Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-06-16


mean TO obey you implicitly. Give me
the proper instructions and your patience
shall Dc taxed no further.
SIZE spoke eheerfully enough, but dur
ing all my long service al the asylum a
face more hopeless, a form rsore SHRINK
ing and detected never passed FROM the
reception room into the locked and
barred apartments set aside for patients
i. in person, ACCOMPANIED her to the
ward where cases like hers were treat
ed, and gave her the best roons At my
disposal.
may as well say here that from first
10 last l never detected IN Mrs. Green
the slightest evidences OF insanity. She
talked cohereutly, and seemed to DO en-
tirely free from the petty whims and
caprices with which patients Of her class
almost invariably make the lives OF
their attendants miserable. Her meals
We're taken IN her own room, and fire.
quently some of the more rational pa
tients were invited To share them. She
ordered all the daily papers and read
them eagerly.
knew from the day of her arrival
that the attending physician was not
treating her for brain trouble.
"We shall lose our most desirable
patient" he said 10 me one day. $50
soon as can get her nerves under
control. Let her feel the restraint of
the place rs little rs possible. and we
shall soon return her 10 her patroness "a
we'll woman"
The apartments occupied BY Mrs.
Green were In a wing running north
from the main building. The windows
of this part of the structure faced east
and opened on q well kept lawn running
the whole length of the wing. The
lawn was separated from the street by
high brick wall. In the center of the
lawn was a fountain surrounded by
flowers aud growing plants and vines.
East of the fountain was an iron gate
opening on the street. The gate was
composed of perpendicular iron bars set
solidly in metal cross beams, and per-
mitted full view of the lawn and the
fountain from the walk outside. This
gate was invariably kept locked, and no
one save myself had access to the key
The lawn was reached from the wing by
means of an ordinary door in q direct
line with the. fountain and the gate
This door was also kept locked except in
rare instances, when the patients were
allowed to use the lawn. under the
watchful eyes of the attendants, for
promenading purposes. ss-
Mrs. Green had full permission to walk
in this quiet place whenever she desired.
She spent great deal of her time at the
fountain and at the gate. At first she
frequented the place only in the day
time. Then she complained Of being
unable to sleep Ill her bed, and asked the
special privilege of evening promenades
on the lawn. My private room over
looked the lawn. recalled my instruc-
tions regarding Mrs. Green. / granted
her request. From that time on every
pleasant evening found Mrs. Green by
the fountain or by the gate.
Mrs Clark Melville was a frequent
visitor at the asylum. 1t was her Gus
tom to come alone, but one day a gentle
man, whom she introduced as her son.
came with her. From the windows of
my apartment We saw Mrs. Green on
the lawn and proceeded there at once.
Once there l left the party of three
standing by the fountain, and went to
room on the first floor of the wing to at
tend to some detail the nature of which
/ have now forgotten. From the win
dows OF this room l saw Mr.. Melville
and Mrs. Caroline Green walking up and
dow the graveled path which bordered
the lawn. At the end of few turns
they stopped at the gate and stood gaz-
ing into the street.
could not hear their words. They
were evidently not intended for other
ears than their own. But actions some
times convey stronger impressions than
words knew in an instant that she
was asking for something he declined TO
grant l knew it from his stubborn and
defiant attitude. / knew it from her
manner-at times threatening, at times
beseeching.
While I stood at the window, forming
my own conclusions as to the meaning of
what l saw, Mrs. Clark Melville APP
preached the spot where / stood and
pointed significantly to the two figures
by the gate.
"You see how it is" she said, with
worried look on her kind old face. "For
weeks Mrs. Green has seemed contented
only ia the presence of my son. and yet
she is always worse after being in his
company. Does she talk about him to
the servants here:'
assured her that she did not.
"Well." was the reply, ''she may come
TO that in time. If she does, do not fail
to let me know. Perhaps it il wrong to
allow them to talk together alone.
RichardI"
At the sound of his mothers voice Mr..
Melville turned from the gate and from
his companion and started up the
straight walk leading to the wing door
by way Of the fountain. Mrs Green
followed. laying her hand on his arm
when her excited talk failed to stop him
What che was saying eeemed to inter
est him.
lie hesitated an instant. and then. with
Mrs Green again at his side. turned
into the walk which bordered the lawn.
Mrs Clark Melville saw the move