The Southern herald., 1900-02-02

show her alarm. Confidence, she had
always heard. was needed in dealing
with the insane. The man moved
mere cautiously and fixed an Cnde-
waiting g&ze upon Helen.
Madam" said the man in pc
culiarly quiet voice, 1T is a pleasant
morning"
Something in the words suggested
a scene in Hamlet" to Helen, and she
bethought herself Of an experiment.
She would soon determine whether or
not the man had gleam Of reason.
"Is it?" she asked, turning her eyes
TO the sky. Why, indeed, l thought
it was raiaing!"
The man had look in his face
akin to pity. perhaps you are
right" he replied. gently. ut mag be
rlining. 1t is not always possible ior
me TO tell except whOn l see people
carrying their umbrellas"
"SersOry nerves quite obtuse,'
thought Helen. Il have heard that il
is common with degenerateS" The
man moved little nearer, and Helen
yentured to go still further around the
lilac bush. He stopped still, and they
faced each other over the low shrub
berry. What an agreeable 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 a poet. Proba.
bly, be had been, but had gone one step
further. Helen had not read Lombroso
for nothing.
do you ever write poetry?" she
asked, with genuine curiosity.
The man blushed. Helen had not
dreamed a lunatic would blush.
"When l find fitting subject" he
confessed.
"Ah! And what should you consider
a fitting subject"
"Why-you!" The words came out
explosively. They did not seem to be
meant for compliment. The man
Stoke pathetically. 1t seemed as if
there were tears in his eyes. Helen an
swered as If he were a child.
DO seem so sad to you?" she asked.
Does it make the tears come in your
eyes to look at me, poor MANI"
Indeed it does" he replied, quite
simply. ~ think you are the saddest
thing | ever saw"
II wouldn't die for anything" she eN.
planned. 81 like to live. find plenty of
things to laugh al" 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.
"If give you my hand" said the
man, kindly will sou not walk back
with me to the house?"
To take his hand, to let him get hold
upon her! 1t was ghastly. He moved
toward her. There seemed nothing for
it but to run, and run she did, speed.
ing over the soft lawn with a rapidity
that astonished herself. She could hear
him calling to her, but she sped on, till,
fright and fatigue, took hold of her.
She began TO laugh again, and the
musical, haf-weeping laughter floated
behind her as she fled. Then, breath
less, she stumbled in a ground mole's
tunnel and fell fat She buried her face
in the grass and waited, her heart pain
ing with the stress Of its cork. A Sec
ond 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 locking at each other, both
of them pale and trembling, his arm
still supporting her.
Poor child" he murmured, "how
sorry am that frightened you. Per-
haps | ought not to have run after you.
But | was afraid you would leave the
grounds and come to some harm"
She would have liked TO explain
| to him that one need not come
to harm ouside Of the grounds, but
perhaps it wcs as well that he thought
otherwise. She would tell him the
truth about herself Perhaps he would
understand All. what pity that such
an engaging face should hide a ruined
mind!
"You must try TO understand" she
said, slowly, "tnat do not live here
in the-in the hospital. am here for
the first time. have not yet been up
to the-the building, you know. !
came to visit relative who is here.
1t seems a pleasant place. Have you
been here long"
! "My dear young lady!" cried he. 81
also am a visitor. | also came to visit
an acquaintance, with whom ! was
walking a moment since. approached
you to ask if you knew when the next
train went to town, but when ad-
dressed you judged from your reply
that you were one of the inmates"
Helen sank gently down on the
grass.
II think | must rest moment" said
she. Il am much surprised" HeT
tone indicated something more than
surprise. 1t confessed to great relief
She paid her visit to the asylum and she
and Victor Law, her lunatic. went back
on the same train together. TO both
Of them the afternoon seemed the most
interesting of their nves.
"Why were there tears in your eyes
she asked before they parted, ''whcL
you talked with me at tirstY
why, it seemed to me that had
never encountered anything SO sad as
shattered mind behind eyes So
please pardon me so beautiful as
yours. know am rude, but must
speak the truth. you had been mad
| should have remembered you with
sorrow all the days of my life"
Being sane, suppose you will for
get me?"
But she knew well that h: would
not give himself the opportunity. She
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