The Penn's Grove record., 1896-02-21

YOUNG Englishman was SIT
u ting In the hall of a hotel In Chi
4 n caeo gnawing his mustache. lie
was Q journalist, and a week ago no
les q parsonage than the editor Of the
Chanticieer had offered to consider a
series Of articles from his pen II hs
could hit on q new idea.
he had been cudgeling his brains ever
since. "a new ideaY" He must GER
tainly find tia new idea!
Charlie Bartlett watched the crowd
musingiy. He contemplated a pretty
woman coming down the staircase and
the youth at the cable counter n the
boy behind the book stall. Then he
wiped the p~erspiration ron ms race
and bought a newspaper.
Scanning the sheet he saw an adver-
tissment that suggested possibilities.
and no read It through again. 1t ran
thus.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES home
for q limited number Of patients OF
both sexes, suffering from stimulants,
shioral or the morphine habit; judi.
cious supervision; luxury and recrea-
lions; highest references. For pros
pectus and particulars, DIR. FERGu'
eON, The Retreat, Lake Lincoln"
The life In such a place ought to fur
uish very good copy" indeed. The
s4patients Of both sexes' should make
a peculiarly interesting study.
think" said Charlie Bartlett to himself.
II think I may cry Eureka The thing
hasn't been done and I'll drop a line to
the worthy doctor this afternoon"
He wrote a. a "victim to alcohol"
He said that he wished to place himself
nader q firm, restraining influence.
Fearing, however, that If he were at
all bored his recovery might be retard'
cd be would be glad to hear how many
ladies' and gentlemen were at present
residing under DR.. Ferguson's roof.
The reply, which came BY return
Of post, was satisfactory. The terms
were very little higher than he had
expected them to be, and the establish
ment contained twenty patients, OF
whom eight were ladies.
Lake Lincoln was a little over an
hours run from the city, and when the
train deposited Bartlett at the plat
form he found that The Retreat was
well known.
DR.. Ferguson welcomed him cordial
ly, .
II am happy to see you. Mr.. Bartlett"
he said: 81 guess you will not regret
your step, sir. l guess II you are In
earnest, sir, we shall oon have over
come the propensity complained Of"
Certain interrogatories followed. for
which he was partly prepared. Among
other things he WAS asked how long
he had been a victim to the habit. and
remembering that his appearance did
not resemble a confirmed drunkard's
he was careful to say that 1t was only
for a short time.
And then the 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 1t was
delivered, In order that 1t might DO
seen whether any spirits were secreted
In 1t.
ats like the customs" he said.
.that's all. One Of our necessary 'cus-
tomsr" He made the same Joke to
everybody 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.
II am allowed to smoke. / SUPPOSE
"Why, cert'nly," said DR.. Ferguson.
aYou are at liberty to do whatever
you choose here, sir-all but one thing,
and don't you forget 1t. We take sup
Der at 8, Mr.. Bartlett, and afterward, IL
1t Is pleasant, summer evenings, sit IN
the grounds"
It might have been a spa" hotel, he
decided, as he seated himself at the
table, and the suggestion grew stronger
as the meal proceeded. Everybody
here appeared to find the same delight
In dwelling on his symptoms.
A man next him, slipping Apollinaris.
turned and remarked: mo craving to.
day-this is the third day without any
craving, sir. Wonderful"
A woman opposite groaned audibiy
and shook her head at her neighbor
with a word Of Significance. Low"
she said, in a whisper, mighty low!
How are you, dearY" This patic.t, lie
subsequently learned, was suffering
from the deprivation OF her choral.
Gazing about him. his view was mel
by a girl who could scarcely have been
more than hve-and-twenty years Of age.
Her pale face was extremely interest
ing, and her beauty, in conjunction
with her youth and the situation, made
her a pathetic figure to behold. Ho
wondered for what particular vice she
was being treated, and II she would be
cured. He hoped he would be intro
e.-Sed to her later.
The hope was fulfilled. They were
made known to each other by DR.. Fer
Ruson in the garden-"Mr. Bartlett.
Miss Vancouver" She smiled gra-
ciously.
May l." murmured Charlie, IF 1t
ian,t indiscreet-7 But perhaps ]
oughtn't to ask"
what am ! here for do you means y
she said, turning her big eyes on him
frankly. "on. my trouble is morphia
I'm a morpho-maniae; what's yoursy'
.Er-drlnk." be said bashfuliy. but
I'm not a very bad case, you know;
I've put myself under restraint early"
.'ohr' she said. She laid her hand on
bis arm. as II by q sudc n impulse.
Don't you rraver~ she whispered.
AREN'T you burning to be at It'll Tel
me ALL"
Il should enjoy a little whisky, GER
minly," he admitted. And how about
fourselfi You are getting oyer the
r-weakness. you sayf'
Don't you believe i'll I'm hopeless.
hats what / am; nothing win ever
are NE Hs thinka am ssttjng RA