The herald., 1893-01-18
A LUNATIC.

NSuoi4ci. was III lilO cC0t SoSbh-Stto eiN
steering lines in order; Giffard and
Dixon were on tho bank talking to DR..
Rawle. AS | understood it, he was at
the head of a private asylum for luna
tics. He was Giffard's friend, not mine.
He had been taking a constitutional
when he happened to fall in with us just
as we were sitting down to our open air
breakfast. The chance meeting led to
Giffard inviting him to share our gypsys
meal. He did.
He was pleasant fellow, not too old
and not too young. liked him exceed
ingly. We talked of things in general
and of lunatics in particular. Something
led to his mentioning-l think it was
speaking of tho cunning of a certain
class Of lunatics and the difficulty of
keeping them within four walls--the fact
that one of his inmates escaped O day or
two before and haa not yet been retak-
en-. This was the more singular, as it
was tolerably certain he had not gone
far. and search he'd been made for him
in every direction.
AS Giffard and Dixon were saying
goodby preparatory to getting into the
boat the doctor laughingly said:
3 Should you happen to come across
him shall consider you bound to bring
him back safe and sound. He's man
of forty-four or forty five, tall and bony,
iron gray hair and has a curious habit
Of showing his teeth and winlsing his
left eye. Don't look out for a raving
lunatic, for Oh most points he's rs
right as you and |. He's wrong in two
things Whatever you do don't let him
lose his temper, for whenever he does,
though ever so slightly, he invariably
goes for murdcr-he's all but done two
keepers already. And don't talk to him
Of England or Englishmen, for if he
should get upon his native land, he'll
favor you with some observations which
will make you open your eyes"
We laughed Alf and Tom shook
hands with him and got into the boat.
We promised, If we should happen TO
meet him, we would certainly see him
returned to safe custody. Alf stood up
and showed us from the shore. We sang
out last goodby and left the doctor
standing on the bank.
1t was beautiful morning. The river
was delicious, clear as crystal. We could
see the bottom and every stone and peb-
BILE on it. Just o gentle breeze famed
the surface os the waters into ripple.
We lit our pipes and took it easily.
am good bit of q traveller, know many
lovely hooks and crannies in foreign
lands. l have lived abroad as much rs at
home, but l will match the higher
reaches Of our own Father Thames for
beauty and for charm against any seen
cry in Europe; and on an early summer
morning, after spell cf glorious wealth.
er, it is all in its plime-the water SC
cool, so clear; the banks so green, SO
charming: the stately trees on either
side; the mansions seen over the nea-
dows, or peeping out among the trees.
You raay choose your Rhine, Garda, Or
your Maggiore, or your golden Bay of
Naples, but leave Cookham and old
Father Thames to me.
Presumably we had come for river
beauties and the camping out. Pre-
sumably, but as matter of fact, a
young lady lived not so far ahead, a mu
tual friend, Lillian Travcrs. Separately
and jointly we had high opinion of
Miss Travers-not only of her beauty,
but of other things as WE'LL and having
come SO far we hoped we should not
have to return until at least we had
peep at her. Unfortunately, though we
knew Miss Travers, we had no acquaint.
ance with inister-there was no mistress,
We had met the young lady at several
dances and such like, but on each occa-
sion she was under the chaperonage Of
oid Mrs. Mackenzie. Apparently Mr..
Travers was not party man. But Lii
lian had promised to introduce us to
him whenever she got a chance, and we
were not unhopcful she would get the
chance now. So you see that little ex
cursion riverward had more in it than
met the eyes.
We went lazily on, just dipping the
oars in and out, smoking, watching the
smoke circling through the clear air
All thoughts of the doctor and his part.
ing words had gone from our mind. We
talked little, and that little was of Lii
liam and the chances of our meeting.
We had gone some 200 or 800 yards; we
were close to the shore; ALI could almost
reach it by stretching out his oar. We
were dreaming and lazing when sud-
denly some one stepped out from among
the trees. He was close to us--not a
dozen feet away.
II a q fall rofbar ihayl
under six feet. He was dressed in a
dark brown suit of Oxford mixture. He
had n stick in his hand, wore "a billy
cock hat and his coat was buttoned
right up to his throat. He had light
whislters; heavy, dropping mustache;
hair usually long and iron gray in color.
He might be soldier retired from his
profession or an artist out painting. He
certainly looked a gentleman
We were passing on when he raised
his stick and shouted out, ''Stop!'
1t was u regular shout, as though we
were half mile from him. We stopped,
although it was an unusual method of
calling attention.
"G'sntlemen." he said, still at the top
# his voice, 81 should be Obliged if you
,ould give me a seat. have q long road
b go and am tired.a
We looked at him and ut each other.
It wail free and easy style of asking
!avor, but he seemed gentleman, and
IN elderly one too. Common politeness
iictated civility.
Il nm afraid" said ALI, 1--WE have