The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1896-05-07
WAS 1T M ADNEss'

MJ dear. Il you si' 'eep lhs ehlidfs
qtt-i uliltf .pd ttsa usp heiote
- 20 tbe b,pt by hs.d aches otHsliy
Wsse mc 10 ball 80 hour
/ IL vn costl house 10 which Nh
+ stesdmau The steat banker, i'ed, sud
sss in The sst larnrions OF easy chsir
10 be h.pdsoms hurry tbs, be nos
sought repo.e. A oting snd 'ympstbeti,
vile nsted the curtains 10 90 ten th'
lishi Tor the sBisuos msn apd tibet
ui'b her hfm. II hands she tender ,
pressed aud s,roked biz throbblns ten
pies Ds lIins 10 40 atmosphere Of ur
bounded love surrounded with eve y cou
fort tbst wealth could supply, be grad
uslly losl oil eoasei uyness pfolonndesl
slumbsr
Horrible visions so unreal aud yet Sc
vivid. ht tbrough Charles stesdmsn's
brain Hard, steru faces are shout him
restraining wallis aud iron pallet
Al times sspirit Of rage comes oS bin
"a blind, uuressonins. oyershsimiug
rage Is fills bis veins ui'h ruuuias tfe
He feels mighty strength through every
nerve snd 6ber OF bis being sud longs to
srappls the throat Of the bright eyed DE-
moos wbo stare st him throu b the grated
doors Of bis impfisonlne cell.
Hands reach ont aud clutch him. and
v hed be iiereely struggles to be free, they
thrust him into = padded cage, scarce
IsrSer theu o0tfin, 10 which he cannot
stand. he cannot rise; like curtain OF
death IL enshtouds him. Choking, sulo
ssting, be dashes bis fists, bis feet bis
head sgsiust the yielding sldes.then comes
oblivion, now complete, spsrtlsl, though
= hich bis suffering consciousness ls chsrg
ID with constant horror. and through
which vibta,e piereug, inbuman cries aud
,wial laughter
At times softer mood comes over bin.
le calls for wife aud children; TO bis
sger irquilss Tor those he loves false,
lypocrIticsl answers are returned Bot
be dear ones never. never come Alb,
.ow happy relief at length he awskens
\ hat a irlghtlul dream Mary, be cries
lsry.
But there is no answering touch, no ans
1erlng voice.
Is he not then swake2 Surely he ls.
lis pulse beats calmly; his eyes are
pen; be feels that be has his iull under
landing
Yet this is not bis chair Those walls,
bat window they are not 10 his house.
he Il Dor is hard benes b his feet Where
re the thick rugs. the decorated walls
be rich drsperies OF bis librsry9 And,
bove all. where are the gentle hands and
oice OF Mary.
Upon my word. doctor, this is smszine
believe be is himself. Look at bis
ya
lncreditlel He is an incursblel
But look at the expression OF his eyes
tell you this man is ssne.
OF course | stn sane, says Stesdman,
ID what do you mean by this tslk2
Thy am | not at homer And how do |
,me bere2
Now be sees that he is in q small room
tting in an iron char, which is fastened
the fJor.
Startled, bis eyes eagerly take In his
cold. gray walls-s little
indow, protected by ircn bars-a door
ith iron grating narrow iron bed,
,vered with neat, white counterpsne,
ID yet SO strangely, strangely familiar,
A quiet elderly man, dressed in long,
sck frock coat stands before him, and
that mans side is another, who stoops
"A peers intently 10 o Steadmsn's puz
ed. frightened face.
v hat does this mean. genilemep' What
i'm have | committed 10 my sleep that
AN 10 prison2 What vii my wife
ink2 Add he eudesvors to Iise from
: chair,
sm very glad, Mr. S'eadmsn, says the
an 10 black, plsciLg a restraining hand
)on bis shoulder, TO hear you ask these
lestions. You have been very sick but
~ you shall go bone. Your wife will
happy woman to he I OF your re
very!
Bat, doctor ii you are doctor why
.ould have been removed from home If
we're sick. Surely home is the best place
T sicS mau, aud my wife is be best OF
irsss Ibis 10 an outrage. sud III teach
~ scoundfels that such things csonot be
,ne with Impuni5y.
II 10 feels that old, mad iury oomiog up
tim. de dssbes stlde the Doctors band
riDg- to bis feet aud hufls himself St
e iron ,r,teu door In 40 instant four
nds seiz "a him well b. remembers that
tel touch there CONES the sound OF
itry ng feet, the door is opened and 10 4
sh tie attendants. Despite bis frantic
lrts hsndcuhs sre snapped upon bis
rats, and brswny srms hold him, paut
3 su sirusgIln !. down upon the iron b
/. o., what does tbs mesni Those
.rfu visions those dreams OF m I'd stlus
10. OF stern faces. Of resistless coercion, |
priton surroundings, h,.h through bis
Ipd. Were those dresms' Surslv tbi.
reslity. Add Il this ls reslity. g're not
ose things si Mereiinl God ls he
.d1 Yet DOT nos, II then; for lyios
ere, htlple,s s. . child. 10 the st.sp OF
ose horrible men. hi' reason sssqres hin
$, he 90 longer dreams.
Doc or, best plesdiosy. release ms.