The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-07-19

hosnmOnu. Il nOpo you VIII nhko
her welcome TO our home"
But Mrs. Delaford only threw a
slipper at her husband, burst into
tears and ran hystericaly upstairs.
ooh, Felix what's the matter2"
asked Rosamond, half frightened out
of her senses. Had 1 better go
homer"
''By no means, my dear Rosnmond,"
said the major. "You see have mar
ried woman with temper. But
she'll be all the more charming when
that fault is rooted out Of her charac-
tor"
The major went upstairs and tried
to open the door. IL was locked.
Just ma" he said gently, ''it is I.
Let me in"
81 won't" snapped the bride.
"Will you come downstairs, then2"
81 will not come ont of my room
un'il that woman is ont of the housep
sputtercd forth Mrs. Delnford.
"yery well, my DEAR" said the
major, and he returned TO the drawing
room with unrull,ed philosophy.
Mrs. Delaford adhered to her re-
solution, although II was much tried
by sundry peculiar sounds she heard
on the outside of the door.
Major Delaford has carpenters at
work, altering the house," thought
che. at makes but little difference
to Inc in any case. shan't stay
here"
At the end Of the third day, how
ever. shc concluded to go downstairs.
But wheo she opened the door, 10, and
behold her egress was barred by
grated iron door.
Mercy upon usl" cried Mrs. Della
ford. "What is this?"
please, ma'am," said the little
maid, who had brought her up her
meals three times day, "It's master
as had IL done"
"What forP" cried Justina.
"Please, ma am" said Hetty, trem-
bling al: l::over, don't you know you're
crazy2"
''lnsolent minion," said Mrs. Della
ford, "call your master at once"
Major Delaford came Immediately
upstairs, with Rosamond BY clinging
in n frightened sort of way TO his arm.
Glow do You feel now, my dear2'
he asked, solicitously.
"Tm well enough" snarled Mrs.
Delaford. "Open that door quickr'
"Madl Very mad, indeedw said
Major Delaford, in sotto voice, turn
ing to Rosamond.
"RufIianr cried the bride, chow
dare you speak SOP"
Getting violentr'added the major,
shaking his head.
LET me out, / sayl" persisted Mrs.
Delaford, rafting at the bars. "What
does this absurd mummery mean?"
'Perhaps a strait waistcoat would
be advisable" said the major. "But
as long as she remains tolerably man
ageable, shall not send her to an
asylum"
Mrs. Delaford began to cry.
"Oh, Felix, how can you talk so?"
Poor thing" murmured the major,
compassionately. "The hardest part
of insanity must DO when one becomes
partially conscious of its deadly
DOOM"
'Mrs. Delaford shut the door
rather .sehcmcntly and began to cry
hysterically.
'Tm not madr' said she. "I won't
be made mad woman OFF,
But how to help herself that was
the question. The door was barred
eiiectually-the windows opened upon
the dead wall of an stitution of the
Fine Arts and were three stories
above the ground. She might have
shrieked herself hoarse in that direc.
tion before any one could hear her.
She sat down to think. What could
she do? What was to become of her?
Did that dreadful hint of Felix con-
cerning the asylum really mean any.
thingt For once in her life the late
Mrs. Washington was actually fright
ened.
'Has my temper really been so ter
rible," she asked herself, "thut peo-
pie mistake it for--I can hardly
breathe the word-insanity?"
1t was new idea; she pondered il
carefully and cried bitterly over it.
When Hetty came, as usual, with
her napkin-covered tray Mrs. Della
ford's face was pale and tear-swollen.
"Hetty," said she, twill you ask
your master to step up here for few
minutes?"
Major Delaford obeyed the sum
mons at once.
"Well, my love-" said he, "what is
it?"
"Felix," said Mrs. Delaford, burst
ing into fresh tears, "I have acted
very foolishly. l beg your pardon.
And beg hosamonds pardon, too"
Major Delaford opehel the grated
door at once-Justina few into his
arms and then and there was a re-
Cancellation after the most approved
style.
Mrs. Delaford was as sweet rs a
June morning after that and if ever
she manifested symptoms of relapse
all that Major Delaford found neces-
sary was to allude, in a gentle way, to
lunatics and asylums.
III IT, Ii Ia.