Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-11-04

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,EZN/K hand, but the facts,
~ J e as nearly as they can
" 4 e. be learned, are about
as follows:
Mr.. Melton, a young man interested
in the lumber trade, travelled on a
suburban train one Friday night to
attend the weekly dance at the asylum
for the insane.
Mr.. Melton is constantly longing
for experiences. He would rather
look at an opium joint than dona-
tion party, and would rather 20 slum-
ming than attend a Sunday.school pic
mic. The ball at the insane asylum
appealed to his love Tor the pictur.
esque. Lowry, the politician, had
promised to take him out, and Melton
had not allowed him to forget the
promise.
Lowry came aboard the train at one
OF the stations on the way out, and
the two were warmly welcomed when
they arrived at the asylum, for this
Lowry was a companionable man OF
considerable influence.
As Melton stood in the doorway of
the ballroom and glanced at the rows
of well-behaved and rather abashed
people against the wall, he could
hardly believe that he was so different
from the others. He reflected that il
he were to arise some morning and
tell the other boarders that he was the
Emperor of China and had more money
than he could use, he might become
one of this company.
Except that many of them were
pale and melancholy and q few
of them were heavy-eyed, intent
on studying the floor, tho assemblage
would have compared fayorably with
any chance gathering of respectable
everyday people.
He knew, of course, that the violent
patients or those totally demented
were not allowed ut the ball. The
company was made up of GONZALES
cents or those whose vision was merely
twisted SO that they could not see
things in their proper relation. Some
of the younger men had attired them
selves with particular care and wore
buttonhole bouquets. Many Of the
womens too, bore the outward signs
Of gayety. Melton WAS rather disap
pointed. He had wanted to witness
something "uncanny."
s'I want you to dance this evening,
said superintendent Lucas, standing
at his elbow. "One trouble with the
visitors is that they stand around and
stare at the patients as if they were 6
lot of freaks. Now, these people are
not dangerous. You needn't believe
everything they tell you; bat if you
mix up with them and are friendly
you'll find them very easy to get along
with. Come on, I'll introduce you to
some OF them"
The little orchestra was turning up,
and patient who had been installed
as floor manager was giving correct
imitation of a sane man who had beer
thrown under the same trying respon
sibility.
Melton Lad attended many evening
parties, bat he felt a new embarrass
ment as he passed along o line OF de-
mure women patients, and bowed te
each OF them in turn. He shook hands
with several of the men and ther
backed up to the wall to watch the
opening. The superintendent stand
ing beside him, said:
"Oh. by the way, you must meet
Miss Caldwell"
He beckoned to young woman
who was talking to the leader of the
orchestra, and as she came across the
room Melton whistled to himself ant
said:
"Here's q case of blighted love, and
she's not over twenty"
''Miss Caldwell, I want to presen
Mr.. Melton" said the superintendent
"He's rather bashful in company
but perhaps you can entertain him
Now I'll go and look after Lowry"
Melton found himself staring at ,
very pretty girl, who returned hi
gaze in half frightened manner.
His head buzzed, and he never be-
fore was so much in want OF topic
How was he to begin conversation
with a young woman who nigh
fancy him to be the prince who bat
come to rescue her from the tower?
ssDo you dancer" he asked in sud
den desperation.
She gave q start, and he imagined
that she shrunk back little.
"l'd rather not" said she timidly
y swell, then, let's sit over here il
the corner and watch the Others"
They found an out-of- the-ws,
place, and Meltcn, who had recov
cred little, remembered the instruc
tions given him by the superintend
ent.
sThese dances are very pleasant lit
tie AFFAIR."" said he. "They seemed
to be attended by an agreeable lot o
people,"
"l think it's o good idea to have
them," said she. "You know most o.
these people, of course. !"
tI'Ve met o number of them," ht
replied.
'You like MIR. Lucas, don't you p
every well, indeed. Nice fellow.
"He didn't tell you,- did he, that
was cousin OF his?"
Mr.. Melton began to suspect the
nature of her delusion. He resolved
to be diplomatic.
ooh yes, / knew that" he said.
$50 you're cousin of Mr.. Lucas?'
"Yes, I'm here visiting him. I've
been here aboat two weeks. Mrs,
Lucas is 80 good to all the-people
here, isn't she?"
Eyes, indeed. She's very consider
ate."
Melton now understood the situa
tion. This girl did not know that she
was in an asylum. They had told hel
that she was visitor.
'It's nice place to come to visit, u