St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-02-20

been accustomed to the best society.
She asked II that was my first visit to
Longvue hospital noticed she avoid
ed the term asylum" and felt it was
because 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 serene
lv and said it was her one gift Then
she turned the conversation to the
piano. which was . very fine instru-
ment with remarkably pure tone.
l felt an almost uncomfortable de-
sire to know more about her. She was
seemingly sane at the moment; per-
haps she had only occasional spells of
madness or . distressing monomania
] felt sure she could never be very vio-
lent
''Why not ask the usher or seek one
of the physicians?" questioned of my
self. But shrank from the idea Of
drawing the history Of my loves life
from any but herself 1t seemed not
only unkind to do SO, but positively in
| delicate.
No; l would try to find out her story
from Sibyl herself when we knew each
other better.
Have you been here long?' I felt
| myself . clown, q stupid fool. as
asked the question. Where were the
feelings of dclicscy had Just boosted
of to myself? Her great, brown eyes
looked at me in an odd. surprised way.
''Oh, no; Just a few weeks 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 . whis-
per. Il sometimes fear il stay here
| much longer I. too. shall lose my
reason and be like those unfortunate
beings"
Poor girl! She imagined those
around her insane-herself sane. She
imagined she had only come on . short
visit. instead of being incarccrated
there for an indefinite period.
almost wept for the pity of it, but l
answered her soothingly, and talked of
the grounds which were laid of in
winding walks that extended in every
direction around the building.
do You ever walk out alone?" I
asked.
Certainly" she said. seemingly sur
prised ''You do not suppose spend
ali my time in here, do you? should
perish If ! 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 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
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 I might be able to find |
. cure. fingered at the asylum near
~ an hour. She was SO charming and |
lovely, and talked SO sensibly and en-
tertainingly, it was hard to leave her
presence.
At last I went away, assuring her |
that would see her quite soon
The brown eyes took on . look Of |
surprise again, rs if she wondered why i
I, a 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 Sibyrs sad |
fate as l wendell 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.
knew I had left my heart in her
keeping. and. come what might 1
would love her. My sudden passion
was indeed SO great that felt willing |
to take her rs she was, il no cure could |
be effected, and knowing nothing of |
her anteccdents or former life. The
look in her sweet face was enough to
convince me that she was = good and
pure woman. No woman could sin and |
vet retain that indefinable expression
of purity that was hers She was un-
fortunate. she might be poor and friend
less--I cared for none of these things.
I loved her; she must be mine.
1 fastened homeward full of these
thoughts. secured the desired books
from the library. shut myself up in my
room and began to read. / read stead
ily until the shades of evening dropped
like . veil between the printed words
and my eager eyes.
felt I bad q clew; but I was strange.
~ weary, and my head ached terribly.
When the physician dropped in to see
me before bedtime he found me lying
on my couch. The rapid
walk along the hot beach, following
my excitement, and the strange things
I had read. were too much for me.
had = severe nervous attack that
me to my room for q week.
In the meantime l heard nothing of
Sibyl Did she think of me and won
der why did not come? longed to
know. Often tried to speak to my
physician about her, but words refused
to come. had formed theory in re-
y8Iu W ucE 1uoS1Nys ouu ~ AaSS 4ucS> /
toned him about il. rs IL it were only
IN imaginary case.
ibid he think such case incurable?
Could the insanity be transmitted to
My heart glowed with
Joy when he answered no to each ques-
lion. forgot that kner absolutely
nothing about Silbyrs malady-that
ny theory was based on supposi;ion
only.
Buoyed up with hope at the doctors
words, started out rs soon rs was q BILE
% walk to the asylum. was scarcely
strong enough for the effort but could
restrain myself no longer. The face of
sibyl was constantly before me-her
mage was ensbrined in my heart
still remember how blue the skies
we're, fecked here and there with bits
# white. and how the sea-water
;parkled rs the suns rays shone upon
t The waves, gently tapping against
he shore, made an accompaniment to
he song Of joy my heart was singing.