Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-19

less Il parsonage than the editor OF the
Chanticieer had offered To consider Il
series Of articles from his pen ii hc
could hit cd y new idea.
IIe had been cudGeling his brains cver
since. ~ new idea He must GER
tainlg find ia new idea.
Charlie Bartlett watched II rovd
musingiy. He contemplated a pretty
woman coming down the staircase and
the youth at the cable counter ana the
boy bchind tie book stall. Then he
wiped the perspiration from his face
and bought a newspaper.
Scanning the sheet he saw an adVcr-
tiscment that suggested possibilities,
and Re read it through again. 1t ran
thus:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. home
for Il limited number of patients oil
both sexes. suffering from stimulantS.
choral or the morphine habit; judi
cious supervision: luxury and recre'
tons: highest references. Fol pros
pcct,s and particulars, DIR. FEliGJ-
son, Tie Retreat, Lake Lincoln.
The life ia such Il place ought to fur
nisii very good copy indeed. Tie
patients of both sexes" should make
Il peculiarly Interesting study. Il
think" said Charlie Bartlett to himself.
Il think | Faay cry Eureka The thing
hasn't been done and III drop Il line to
the worthy doctor this afternoon.
lie wrote rs Il victim 10 alcohol.
He said tiiat he wished to place himself
undee q firm. restraining influence.
Fearin-. however, that if he were ut
all bored his recovery might be rctard
ed he would I've glad to hear how many
ladies and scntlcmen were ut present
residing under Br. F~ergusoG's rOof.
The reply. which came by return
Of pest. WAS satisfactory. The terms
were xc.y little higher than he had
expected them to he. and the establish
mcnt contained twenty patients, OF
wl,oin eight were ladies'.
Lake Lincoln WAS Il little over IN
hours ruin from the city. and when the
train deposited Bartlett ut the pla,-
form he found that Tho Retreat" WIS
we'll known.
d.. Ferguson welcomed him cordial
ly.
Il am happy 10 see you. Mr.. Bartlett.
he said; II guess you will not regret
your step. sir. | gucss if you are Ill
earnest. sir. we Shall soon have over
como the propensity complained Of"
Certain intcrrogatories followed, for
which lac was partly prepared. Among
other things he WIS asked how ion
he had been Il victim 10 the habit, ana
remembering that lis appearance dill
not resemble a confirmed G~runkards
he was careful 10 say that it was only
for Il Short time.
And thea tie doctor rang for the col-
ored servant to show him to the bed
room allotted to him. and warned him
that he must not feel offended at his
baggage being examined when it WAS
delivered. ia order that il might Ic
seer whether any spirits were sccrctcl
in il.
ITS like the CUSTOMS he said.
that's al. One Of our necessary Gus
TOMS" He made the SAM joke To
c%verybod, in the first interview. Some
patients laughed. and some smiled wry-
ly. Charlie laughed, and the doctor
was pretty sure that nothing was being
struggled this time.
Il am allowed To smoke, | SUPPOSE"
why. ce-t'nly.' said DIR. Ferguson.
You are al liberty to do whatever
you choose here. sir-all but II thing,
and don't you forget it. We take SUP
per ut 6, MIR. Bartlett, and afterward. if
it is pleasant. summer evenings, sit in
the grounds"
1t might have been II spa" hotel, he
decided. az he seated himself ut the
table. ard the suggestion grew stronger
n the meal proceeded. Everybody
here appeared 10 find The same delight
in dwellin" on his symptoms.
A man next him. slipping Apollinaris,
turned and remarked: y craving to
day-this is the third day without any
craving. sir. Wonderful"
A oma opposite groaned audihiy
and slsoak her head at her neighbor
with = word of significance. Low"
she said, in Il whisper, mighty low.
How are you. dear" This patient. he
subsequently learned, was suifcrin;:
from the deprivation OF her choral.
Gazing about him, his view WAS met
~ Il girl who could scarcely have been
more Than hvc-and-twcnty years OF age.
Her pale face was extremely interest
ing, and her beauty. in conjunction
with her youth and the situation, made
her i pathetic figure 10 behold. He
wondered for what particular vice She
was being treated. and ii she would be
cured. lie hoped he would he intro
duced 10 her later.
The hope was fulfilled. They were
made known 20 each other by DR.. Yer
guson i'm the garden-"Mr. Bartlett,
Miss Vancouver" She smiled gra-
c%iOusly.
May H. murmurcd Charlie, "if it
isn't indiscreet-? But, perhaps |
oughtn't TO ask"
What am here for do you mcan:'
she said. turning her big eyes on him
frankly. "Oh. my trouble is morphia