Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-02-09


culiarly quiet voice, ut is u pleasant
morning"
Something in the words suggested
n scene in Hamlet" to Helen, and She
bethought herself Of an experiment.
She would soon determine whether OF
not the man had II CLEAN of reason.
us it? she asked, turning her eyes
to the sky. why, indeed, | tho ught
it was raining!"
The man had a look in his face
akin to pity, "Perhaps you are
right" he replied. gently. ut mag be
raining. 1t is not always possible ioI
me to tell except when | see people
carrying their umbrellas"
"Sensory nerves quite obtuse,'
thought Helen. "a have heard that il
is common with degeneates." The
man moved Il 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 lie might
have been intended for poet. Proba.
bly, he 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 no,
dreamed a lunatic would blush.
when find fitting subject" he
confessed.
"Ah! And what should you consider
a fitting subject?"
"Why-you!" The words came out
eXplosvely. They did not seem to be
meant for a compliment. The man
spoke pathetically. 1t seemed as il
there were tears in his eyes. Helen an
swered as If he were u child.
do seem so sad to you?" she asked
Does il make the tears come in your
eyes to look at me, poor MANI"
Indeed il does" he replied. quite
simply. 81 think you are the saddest
thing | ever saw"
81 wouldn't die for anything" she ex.
planned. ~ like to live. 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.
"If ] give you my hand" said the
man, kindly. will 1, on not walk back
with me to the house,"
To take his hand, to let him get hold
upon her! 1t was ghasty. He moved
toward her. There seemed nothing for
ii but to run. and run she did, speed
ing over the soft lawn with a rapidly
that astonished herself. She could hear
him calling to her, but she sped on, till,
finally, hysterical impulse, born of her
fright and fatigue, took hold of her.
She began to laugh again, and the
musical, halfrweepng laughter floated
behind her as she fed Then, breath
less. she stumbled in a ground mole's
tunnel and fell fiat. She buried her face
in the grass and waited, her heart pain
ing with the stress of its FORK. A Sec
ond later two arms were about her and
she was lifted to her feet. She faced the
lunatc. They were of a height and
they stood looking at each other. both
of them pa.e and trembling, his arm
still supporting her.
Poor child" he murmured, show
sorry | am that | frightened you. Per-
haps ought not to have run after you.
But ! was afraid you would leave the
grounds and come 10 some harm"
She would have liked to explain
to him that one need not come
10 harm ouside of the grounds. but
perhaps it was 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
miudl
"You must try to understand" she
said, slowly, "that DO not live here
in THEM the hospital. am here for
the first time. have rot yet been up
to the-the building, you know.
came to visit relative who is here
1t seems pleasant place. Have you
been here long,"
J my dear young lady!" cried he, 81
also am visitor. also came to visit
an acquaintance, with whom ! wa.
walking a moment since. approached
you to ask If you knew when the next
train went to town, but when ] ad.
J.. dressed you judged from your reply
that you were one of the inmates"
Helen sank gently down on the
grass.
81 think must rest moment" said
she. IL am much surprised" Hei
tone indicated something more thar
surprise. 1t confessed TO a great relief
She paid her visit to the asylum and she
and Victor Law, her lunatic. went bach
on the same train together. To botf
of them the afternoon seemed the most
interesting of their nves.
"Why were there tears in your eyes,
she asked before they parted, 'wher
! you talked with me at first?'
why, it seemed to me that hat
never encountered anything SO sad a!
shattered mind behind eyes So
please pardon me so beautiful al
yours. know am rude. but ! mus
speak the truth. you had been mad
should have remembered you will
sorrow all the days of my life"
"Beng sane. suppose you will for
get me?'"
But she knewwell that h, woul,
not give himself the opportunity. Sh'
was quite certain that she should SCI
him often. 1t woul, have been gro
tesoue anti-climax not TO have me
again after that afternoop.--Chicag'
: Tribune.