Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-02-29
THAT GIRL AT LAKE LINCOLN.

A YOUNG EngNshman was sit.
~ ting In the hall OF hotel In Chi
4 - cago gnawing his mustachc. lie
was journalist, and week ago no
less parsonage than the editor OF the
Chanticleer had offered to consider
series Of articles from his pen II lie
could hit on new idea.
fie had been cudgeling his, brains ever
since. "A new ideaT He must Ger.
talnly find tia new idea!
Charlie Bartlett watched the crowd
muslngly. He contemplated pretty
woman coming down the staircase and
the youth at tile cable counter and the
boy behind the book stall. Then lie
wiped the Precipitation from Ills face
and bought a newspaper.
Scanning the sheet he saw an ndycr-
tisemcnt that suggested possibilities,
and lie read 1t through again. 1t ran
thus:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. home
for a limited number Of patients Of
both sexes, suffering from stimulnnts.
choral or the morphine habit; judi
cious supervision; luxury and recrea'
lions; highest references. For pros
pectus and particulars, DIR. FERGU.
SON, The Retreat, Lake Lincoln"
The life in such place ought to fur.
nlsh very good ''copy' indeed. The
"patients OF both sexes" should make
q peculiarly interesting study. u
think" said Charlie Bartlett to himself.
81 think may cry Eureka The thing
hasn't been done and I'll drop line to
the worthy doctor this afternoon"
He wrote as ''vlctim to alcohol
He said thnt lie wished to place himself
under a firm, restraining influence.
Fearing, however, that II lie were ut
all bored his recovery might he rctard.
ed he would he glad to hear how many
ladies' and gentlemen were Mt present
residing under pr. rerguson's roof.
The reply. which came by return
Of post, was satisfactory. The terms
were very little higher than lie had
expected them to be. and the establish.
ment contained twenty patients. OF
whom eight were ladies'.
Lake Lincoln was n little over an
hours run from the city. and when the
train deposited Bartlett Mt the plat
form hc found that "Thc Retreat was
well known.
DR.. Ferguson welcomed him cordial
ly.
II am happy to see you, Mr.. Bartlett
he said; II guess you will not regret
your step. sir. I guess IL you are In
earnest, sir, we shall soon have over
come the propensity complained Of"
Certain interrogatories followed, FOR
which he was partly prepared. Among
other things no was asked how Ionu
he had been o victim to the habit. anu
remembering that his appearance dill
not resemble q confirmed drunkard's
no was careful to soy that It was only
Tor short time.
And then tho doctor rang for tho col
orcd servant to show him to tho bell
room allotted to him, and warned him
that he must not feel offended ut h''
baggage being examined when It wal
delivered, In order that It might IN
seen whether any spirits were secretet
In II.
TITS like the customs" no said
''that's all. One Of our necessary cur
tomsv" He made the same Joke Il
everybody In the FIRST Interview. Som
patients laughed, and some smiled wry
u. Charlie laughed, and the docto
was pretty sure that nothing was helm
smuggled this time.
~ am allowed to smoke. I suppose!
"Why, ccrt'nly." said DR.. Ferguson
"You are d liberty to do whatevc
you choose here. sir-all but one thing
and don't you forget It. We take SUI
Der at Q, Mr.. Bartlett, and aftcrwarl,
Il 10 pleasant, summer evenings, Slt u
the grounds"
II might have been spa" hotel, b
decided. 40 he seated himself at til
table, and the suggestion grew stronge
% tho meal PROCEEDED. Evcrybod
here appeared to hnG the Same deligh
In dwelling On his symptoms.
A man next him, Shipping ApollInarl'
turned and remarked: mo craving tG
day-this 10 the third day without an
craving, cir. Wonderful"
A woman opposite groaned audibl
and shook her head at her nelghbo
with word Of Significance. "L0w.
che said, In Q whisper, mighty low
How are you, dearT' This patient. Il
subsequently learned. was sIlIerln
from the deprivation Of her choral.
Gazing about him, his View was me
BY girl who could scarcely have bee
moro than fve-and.twenty years Of az
Her pale face was extremely interes
ing. and her beauty, In conjunctio
with her youth and the situation. mad
her q pathetic figure to behold. II
wondered for what particular vice oil
was being treated, and II she would I
cured. He hoped he would DO intr
duced to her later.
The hope was fulfilled. They wei
made known to each other by DR.. re
guson In the garden-"Mr. Bartlett
Miss Vancouver" She. smiled gr
ci0usly.
"May l." murmured Charlie. III
isn't indlscreet-7 But, perhaps
oughtn't to ask"
"What am I here for do you mean
she said, turning her big eyes on hi
frankly. "Oh, my trouble IL morph
I'm morpho-man what's yours
"Er-drink." he said bashfully. "Bl
I'm not o very bad case, you know
I've put myself under restraint early
"Ohw she said. She laid her hand {