Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-07

sunny grounds few would have recos aiz.-i
in his pale features and emaciated figurp
the former sturdy sailcr boy Of the City of
Sydney.
Six wearisome weeks had elapsad since
the good doctor had found Paul uncon-
scious at the hospital gate. At least Paul
supposed II was a hospital go long as lac
remained in the sick ward but when he
was convalescent and able to be out doors
he learned the real nature of the place in
which he had found shelter. The good
Samaritan who had tended him so assidu-
ously was the house surgeon in a large pri-
Fate hospital for the insane. ana it was 10
the gate of this asylum that Paurs erratie
steps had carried him. The doctor ex-
planned all this to the boy the day before
ne gave him permission to stroll about the
grounds.
You will probably meet some queer
Characters out in the garden, my lad be
remarked as he stroked his long, brown
beard, while a quizzical smile lit up his
features, but don't mind them; they are
quite harmless. You see, this Is I; home for
insane people, and not a mere hospital, as
You supposed. Don't lie. that disturb YOU.
however. In two weeks You will be well
enough to leave, and then / shall lose my
only sane patient"
Yes doctor. and he'll be sorry enough
to part from enc who has been so GOOD TO
MIN, returned Paul fervently. "And, to
ln,nk you barely know my name" he
oh, yes 1 DO. you are number thirteen.
ChIIckly thirteen" laughed the surgeon
AS 70 your real name, what matter? You
say IL Is Paul Travers. that you are
stranger in the colonies and an American
by birth. All right, when 1 go over 10 vo,Ir
country III look you up and then you can
snow me how ungrateful you can be- Ell?
IA youl only give me the chance" ex-
Claimed his patient, and as the doctor
smiled gooi-naturedly and held ont he
hand Paul took the strong white fingers in
MS own weak clasp. The pressure gentle
though 1t was, told the doctor that the lad
was by no means insensible of the prea,
debt he owed TO his preserver
one week in the beautiful garden worried
WONDERS In PauFs color and in putting
mesh on his bones. 1t also brought him in
10 close relation with the poor demented
creatures who roamed in that earthly para
disc with scarcely any Appreciation az The
charms OF their surroundings
Kings and princes, dukes, earls. lords
judges, generals and other titled person.
ages innrmerable met daily in the vine
covered arbors or strolled aimlessly along
the graveled walks. which were bordered
with richly-hued flowers and luxuriant
tropical plants. All were full of absurd
concerts and whimsical notions that would
nave been extremely ludicrous had they
not been SO pitiable Paups earliest ac-
quaintance was benignant. white haired
Old gentleman whose popularity lay In
fancying himself to be the Almighty He
was ever searching for his dear and only
son. and his bland features were the frSf
TO greet the lad when he entered xhe gar.
den. Stepping up to Paul, in a sofe-spokeu
voice he inquired. with the greatest earnest.
ness IL his dearly beloved had Al last
come back to his father. u
Don't enter into any argument with
them" had been the doctors final caution:
in only irritates the poor wretches Just
smlie and aecede to anything and every
thing: So Paul bowed his head in ac-
acknowledgement of the imposed honor, and
was passing on when the old gentleman
whispered so strange that you should
have STAYED away SO long. I have needed
you sorely at times my son, but We can
arrange matters for the entire universe
now. Then he went over to a rustic bench
and wrote industriously on a paper tablet.
meantime keeping faithful watch OF Paul's
made his way back to the wicket lust
as he rang the bell the old fellow ! sidied,
up. and with an air of great mystery slipDed,
q folded note into Paul's coat pocket, re-
firing quickly with his finger to his lin
as an attendant appeared
Whlie resting on lounge in the sur
geon's office the lad brought to light a scrap
Of paper. On the outside was scrawled:
ping, God Almighty, Melbourne" Inside
was inscribed the following queer tumble:
God is love and motherless Stan Ser
geant William Topping, God Almighty. Two
and sisters. be kind. be kind to the breath
of life. Bless the queen and all little chill
dren. I mend clocks and watches. hearts
and souls and breathe life into the new
born babe. J am God Almighty; this is
my home. There is no place like holne,
where the birds are singing gayly and there
Is no place like home. DO not fear abe
devil. he is my worst enemy" .rF-r
% Paul could not help laughing over this
strange hodge-podge, and yet he felt q deep
sympathy for the noble-looking old man
who, the doctor said. had been at one time
a well-known Melbourne merchant Five
years before his wife and only sonvhad been
wrecked almost in sight of Port Philip
Heads, while on a voyage back from Eng
land. and the blow had been too severe for
his brain. already overburdened by business
troubles. He went hopelessly crazy and had
been confined in the asylum ever since. -
1t was a strange world in which to strug-
gle back to life and health. and but for the
CHEEKY talks with his good friend, the house
surgeon. the lad might hare had sorry
time while convalescing. But his sense OF
humor was nicely poised and the oddly OF
the situat ton helped him through. He cheer
fully lent himself to every new freak that
seized his companions and then treasured
his experience to recount to the doctor al
their Eext meeting. -,s- ~
Paul had made such progress in the good
graces OF the resident surgeon that the Two
became quite confidential. or as much So as
a lad OF eighteen could expect to be. with a
man Of forty. Up TO this time the boy had
avoided all mention of the wreck; but one
evening, shortly before the day set for his
uls charge, raul told MS friend the story of
the loss of the Koturah and the part he had
played in that awful tragedy OF the sea-
The doctor heard the lad through without
although an intensely interested
listener. Then excusing himself for a few
minutes he went up to his private room ana
presently returned with a bundle Of news
papers. Suspecting from the doctors man.
ner they contained a reference to the wreck
and possibly to himself Paul eagerly took the
proffered package and in a very short time
had lighted upon a graphic story Of The
Less OF the Koturah" az described 70 a rep
reJentative of the Melbourne Argus by LON
Carey, who, Ii will be remember.d.. Swan
through the surf to shore after leap.n, frs,n
the boat sent out In charge Of MIR. kiicy,, the
second officer. -
Carey spoke of his efforts to obtain relief
on the desolate coast ard his long tramp to
the nearest settlement, where he succeeded
in inducing half dozen men to return with
him to the beach, where they were utterly
powerless to render aid. He told OF tneir
rnding a half-drowned wretch who had es-
capped from the first officers boat when the
blind roller tossed the crew into the
treacherous surf and who was the only man
that managed to get ashore alive. Their
long vigil on the beach while momentarly
expecting the vessel to go to pieces was
thrillingly portrayed; also the starting OF
the bonnres and the flash lights thrown
upon the survivors on the wreck -.
1t was almost 3 o'clock In the morning
ha ftHp u-ha Knsn har