Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-08-31

moan and sank down unconciousleS'
on the spot where she had been S'an'-
ing perfectly ttill, for SO many hours.
The telegram slipped from the.nervs,
less fingers as they laid her on the bed
and one Of the physicians read aioud'
&C. R. was drowned this morning
in attempting to cross the river where
the bridge was waahed away
All day and all night and the next
day until midnight the girl lay perfect
ly still where they had placed ner'
watched an1iously by the DOCTORS
Just at midnight she began moaning
and tossing about and one OF them
called Joe in from the next room ana
told him to send for nurse at once,the
patient was affected with BRAIN fever.
Joe was not rich man, but he would
Lave gladly given every cent OF his
hard. earned savings to bring BACK
health and strength to this pretty
fr;endlets child and all that money
could do was done for her during the
ensuinp six weeks. Then strength
began to return. After awhile me
sborp locks began TO grow, the light
| ness came back to her step and the
fresh color stole into her cheeks All
| 10 oked as before, but the beautiful eyes
which were now always wistful, not
blank and dull, but always shadowy
always seeking for something First
they placed the Hateful telegram IN nor
hands to bring back the absent memory
Then they tried the package OF letters,
dainty tied with blue ribbon, found
in her bureau drawer. She only looked
at the shyly at frat, then pressed them
to her bosom and kissed them, laugh
ing all the while as pleafed as a chiia
with a new toy, and refused to give
,beu back. Then Joe brought Ter
letter with her name on it, she took III
raptu, ously kissing bis hands and THANK
inc him, for the "pretty little thing"
So tb o doctors pronounced her in
sane aud the next day she was carried
off to the asylum smiling and kissing
her hands to the group in the door,
way as she drove Of
Every we elk Joe went to see her'
arrying LEI. sers written by himselp
nd flowers or bon-bons. She was
al ways deligh ted to see:him' iiingng
both arms arc, md his neck and greet
ing him with k Uses, clinging to bis
hands or hangir g on his arm while no
stayed. Weepin, 3 inconsOlably at hls
departure, until THE presents he iei'
were discovered, hen she would laugh
and sing over them as gayly as a bird
until his next visit.
One cold, windy evening when Clyde
had been there year or more there
were rumors aAoat in the city that
some inmates of the sylum had escaped
| Joe heard the news 1913 be came back
| from his evening duties. de stepped
into shop to get some sweatmeats
for Clyde intending to 60 up and see
| if she was as we'll and happy as on his
last visit. He quickened bis pAcs as
he neared the railway crossing to get
past ere the oncoming train drew in.
A shout went up from somewhere
on the other side of the railroad and
Joe, looking In that direction, saw q
slen der little figure, with short, dark
curls blowing IN the wind, waving
something in one hand, come skipping,
| dancing towsres him. The train rushed
by, A cry went up from the people on
| the other side Of the crossing, and Joe
was hustled aside as the group grew
larger and larger Ground something
lying close beside the track. "Asylum"
and ''insane. He caught the words as
he started on and turned back shud-
dering instinctivelY, and pushed into
the crowd. Lying on her back, just
as she fell, calm and peaceful, without
bruise or spot in sight, was Clyde
| Clements dead.
| In his own arms he carried her back
to the asylum. -i5g =. -, :.
When she was clothed in that soft
white wedding garment with the veil
/ and flowers, ready to. JOIN that lover,
who had gone before her. Joe cut one
\ of the soft little curls from her forehead,
and kissed the cold lips. -a.-y
Then they closed the cofip and took
her away, and Joe went back to- his
dull little room. lonely and deaolsts.
with all the love and light gone from
his life. For. tho' the man she loved