF the Carnes. The question was
going to ask you was this: You know
bASA AASsOAg 10 bhCAS Oily 4AsdAAt1
in it?''
The lieutenant stopped suddenly in his
walk with an exclamation OF surprise and
pain.
"What do you mean, Mackenzie? Why
do you ask such question:"
You have not answered mine. Is there
insanity in the blood?''
There has BEEN" the Lieutenant said,
reluctantly.
81 felt sure Of it. think you have heard
me say my father made special study of
madness; and when 1 was studying Tor my
profession l have often accompanied him to
lunatic asylums and devoted great deal
of time TO the subject intending to make it
my special branch also. Then the rambling
fit seized me and entered the service; but
/ have never missed following the subject
up whenever l have had an opportunity. 1
have therefore visited asylums for lunatics
wherever such existed at every port which
we have put into since have been in the
service.
when my eye first fell upon Mr.. Carne
he was standing behind several other peo-
pie, watching the dancing, and the express
sion of his face struck me as soon as nv eve
fell upon him. l watched him closely all
through the evening. He did not dance,
and rarely spoke to anyone, never unless
addressed. 1 watched his lace and his
hands-hands are, can tell you, almost as
expressive as faces-and l have not the
smallest hesitation in saving that the man
is mad. 1t is possible, but not probable,
that at ordinary times he may show no signs
of it, but at times, and last night was one of
those times, the man is mad; nay, more, l
should be inclined to think that his mad
ness is of dangerous type.
Now that you tell me it is hereditary, I |
am so lar confirmed in my opinion that 1 |
should not hesitate, if called upon to do so,
to sign certificate to the effect that, in my
opinion, he was SO far insane as to need the
most careful watching, if not absolute con-
fnement."
The color had faded from the lieutenant's
face as the doctor spoke.
81 am awfully sorry" he said, in a low
tone, "and l trust to God, doctor, that you
are mistaken. l cannot but think that you
are. was introduced to him by his sister,
and he was most civil and polite, indeed
more than civil, for he asked me if 1 was
fond Of shooting, and when 1 said that 1
was extremely SO, he invited me over to his
place. He said he did not shoot himself,
but that next week his cousin Mervvn and
one or two others were coming to him to
have two or three days pheasant shooting,
and be would be glad if 1 would join the
party; and, as you may suppose, gladly
accepted the invitation"
well" the doctor said, dryly, $50 far as
he is concerned, there is no danger in your
doing SO, if, as you say, he doesn't shoot. If |
he did, should advise you to stay away;
and in any case, if you will take the advice |
which offer, you won't go. You will send
an excuse"
The lieutenant made no answer for a
minute or two, but paced the room in