The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-15
WALLED IN A ROOM.

WALLED IN A ROOM.
Iopened my eyes and looked around me.
A man was leaning over my bed. Near the
man stood woman, with bonnet with
great white wings on the sides, holding in
her hand moist compress. The room was
plain and neat, with clean white walls.
On table covered with a great napkin of
yellow linen I noted number of strange
objects-rows of little walls and a brown
earthen jar filed with bits of ice. Through
the muslin curtains which bellied out from
the windows in the balmy air l could see a
patch of blue sky and the tops of green
trees bending lightly in the breeze. Where
was L? 1t sesmed like 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, chow do
you feel nowW
''Eh, WHAT" cried. "Where am II"
"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 long time, and all at
once l recognized Dr. Bertram, the cele-
brated specialist in insanity. A shudder
passed through my frame. Why was in
DR.. Bertram's hospital instead of my own
home near Phoenix park, with my herds
and my microscopes around me! His hos
pital was for mad people!-and that Sister
of Charity, those walls, that bowl of ice
my God, must be madl But why? Howl
"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 possiblei What
had happened? But even as / asked my
self these questions little by little went
off to sleep, and / saw in a billowy meadow
a road covered with blood and bordered on
each side with monstrous microscopes
shaped like trees, road on which two lit
tie girls played at pitch and catch with a
severed head, while DR.. Bertram, comically
bonneted with religious cap, rode astride
of dead body, which reared and pranced
and kicked till he could scarcely keep his
seat.
The next morning I was better, and day
by day 1 improved, though that horrible
nightmare came to me each night. But it
grew less and less distinct, and after few
weeks it almost ceased to trouble me.
One evening the doctor, whom had not
seen during the day, seated himself near
my bed.
'Well," said he feeling my pulse, 'you
). r
good as new, in few days. But you have
had close shave. 1t has been one of the
prettiest cases of cerebral congestion ever
handled-a beautiful case. Why, it is
wonder you are alive now. Tell me, how
is your memory. Can you remember what
happened before you were brought here"
81 don't know; cannot think. I
have passed through something fearful.
What it is l cannot 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"-
''No; now, DOCTOR" 1 cried. sit is COM
ing back to me. Yes, have it now"
Here is an exact transcript of my recital
as told it to DR.. Bertram and later to the
magistrate:
You know my passion for natural his
tory. Well, scarcely a week passes that l
do not go into the country botanizing.
That day l went to Glacnevin, where, as
you may know, the marshy meadows are
rich in curious plants, infusoria and dia-
toms. was returning, and was almost in
Dublin with my box full of rare specimens,
on which l expected to make report that
would astonish the Botanica society, when
saw little girl, certainly not over five or
six years old, who was 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 to her kindly, and, by dint
of promising her unlimited bonbons, got
her 70 tell 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 short over her eyes and fell in golden
ringlets about her shoulders. She trotted
bravely along, her soft little hand in mine.
AS we walked she told me remarkable
tales, in which figured big black horse, a
little knife, doll and a number of people
did not know.
Lizzie was afraid she would be scolded
when she arrived home, but she was not,
and II was received with transports by
IL. ,-l,o holF I'D
Never was gratitude expressed so heartily
and pleasantly. Who was 1, where did I
live, how did 1 happen to find her and a
thousand like questions were showered
upon me.
''0h, Mr.. Furniss," said the mother,
''you are the savior of my child. How can
we express our gratitude? We are not
rich, but such a debt cannot be paid in
gold How happy my husband will be to
repeat my thanks 10 you. He is still at
his Office, but-will you do a great kind
ness, will you honor our humble board to-
morrow shall have savant here like
yourself aud you two will enjoy each
others company am sure. And my hus-
band viii be so happy to have you"
! thanked her for the invitation and
promised 10 be on hand.
At the appointed hour was shown into
their modest parlor, and you may be sure
the husbands gratitude was no less warm
" expressed than the wife's And little
Lizzie threw her arms around my neck
and showered on me the innocent caresses
of happy clRld. l seemed. indeed, 70 be
one Of the family.
The dinner was q merry one, the savant
seemed to be an interesting man-in brief,
/ passed an excellent evening.
The air had been heavy the whole day