The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-05-09
THE RIGHTFULKING
He Was v Mental Wreck, but lie
Gave uis Life For Another.

S.s<eseSe*e<se<o>eee%e$e4S
Not even the hldeous pile of red
brick could spoil the beauty of the asy-
lum gardens upon an evening in June.
The huge house stood on a hillside
| In one of the farest spots that ever
man helped nature TO make. Roses
We're opening ON all sides, and here
and there Il late daffodil still fingered
to make the red roses jealous with its
simpler beauty.
Among the trumpets OF the convolvu.
lus sat the rlghtful king. He was not
In state robes, nor did he wear any
outward insignia of royalty. Indeed
he wore n suit of decent and servicea-
BILE corduroys and a soft felt hat, which
he found more comfortable than
crown. On the bench by his side was
pile of parchment deeds and legal
looking papers.
The rightful king sat with his hands
hanging loosely and n vacant, soulless
stare In his watery old eyes. His low
er lip had dropped. and his whole face
was absolutely destitute of intelll-
gence. For the moment one saw n
mere statue OF flesh and no more,
Suddenly footsteps were heard APP
proaching, and there was a tinkle OF
feminine laughter coming through the
| flowers. A light began to flicker back
into the lunatlc's face. making 1t weak
indeed, but not mere brute, as 1t had
been before. Two young ladies, in
cool summer frocks, accompanied by
tall young man In tweeds and with
the ribbon 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 eagerness,
and yearnlng came into his eyes like
the pleading look of an unfondled dog.
Would Miss Bremmil notice himT
That was the great question. His posi-
ton as rlghtful king was, he well
knew. one which was not well estab.
llshed.
Many of the other inmates OF the
asylum resented II ana wished to at
tract notice for themselves and their
foolish whlms by minimizing his i'm
portance.
The visitors came up. "Thls, Lucy"
said Miss Bremmil, the chaplaln's
daughter, TO her friend, ''this, Lucy, Is
the rightful king of England"
"If | had my rights, MISS" said the
old man, II should be a-sittiDg on
Queen Victoria's throne now"
Incidentally" said the young man
from Oxford, "he fills up his time doing
II little gardening. Your majesty Is
fond of fiowersf"
"That be, SIR said the rightful
king, 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 d.
mons out Of the Tower of London. /
shan't want 'em!''
His voice sanl; II little and grew thin.
The momentary animation died away
from the foolish face. He could not
think of anything more to say. He be.
gan to whistle.
The three young people looked at him
pityingly. and then, with q word Of
farewell passed on their way.
u am coming as far rs the end of
the gardens, dear" said the chaplaln's
daughter TO her guest. 1--WE no doubt
fields"
The young man gave her look Of
deep gratitude. "NVonderful tact" he
thought to himself.
u hope you've not been made mIser-
able by going over the asylum" said
Miss Bremml. cor course, am quite
used to H. and II doesn't affect me AS 1t
must affect others"
TT Ii rather depressing" said the
Girton girl IL dare say you'll think
me unfeellng aud horrible, but If per-
SONS become hopelessly insane-really
hopelessly. you know can't help feel
Ing 1t would be better for them and for
everybody else II they were painlcssly
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 I'M
kind thought In his life. He's n dear
old thing and Is always bringing me
flowers He's devoted to me-"
Aren't any OF the lunatlcs violent
sometimesY 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.
or course I'm never allowed 10 20
there"
"How terrible II all seems the Cir
ton girl said as they entered the last
long avenue, which led them to the
hillside beyond.
The sun began 20 make ready to slip
behind the hill. and II Was row what
the Tennyson student calico blow,