Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-01-06
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! Helen Dacy's Lunatic
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.1GLEN .D,ACY went to Efan-not
n because she was insane, but be-
llse she had a<seGnd cousin who
was. Elgn is a beautiful towm but
its street ear. service is not good, a&la
Helen walked through the village ~
to the pleasant park with which e
state has surrounded the asylum fdV
the insane 1t is a walk of consider
able length from the gate Of the
grounds to the building, and Heien
was to encounter a melancholy sights
As she went along the serpentine
path a procession came toward her.
There must have been a hundred men
in it and they moved slowly and mos
of them WALKED with towed heads
Their feet appeared to press the Garth
heavily. At first Helen Thought it
must be a funeral procession. but a
moment later she perceived that il
was something more distressing II
was the walk of those who hae sur
viyed their own death. In other
words, it was a body Of insane pa
tients. exercising the bodies that held
their persisted minds Helen shrank
aside and stood fascinated while they
passed her. Some of them looked at
her curiously, or with lack-luster
gaze, or wistfully. \ sudden appre-
citation of her own youth and health
and sanity came over her and made
her all the more pitiful toward these
unfottunates.
The procession had passed and she
was about resuming her way to the
hospital, when one Of the men quilted
the ranks and walked hurriedly to-
ward her. None of the rest looked
around. The attendants had not no
ticed his desertion, and his steps on
the sward made no sound. He came
with a rapid, gliding step toward Hell
en-. showing his teeth in a broad smile
Helen decided that, however imperti-
nent his intentions might be- at least
he was in good humor This was con.
solng, but it did not keep her hands
from turning cold with nervous dread
As he approached he lifted his hat
with courtly air. 1t was evident
that the poor wretch had once been
gentleman, but even the most gen.
tlemanly of lunatics was not a com.
panion to choose, and Helen moved
behind low lilac bush. She felt that
she was white and that her eyes were
wide-stretched but she tried not t.
show her alarm. Confidence, she hat
always heard. was needed in dealing
with the insane. The max moved
more cautiously and fixed an unde
Waiting gaze upon Helen.
Madam said the man in a pc
culiarly quiet voice, sit is a pleasan
morning"
Something in the words suggeste
a scene in Hamlet" to Helen, and sh
bethought herself of an cvrerlmen
She would soon determine whether c
not the man had a CLEAN Ct reason.
rs it?" she asked, turning her eye
TO the sky. "Why, indeed, ] though
II was raining!"
The man had look in his fat
akin to pity. perhaps you al
right" he replied, gently ut may
raining. 1t is not Away possible IL
me to tell except when see peop
carrying their umbrellas
"Sensory nerves quite obtuse
thought Helen. 81 have heard that
Is common with degenerates." II
man moved little nearer. and Helt
vcntured TO go still further around Il
lilac bush. He stopped still, and IN,
!. faced each other over the low shru
berry What an agreeable lookl1
creature he wss WITH his soft brow