Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-05-01
NUMBER 10.

gether firmly
.Then make the Judge send him
there, cried Bessie Tell him that
viii give him ten thousand dollars If he
will"
My dear" exclaimed Mrs Bowers,
shocked at the girls ignorance, there
are only certain number Of judges in
New York. and YOU don't want them
all"
Drane had observed this conversation,
though he could not hear any Of it. One
can not hear any thing in New York
police court The testimony of tear
full innocence given in such places is
heard only in Heaven; which is just as
we'll, perhaps, for It may get some at
I tention up there. However. Drane
/ knew that Bessie had been pleading for
/ him; and when Mrs Bowers approached
! the Judge the prisoner realized that
some amelioration of hiscondition might
beexpected.
! Mrs. Bowers talked earnestly with the
magistrate and with such good effect
! that Drane was consigned to Jenkins
Retreat till his friends from Kansas
/ City should arrive. As for the tramp,
he went to be fed to certain extent.
MIR. Jenkins called his asylum Ere
treat, advisedly, because 1t certainly
was not an advance upon any thing
hitherto existing in that line Of bust
ness. Its exterior had all the subdued
horror of fashionable boarding-house
where nothing thrives but gaunt re-
spectability Withinit was even worse.
An atmosphere OF references given
and required, especially the latter,
| filed the hall: and through a doorway
at the right, could be seen tomb-lil1e
parlor, wherein upon the sarcophagus
of sofa sat the rigid images Of two an
eientfemales, evidently patients They
looked out at Drane with a cold severity
/ that made his hair curl.
! He had come there in charge of
/ court officer, and had not been allowed
| to exchange a word with Bessie whom
Mrs. Bowers had dragged away as soon
| as the question of commitment had been
settled, He felt deserted and friend
J less. and despite the fact that it was
very warm evening. he shivered as he
/ stood in the hall waiting for Jenkins,
OF whom the officer had gone in search.
/ A large number of entertaining and
cheerful reflections crowded upon Drane
as he stood in the dimly-lightod hall.
! He wondered, for instance, whether
straight jacket would be regarded as an
essential OF absolutely correct evening
dress in Mr.. Jenkins retreat lie also
had curiosity TO know how often, o..
an average the violent lunatics In the
establishment oyerpowered then keep
ers and slaughtered the less demented
inmates. But, deepest and most inpor-
tant of all. was the question OF supper,
| for the meal which he had appropriated
In the bath had ceased to give him sat
isfactory support, and it might be long
! time before he mad chance to steal an
other
Jenkins was slow in coming: and
Drane got more and more nervous Ho
had an unusually strong natural horror
OF lunatics. Not that their presence is
! particularly agreeable to any body-ex-
cept Jenkins at so much head-but
Drane was actually superstitious about
1t. He had a feeling chat the germs OF
mania were floating in the air around
him, and that he might break out with the
| disease any minute.
4 He wondered at being left thus alone
A man who had been iudicially decided
TO be crazy should have keeper. Then
he perceived in the shadow Of the door
large, ungainly man who seemed to be
on watch. He stood in kind of niohe,
and had thus escaped Drane's observa-
ton when he entered This mans eye
so glared upon him out of the darkness
that Drane's nerves began to dance in
manner that threatened to fit him very
quickly for permanent occupancy of the
retreat. lie felt that he must escape
from that man 5 observation or relieve
the oppressive silence by howl.
He compromised the matter by step
ping into the parlor At this. both the
ancient and unfortunate ladies assumed
an air OF modest reserve which was
quite frightful TO see. Presently one of
them drew out her handkerchief and be-
| gan to weep softly, but with evident de-
| termination 10 do the subject full JUS
tice before She got through
Madame, said Drane, gently, III
my presence affects you 70 tears, win
withdraw
DO not do 50 on nay account" she
said, 1T is not your fault that you have
revived sorrow that has long been
/ buried in my breast
Dranc regretted having been the
cause Of such joyless resurrection, and
he ventured to murmur words 10 that
effect.
at does not matter. She said MY
conduct must seem strange to you.
can hardly explain il without telling
you the story Of my life. There is a ro-
nance in it" and She frightened APP
preciably You shall hear the melan-
choly narrative"
TO BIZ CONTINUED