St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-02-20
A QUESTION OF SANITY
Falling ia Love with an Inmate OF
q MadhOuse.

6 oAA1AA&SU~ ~
=. a Madh0use.
Early in the summer of 80 I started
for LOslgvue by the sea
wlS completely run down, having
apploBdmyself too closely to business.
Although had made several hundred
thousands in lucky ventures on change
my nervous system was injured. and
the money did not give me much
pleasure.
After trying several physicians with.
out relief concluded to run over to
LonSsness ---.-
There was an excellent sanitarium
there. which was quite renowned for
its cures.
The moment saw the place liked
1t, and felt convinced that I would
leave it a well man. The sanitarium
was aslarRc. handsome building, sur
rounded by beautiful grounds The
front yard was full of bright flowers
and shrubs, which gave a cheerful
aspect to the place. And from the win
dows the bright blue sea, peaceful and
calm. or full of angry pillows, as its
mood 6{ - could be plainly seen.
ibid not been at Longvue . month
when 1AeGan to improve wonderfully.
The air Eas bracing. there was no ex-
s sits%s1 ca the attendants. were very
In tb pcaee3Al atmosphere my over
work( neryes Oecame invigorated and
life b bom~ pleasant again.
At he end CT two months I was COM
plet( y eAfed. but fingered. for Long
vuc =. more to my liking than gay
resor The sea had astrong attraction
for md ana I took daily walks on the
beach. D.1Dt Q half. mile In one
direction was enough 10 satisfy me.
would wander along until l found =
sheltered nook, and lie there creamily.
looking at the waters for hours
One day, it was the first of August
i REMEMBER the date perfectly, rs it
began a new era in my life-I started
ont for the beach early in the morning.
Fecliug anusually vigorous. walked
farther than ever before and rounded .
point l. heA never passed beyond. To
my SURPRISE I beheld large building,
something similar in architecture to
the sanitarium. Never having heard of
such q place was naturally curious to
find opt, something about it It was
not lar OF, and walked on until the
entrance gates were reached Then /
discovered that the windows were all
barred, and concluded it must be an
asylum for the insane.
/ had never had Q desire to visit such
q place before, but my idle fancy babe
me open the gates and enter the
grouunE AS I touched the gates !
found them- locked and I shook them
until y bell, fastened on the inside.
rang as s s3eEy man appeared. turned the
key inithe lock. and looked at me. l
asked. If visitors were admitted. He
M in with . courtly wave of
his hspd, 61d bade me enter. said l
did not WI 70 see any hopelessly in
sane 4 INT patients
Tho jsnitor directed me to door in
the west side q the building. saying
that HE patients l would see in the
main ssittasgroom were all quiet and
harmjese -
End ring the room indicated. 1
around rather uneasily. A
numb r.ef women were sitting quietly
in tho S0siRs locking toward the end
Of tho r6ori1. Good pictures were ON
the Wells, flowers and papers on the
tableA At the far end of the room
stood : grand piano. Some one was
soft notes as l entered.
had Dot -q0ticed the musician until
nv gMdeef fen on the piano Then
started nueiae 8 my eyes beheld
the love{l xsalan l had ever seen.
A cloud ofk15den hair was caught up
md cdIled ON the top of . perfectly
shaped little head Her neck, slightly
by the cut Of the dainty blue
yown she.Wore, was as white and firm
Is alabastSr. Her figure, though
,lightss was exquisitely nodded, and her
every movement betrayed grace.
l could. not see her face, as her back
vas turned to me. As stood gazing
It her. waiting impatiently for her to
urn toward me, she struck the keys .
little louder and began to sing. IL
listened entranced. for the notes that |
anne were sweeter than lark's song.
had heard the great Patti and most of l
he worlds renowned singers. but the
-o:ce of this unknown girl moved me
IS none had ever before.
There was such pathos thrilling |
through the notes Of the glorious voice |
hat tears unbidden rose to my eyes
Is brushed them away, half ashamed
# nv emotion, an elderly woman sit
ing in the middle of the room called
nut: Enough, Miss Sibyl" and the
music ceased
Then the singer turned and l saw
Ter face. A face rs pure ami lovely rs
he greatest artist could desire Is .
4 adorlpa model, was revealed to my /
.aze. The contour of her face was
irecian The great brown eyes held
n their depths an expression OF sad
less The straight nose, the lips firm
tut sweet, the softly rounded chin, be-
rayed The retirement of their owner.
When it comes to love. man is .
TRANCE being. He may be months
rying to decide whether he really
owes Z woman OF not. or the divine
'assion niAy come upon him suddenly,
loodinS his whole being with its in
ensity: a
As r looked at this golden-haired
.irl two feelings aWolee in my breast
pitied hcr>-yeang. beautiful and &C.
doomed to spend her life.
n a psrt oft, at least, in IN asylum
or the insane. l loved her-not be-
ause pity is akin to love, nor only
of her beauty, but because-l
Gould nbt cell Why. only knew that
loved her with my whole heart
The yhtients began to move here and
here around the room, some regarding
ne with curious looks Seeing me
there, Sibyl-I already dared
all he4that in my heart-approached
nae. 81 : SAd1ed. and the smile lifted
10 sad1ess from her lace. and bede