Little Falls herald., 1900-05-11
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He Was . Mental Wreck. but He Z
Z Gave His Life For Another. Z
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Not even the hideous pile of red
brick could spoil the beauty of the asy-
lum gardens upon an evening In June.
The huge house stood on hillside
in one Of the fairest spots that ever
man helped, nature to make. Roses
were opening on all sides, and here
and there a late danodn still fingered
to make the red roses jealous with it's
simpler beauty. II: - ~ ~ =
Among the trumpets Of the convolyu-
lus sat the rightful king. He was not
in state robes, nor did he wear any
outward insignia Of royalty. Indeed
he wore q suit Of decent and servfcea.
BILE corduroys and a soft felt hat. which
he found more comfortable than \
crown. On the bench by his side was
a pile of parchment deeds and legal
looking papers.
The rightful king sat with his hands
hanging loosely and vacant, soulless
stare in his watery old eyes. His low.
err lip had dropped, and his whole face
was absolutely destitute Of intelli-
sence. For the moment one saw q
mere statue Of flesh and no more.
Suddenly footsteps We're heard ap
preaching, ]nd there was a tinkle Of
feminine laughter coming through the
flowers. A light began to flicker back
into the lunatic's face, making it weak
indeed but not mere brute, as it had
been before. Two young ladies, III
cool summer frocks, accompanied by
Il tail young man in tweeds and with
the ribbcn Of an Oxford college on his
hat. came walking down the gravel
path, laughing as they came.
The rightful king became violently
agitated. lie shook with eagelness.
and a yearning came into his eyes like
lhe pleading look Of AL unfondled dog.
..Woukl Miss Rremanil notice hi1n?'
That was the great question. His posi-.
ticn as rightful kin: was. he well
knew. une which WAS not we'll es1.itr
lished
Many Of the ul,er inmates Of the
asylum resented it and wished to at
tract notice for themselves and their
foolish wllilns by minimizing his i'm.
portance.
The visitors came up. This. Lucy,
said Miss Rtclnnil, the chaplajn's s
daughter, to her friend. this. Lucy IS
the ri%htful king Of England"
''lf had my rights, MISS said the
old man, Il should lie :l-sitting on
Queen Victoria $ throne ROW.
'Incidcntallv." said the young man
from Oxford, "3se fills up his time doing
Il little gardening. Your majesty is
fond Of flowers"'
That | lie, SIR said the rightful
ktng touching his hat. forgetting his
dignity or perhaps finding the habits
Of his former life in the world without
the walls too strong for him.
when comes into my own. miss,
he went ON. ''you shall have all the Iii
mons out of the Tower Of London. !
shanr want 'cn!'
His voice sank 4 little and grew thil.
from the foolish face. He could not
think Of anything more to say lie be
gan 10 whistle.
The three Young people looked at ll!ni
pity in-ly. and then. With :. word. Of
farewell. passed Oh their way.
Il am coming AS far as he end Of
the -aIien>. dear" said the chaplain :
daughter to her guest. "Ivt no doubt
Mr.. fraser will see YOU over the
fiel,ls'
The young nlLu gave her Il look Of
deep gratitude. "Wondcrf,ll tact" be
thought to himself.
II hope you've not been made miser.
able 10y going over the asylum" said
Miss Brcmmii. "Of course, am quite
used to 1t, and it doesn't affect me as it
must affect Others" ..
1T is rather depressing" said the
Girton girl. II dare say youth think
me ullfeeling and horrible, but if per-
sons become hopelessly insaDe-really
hopelessly, you know can't help feel
ing it would be better for them and for
everybody else if they were painlessly
put out Of the way"
You haven't lived among mad peo-
pie, as have" said the chaplain's
daughter quietly. You'd be surprised
how sensible many Of them are and
how good also. don't suppose that
poor old rightful king ever had an un-
kind thought in his life He's a dear
old thing and is always bringing me
flowers. He's devoted to me-
"Aren't any Of the lunatics violent
sometimes ?' inquired the young man.
"Oh, none on this side Of the build
ing. They are harmless Dangerous
cases are kept in & separate wing You
can just see the roof over the trees.
OF course I'm never allowed to 20
there"
. "How terrible it all seems" the Cir
ton girl said as they entered the last
long avenue. which led them to the
hillside beyond.
The sun began to make ready to slip