The Somerset reporter., 1900-05-24
THE RIGHTFULKING;
He Was o Mental Wreck. but He
Gave His Life For Another.

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 a 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 daffodil still fingered
to make the red roses jealous with its
simpler beauty.
Among the trumpets of the convolvu-
lus sat the rightful king. He was not
In state robes nor did he wear any
outward insignia of royalty. Indeed
he wore a suit of decent and servicea-
bic corduroys and a soft felt hat, which
he found more comfortable than a
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 a vacant soulless
stare in his watery old eyes. His low
err lip had dropped, and his whole face
was absolutely destitute of intelli-
gence For the moment one saw
Suddenly footsteps were heard APP
preaching. and there was tinkle of
feminine laughter coming through the
flowers A light began to flicker back
into the lunatic's face, making 1t weak
indeed. but not mere brute, as 1t had
been before. Two young ladies, in
cool summer frocks. accompanied by
a 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 He shook with eagerness,
and yearning came into his eyes like
the pleading look of an unfondled dog.
Would Miss Bremml notice himV
That was the great question. His posi-
ton as rightful king was, he well
knew, one which was not well estab-
lished.
Many of the other inmates of the
asylum resented 1t and wished to at
tract notice for themselves and their
foolish whms by minimizing his i'm
portance
The visitors came up. This, Lucy"
said Miss Bremmil. the chaplan's
daughter. to her friend this, Lucy, is
the rightful king of England"
IF had my rights. miss" said the
old man, Il should be a-sttlng on
Queen Victoria's throne now"
Incidentally. said the young man
from oxford, The fills up his time doing
little gardening. Your majesty is
fond of flowers?"
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 di-
mons out of the Tower of London.
shan't want 'em!'
His voice sank 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 a word of
farewell, passed on their way.
Il am coming as far as the end of
the gardens, dear" said the chaplain's
daughter to her guest. 1--WE no doubt
Mr.. Fraser will see you over the
fields
The young man gave her look OF
deep gratitude. Wonderful tact" he
thought to himself.
II hope you've not been made miser.
able by going over the asylum" said
Miss Bremml "Of course. | am quite
used to 1t, and ii doesn't affect me as 1t
must affect others"
1T Is rather depressing" said the
Girton girl. Il dare say you'll think
me unfeellng and horrible, but il per
sons become hopelessly insane-really
hopelessly, you know ant help feel
ing it would be better fol them and for
everybody else If they We're palnlessly
put out of the way"
You haven't lived among mad peo-
pie, as l have" said the chaplains