The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-08-14
THE WALLED IN ROOM.


sides, holding in her hand moist COM
press. The room was plain and neat,
with clean white walls. On q table,
covered with great napkin Of yellow
linen. l noted q number of strange
objects--rows of little vials, and brown
earth,n jar filled with bits of ice.
Through the muslin curtains, which
bellied out from the windows in the
balmy air, l could see patch of blue
sky and the tops of green trees bending
lightly in the breeze. Where was |? 1t
seemed like a long dream which had
had; my head felt empty, my limbs
ached, and could not think
The man gently lifted my head. and
gave me few drops of some liquid,
which swallowed with avidity
well, Mr.. Furniss, he said, how do
you feel now?"
"Eh, what? ?" / cried. "Where am ~"
"You are in my house, my dear sir,
and we shall take good care of you.
Now" he added replacing my head on
the pillow. be quiet and go to sleep"
gazed at him for a long time, and all
at once l recognized DR.. Bertram, the
celebrated specialist in insanity. A
shudder passed through my frame. Why
was | in DIR. Bertram's hospital instead
of my own home near Phoenix Park,
with my books. my herbs, and my mi
croscopes around me? His hospital was
for mad people! - and that sister of
charity, those vials, that bowl of ice
my God, l must be mad! But why?
How?
"How long have been here? asked
after time.
"For four weeks. Mr.. Furniss. But
you must be quiet and sleep. Now do
not try to talk"
For month! Was it possible? What
had happened? But even as asked my
self these questions little by little I went
off to sleep, and ! saw, in billowy
meadow. a road covered with blood and
bordered on either side with monstrous
microscopes shaped like trees a road on
which two little girls played at pitch
and catch with a severed head, while
DR.. Bertram, comically bonneted with
religious cap, rode astride of a dead body.
which reared and pranced and kicked
till he could scarcely keep his seat.
The next morn lg l was better. and
day by day improved though that hor.
rible nightmare came TO me each night.
But it grew less and less distinct. and
after few weeks it almost ceased to
trouble me. .l4
One evening the doctor, whom had
not seen during the day, seated himself
near my bed.
We'll, said he, feeling my pulse, you
are doing fsmously. I'll have you out,
as good as new, in few days. But you
have had close shave. 1t has been one
of the prettiest cases Of cerebral conges-
ton ever handled-a beautiful Gaze.
Why, it is a wonder you are alive now.
Tell me, how is your memory; can you
remember what happened before you
were brought here?-
IL don't know can not think.
have passed through something fearful.
What il is can not say. From the faint
glimmer Of recollection that comes to me
have the sensation of having been dead
murdered Oh, it is frightful! My
brain is weak yet. Then, the child, a
pretty golden haired child-rolling on the
floor.
~Come. come, this will never do, " said
the doctor. You can tell me all about
it in the morn"
mo, now, DOCTOR cried. 1T is com.
ing back to me. Yes, have it now."
Here is an exact transcript of my re.
cital as told it to DR.. Bertram and later
to the magistrate.
You know my passion for natural his.
tory. Well, scarcely week passes that
] do not go into the country botanizing.
That day went TO Glacnevin, where, as
you may know, the marshy meadows are
rich in curious plants, infusoria, and di.
atoms. was returning, and was almost
in Dublin with my box full of rare speci.
mems, on which expected to make a re-
port that would astonish the Botanical
Society, when saw little girl, certainly
not over s or years old, who was all
alone, crying as if her little heart would
break. l approached her, but at sight OF
me she redoubled her cries. could see
that the little one was lost, and that she
did not know where to 60, so l spoke tc
her kindly, and, by dint of promising he,
uiiiiiiUcu oouootls, kOt utT 10 t6ll me
that her name was Lizzie, and that she
lived in Beresford place in Lower Abbey
street.
] took her hand, and we soon started
off, talking together like old friends. She
was beautiful child, fresh and rosy
with great candid eyes and fair hair
which was cut shorJ over her eyes and
fell in golden ringle.s about her shoulders
She trotted bravely along, her soft little
hand in mine. AS we walked she told
me remarkable tales, in which figured a
big, black horse, little knife. doll, and
number Of people did not know.
Lizzie was afraid she would be scolded
when she arrived home, but she was not
and IL was received with transports by
her mother, who was half distracted
Never was gratitude expressed so heartily
and pleasantly. Who was l, where did
live, how did l happen to find her, and
thousand like questions were showerec
upon me.
"Oh, Mr.. Furniss," said the mother