The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-01-06


there around the room, some regarding
me with curious looks. Seeing me stand
ing there, Sibyl-T Already dared call
her that in my hesrt-approached me.
She smiled, and the smile lifted the
sadness from her face, and bade me
good-morning. Young as she was
not more than twenty could see by
the ease OF her manner that she had
been accustomed to the best society.
She asked if that was my first visit to
Longvue Hospital. noticed she avoided
the term "asylum," and felt it was be-
cause the insane have often violent
dislike for that word.
answered that it was my first visit,
and complimented her on her singing,
saying that words could not express the
pleasure it had given me.
She accepted my praises very serenely,
and said it was her one gift. Then she
turned the conversation to the piano,
which was a very fine instrument with
remarkably pure tone.
l felt an almost uncomfortable desire
to know more about her. She was
seemingly sane at the moment; perhaps
she ha donly occasionly spells of madness,
or distressing monomania. felt sure
she could never be very violent.
'Have you been here-longp felt
myself clown and stupid fool, as l
asked the question. Her great, brown
eyes looked at me in an odd, surprised
way.
"Oh, no; just few weeks. I shall
not stay much longer" she said with a
sweet precision of speech. "Do you
know" she said, coming little nearer
to me and speaking almost in a whisper,
''I sometimes fear If stay here much
longer I. too, shall lose my reason and
be like these unfortunate beings"
| Poor grill She imagined those around
her insane-herself sane. She imagined
she had only come on visit, instead
of being incarcerated there for an in
definite period.
almost wept for the pity of it, but
answered her soothingly, and talked of
the grounds which were laid off in wind
ing walks that extended in every direc-
tion around the building.
''Do you ever walk out alone9" i
asked.
Certainly" she said, seemingly sur
prised. "You do not suppose l spend
all my time in here, do you2 l should
perish il l did not get out and spend part
Of the mornings and evenings alone"
/ remembered then that the fences
were very high, the gates massive and
securely locked. There could, of course,
be no danger in allowing the patients a
little liberty, il they had no tendency to
harm themselves or others.
resolved to watch for Sibyl and talk
with her alone during her walks. I felt
positive that her malady was not deep
seated. / determined to return to the
sanitarium and search through the doc
tors private library-to which 1 had
free accession books on insanity.
Every day would try to see Sibyl and
study her case carefully, and perhaps by
devoting myself heart and soul to the
work 1 might be able TO find cure.
fingered at the asylum nearly an hour.
She was so charming and lovely, and
talked so sensibly and entertainingly, it
was hard to leave her presence.
At last l went away, assuring her that
l would see her quite soon.
The brown eyes took on look of
surprise again, as il she wondered why l,
perfect stranger, should be so inter-
ested in her. But she answered me
kindly and left her.
There was no peace, however, in my
breast. thought only of Sibyl's sad
fate as 1 wended my way along the hot
sands, and sent up silent prayer that
the Ruler of all would help me find some
way to deliver my little princess from
the thralldom of insanity.
I knew / had left my heart in her
keeping, aud come what might, / would
love her. My sudden passion was in
deed so great that l felt willing to take
her as she was, if no cure could be ef-
fected, AID knowing nothing of her ante
cedents or former life.
l hastened homeward, secured the de-
sired books from the library, shut my
self up in my room, and began to read.
read steadily until the shades of even
ing dropped like veil between the
printed words aud my eager eyes.
felt had clew; but | was strange
ly weary, aud my head ached terribly.
When the physician dropped in to see
me before bedtime he found me lying
unconscious on my couch. The rapid
walk along the hot beach, following my
excitement, and the strange things l
had read, were too much for me.
l had severe nervous attack that
confined me to my room for a week. In
the meantime l heard nothing of Sibyl.
did she think of me aud wonder why l
did not comet longed to know. Often
l tried to speak to my physician about
her, but words refused to come. had
formed theory in regard to her malady,
and at last questioned him about it, as
if it were only an imaginary case.
"Did he think such case incurablel
Could the insanity be transmitted to pos
terityG My heart glowed with joy when
he answered no to each question.
forgot that l knew absolutely nothing
about Sibyl's malady-that my theory
was based on supposition only.
Buoyed up with hope at the doctors
words, started out as soon was able
to walk to the asylum. was scarcely
strong enough for the effort, but could
restrain myself no longer. The face of
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