The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-10
Helen Dacy's Lunatic.

thought it must be a funeral procession,
but moment later she perceived that 1t
was something more distressing. 1t was
the walk of those who had survived their
own death In other words, it was body
of insane patients exercising the bodies
that held their perished minds. Helen
shrank aside and stood fascinated while
they passed her. Some of them looked
at her curiously, or with lack luster gaze
or wistfully. A sudden appreciation OF
her own youth and health and sanity
came over her, and made her all the
more pitiful toward these unfortunates.
The procession had passed, and she was
about resuming her way TO the hospital,
when one of the men quilted the ranks
and walked hurriedly around. The at
tendants had not noticed his desertion,
and his steps on the sward made no
sound He came with a rapid, gliding
step toward Helen. showing his teeth in
a broad smile Helen decided that how
ever impertinent his intentions might be
at least he was in good humor. This
was consoling, but il did not keep her
hands from turning cold with nervous
dread.
As he approached he lifted his hat with
a courtly air. 1t was evident that the
poor wretch had once been gentleman
but even the most gentlemanly of luna
ties was not companion 10 choose. and
Helen moved behind a low lilac bush. She
felt that she was white and that her eyes
were wide-stretched, but she tried mot
to show her alarm. Confidence, she had
always heard. was needed in dealing with
the insane The man moved more eau
tiously and fixed an undertaking gaze
upon Helen.
Madam said the man in a peculiarly
quiet voice. '1t is a pleasant morning"
Something in the words suggested
scene in Hamlet" to Helen, and she be-
thought herself of an experiment. She
would soon determine whether or not the
man had a CLEAN Of reason.
us it?' she asked. turning her eyes to
the sky ''Why, indeed, l thought It was
raining!"
The man had look in his face akin to
pity. perhaps you are right" he re-
piled gently. 'It may be raining. 1t is
not always possible for me to tell except
when I see people carrying their umbrel-
las"
"Sensory nerves quite obtuse" thought
Helen. 81 have heard that II is common
with degenerates." The man moved a
little nearer, and Helen ventured to go
still further around the lilac bush. He
stopped still, and they faced each other
over the low shrubbery. What an agree
able looking creature he was with his
soft brown eyes, his long, delicate face,
and his high brow. He looked as if he
might have been intended for poet
Probably he had been, but had gone one
step further. Helen had not read Lom-
broso for nothing.
do you ever write poetry" she ask
ed with genuine curiosity.
The man blushed. Helen had not
dreamed that a lunatic would blush.
'rWhen 1 find a fitting subject" ne con-
fessed.
"a! And what should you consider a
fitting subject?"
'eWhy-your' The words came explo-
sively. They did not seem to be meant
for a compliment. The man spoke pa
thetically 1t seemed as if there were
tears in his eyes. Helen answered as II
he were a child:
do I seem so sad to your" she asked.
"Does it make the tears come in your
eyes to look at me, poor MANI"
Indeed. it does" he replied, quite sim
ply. 81 think you are the saddest thing
I ever saw"
81 wouldn't die for anything" she ex-
plained. st like to live. I find plenty
of things to laugh at" And to convince
his wandering wits that this was the
truth she broke into a merry laugh, which
astonished the melancholy spirit of the
place.
eff I give you my hand" said the man
kindly. will you not walk back with
me to the house,"
To take his hand, TO let him get hold
upon her. It was CHASTITY. He moved to-
ward here. There seemed nothing for it
but to run, and run she did. speeding
over the soft lawn with rapidity that
astonished herself. She could hear him
calling to her but she sped on, till, final
", a hysterical impulse, born of her
fright and fatigue. took hold of her She
began TO laugh again, and the musical
half-weeping laughter foated behind her
as she fed. Then. breathless, she STUN
bled in a ground mole's tunnel and fell
fat. She buried her face in the grass
and waited, her heart paining with the
stress of its work. A second later two
arms were about her and she was lifted
to her feet She faced the lunatic. They
were Of a height and they stood looking
ar each other. both of them pale and
trembling. his arm still supporting her.
''Poor child" he murmured. ''how sor-
~ I am that I frightened you. Perhaps
I ought not TO have run after you. But
I was afraid you would leave the grounds
and come to some harm.
She would have liked 20 have 'explained
70 him that one need not come TO harm
outside Of their grounds. but perhaps ii
was as well that he thought otherwise.
She would tell him the truth about her
self Perhaps he would understand. An,
what a pity that such an engaging race
should hide a ruined mind!
you must try to understand" she said,
slowly. that I do not live here In the
in the hospital I am here for the frst
time. I have not vet been up 10 the
the building you know. ! came 70 visit
a relative who IS here. II seems pleas
ant place Have you been here long?"
NY dear Young Iadv." cried he, Il
also am a visitor I also came 70 visit
an acquaintance. with whom ] was va
ing moment since. I approached you
to ask II you knew when the next train
went TO town. but when I addressed you
7 Judged from your reply that you were
one Of the inmates"
Helen sank gently down on the grass.
~ think I must rest z moment" said
she IL an much surprised Her tone
Indicated something more than surprise
Z confessed - a great relief she paid
her visit 10 the asylum and she and Vic
tor Law. her Iunatfc. went back n the
same train together To both Of them
the afternoon seemed the most interesting
Of their lives
why were there tears il vour eves?''
she asked before they parted, when you
talked with re a. hrst7''
why. - seemed % ne that ! had rev
e. encountered anything - sad ss shat
tered mind behind eyes so-please pardon
me-Sa beautIfui as yours 7 know T a1