The record-union., 1895-10-05
AN INSANE ASYLUM ROMANCE.

OF long, lean arm and hand.
''It is just the night for story telling.
and as | happen TO be in reminiscent
mood will tell you the romance of my
life, and whatever it may lack. it at least
has the advantage of being out of the or
dinary"
L accepted the invitation gladly
enough, knowing from what | had seen
of the doctor and his charming wife that
the tale would be an intensely interest
ing one.
1T all happened some years ago." he
began. when L was house surgeon at
the asylum at s. for the insane. l
was young and enthusiastic then, and
this was my first charge of any import
ance. Among the patients under my
care was young woman, Bertha Noble
by name, whose case particularly at
tracted me. She was a beautiful woman,
magniicently proportioned. but it was
her eyes which first drew my attention.
They were dark blue in color, which, in
moments of intensity, turned almost
black. In their shadowy depths there
Iurked no gleam of madness, only a
dunno pleading which was pititul in the
SAti6III6. Su0 WaS III tu6 lllCu-
rable ward. but in spite of this fact and
that "melancholia incurable" were the
ominous words set down against her III
the asylum register, l found her most
tractable patient.
After a careful observation of her case
L satisfied myself that she was not. and
never had been insane, and that some
sinister motive had been at work i'll
placing her behind tho bars OF mad
hOnSA
but after | had once succeeded in con-
vinClng her that | was her friend, | eX
tracted from her the information that she
had once been married and her hus-
bands address. In speaking to her l
was careful not TO build up hopes which
might never be fulfilled. Nevertheless l
determined 10 do little private detect
i've work on my own account. L came
to this conclusion early in the spring, and
upon my annual vacation. which OC
CURED few months later, l made the
subsequent Investigations.
"Prior to my departure l had Bertha
removed from the asylum to the asylum
farm, large tract of farming lana some
ten miles from the asylum proper. |
shall never forget the look of gratitude
which came into the poor girls eyes
when | told her what | had done. She
shed tears OF thankfulness, and seizing
my hand impulsively carried it TO her
lips. L confess ! was singularly over
come, my fair patient having made an
undeniaDle Impression upon me.
The very first day | was at liberty |
set forth on my quest for Bertha Mobiles
hus band. AS l had expected the local
ity was in a miserable portion of the
town and the house was a sQuaIid tene-
ment. The wreck of what had once been
handsome man, bearing traces on his
face OF a former refinement, responded
TO my summons. one look into his face
was sufficient to tell me that the man be-
fore me was on the verge of the grave.
"'W ell, what do you want?' he snarled,
raising his fiery eyes to mine for an in
slant. State your business and be quick
about it. I'm not given TO receiving call
ers.'
81 am DR.. Dean from s. Asylum
1 answered.; and Pve come to tell you
Of your wife Bertha Noble who is con-
fined there on false charge of insan-
ity.'
LAS 1 spoke 1 looked straight at him,
and did not fail to note the deadly pallor
which overspread his cOuntenance. The
way in which he clutched. couvulsiveIy,
at his throat, was significant.
"'You lie,' he gasped hoarsely, recov-
ering himself by an effort. Bertha No
bic is not my wife. l don't know her. |
never heard OF her,
LAS he spoke he attempted to close the
door, but placed my foot in such a po-
sition that he could not do so.
"'Y ou might as we'll tell me the truth, for
l will not leave this house until you do.
Bertha Noble is your lawful wife, who,
for some vile purpose Of your own, you
have confined in lunatic asylum.
have come to demand justice for that un-
happy woman. II you do not confess all
to me l shall call in the police
''For moment he glared like a wild
beast at bay. Then seeing resistance
would be useless, he led the way to
dngy room at the end of long passage.
The only light came through a couple of
dirty windows, the only furniture a deal
table upon which stood half empty bot
tle rickety chair and tumb BILE down
bed.
"'Sit down. said the man, indicating
the chair. You see the furniture is not
extensive
80 saying, he perched himself upon
The end OF the table. If he had look ed
daylight shining upon him. he looked
absolutely CHASTITY now.
"I suppose Bertha has told you ALL
he began, and that the game is up
Well, don't care. L have had my fling
and I've enjoyed the money. You can
see there is very little of it left, or |
wouldn't be here. Besides. [ haven't
me L am dying of consumption.
might, perhaps, have made some sort of a
statement before | died. but you've fore
stalled me-
LAS he spoke violent fit of coughing
seized him which cruelty shook him from
head to foot, leaving him white and ex-
hausted. lie took a long draught from
the bottle which seemed to temporarily
revive him.
"'Well,' he said as soon as he regained
his breath, L suppose you've come for
confessiOu.'
~ have L responded, and drawing
my chair up to the table, produced writ
ing materials which L had provided N.Y.
self with beforehand. L think it would
be more reasonable, all around to tell
the facts of the case to me, and so avoid
publicity
''Y ou're cool one,' he said. gazing
upon me admiringly. Had you ap-
preached me few years ago when [
was strong and well. you would not have
found your work so easy; but, as l said
before, l don't care now, my time is
most up. | placed Bertha in the Insane
Asylum because L wanted her fortune
She was an only child, and when her
parents died they bequeathed all they
had TO her on condition that it would re-
vert to me In case of her death or of any
calamity Detailing her which should
make ueI mentally incompetent IhlS
last clause gave me the chance l was
waiting for. Her fortune was considera-
BILE, and could / once get control of it
would enable me to lead such a life OF
luxury and ease as | had always dreamed
of, but had never been able to realize
Murder L could not do, but another
and easier method of Kidding myself of
my wife was open before me. L would
have her placed in the Insane Asylum as
a hopeless maniac. l have a considera-
BILE knowledge of medicine, and this
knowledge [ made use OF. I dosed her
with drugs on the plea that they were