The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-06
;
He Was a Mental Wreck, but He
Gave His Life For Another. )

ONONSVSNSsVVYVO SVOVU%V
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 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 suit of decent and servicea-
BILE corduroys and soft felt hat, which
he found more comfortable than a
crown. Or 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
er lip had dropped, and his whole face
was absolutely destitute of intelli-
gence For the moment one saw
mere statue of flesh and no more.
Suddenly footsteps We're heard APP
preaching, and there was tinkle of
feminine laughter coming through the
flowers. A light began to flicker back
into the lunatcs face, making it weak
indeed. but not mere brute, as it 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 a yearning came into his eyes like
the pleading look of an unfondled dog.
.sWould Miss Bremmil notice him?"
That was the great question. His posi-
ton as rightfn! king was, he we'll
knew, one which was not we'll estab-
lisAed.
. Many of the other inmates Of the
asylum resented it and wished to at
tract notice for themselves aud their
foolish whims by minimizing his i'm.
portance.
The visitors came up. "This, Lucy, /"
said Miss Bremmil, the chaplain's
daughter to her friend, "this, Lucy, is
the rightful king of England"
eff l had my rights, miss said the
old man, II should be a-sitting on
Queen yictorias throne now"
: r" Incidentally" said the young man
from Oxford, "he 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 l 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 ava!
from the foolish face. He could no
think of anything more to say. He be
gan to whistle.
The three young people looked at hin
pityingly, and then, with a word o
farewell passed on their way.
II am coming as far as the end o
the gardens. DEAR said the chaplain
daughter to her guest. 1--WE no doub
Mr. Fraser will see you over tn
fields.'
The young man gave her look o
deep gratitude. Wonderful tact" b
thought to himself.
,,o,,, ,nr,ya nor haop roaIn plicaI
able by going over the asylum sal
Miss Bremmil. "Of course, | am quit
used to it, and it doesn't affect me as
must affect Others"
1T is rather depressing" said til
Girton girl II dare say you'll thin
me unfeeling and horrible, but if pei
sons become hopelessly insane-reall
hopelessly. you know-I can't help fee
ing it would be better for them and fo
everybody else if they were painlessl
put out of the way
You haven't lived among mad pei
ple. as | have" said the chaplain
daughter quietly. You'd be surprise
how sensible many of them are an
how good also. | don't suppose tn;
poor old rightful king ever had an III
kind thought in his life. He's a dea
old thing and is always bringing II
flowers. He's devoted to me-"
"Aren't any of the lunatics violel
sometimes?" inquired the young man
ooh, none on this side of the bull
ing. They are harmless. Dangerol
cases are kept in separate wing. Yc
can Just see the roof over the tree
OF course Pm never allowed to s
there"
..How terrible it all seemsw the Gil
ton girl said as they entered the la
long avenue which led them to Il
hillside beyond.
The sun began to make ready to 81
behind the hill, and it was now VIII
the Tennyson student called "Blo'