Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-05-10
;THERlGHTFULKlNG;
He Was 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 hillside
in one of the fairest spots that ever
man helped nature to make. Roses
We're 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 Il
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 vacant, soulless
stare in his watery old eyes. His low
err lip had dropped, and his whole face
was absolutely destitute of intclli-
gence. For the moment one saw q
mere statue of flesh and no more.
Suddenly footsteps were heard ap-
preaching and there was a tlnkle or
feminine laughter coming through the
flowers. A light began to flicker back
into the lunatic's face, making it weak
indeed. but not mere brute, as it had
been before. Two young ladies', IN
cool summer frocks, accompanied by
tall young man in tWeeds ana 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
acitated. He shook with eagerhess,
and yearning came into his eyes Ike
the pleading look of an unfondled dog
would Miss Bremmil notice him:
That was the great question His posi-
ton as rightful king was, he wei
knew. one which was not well estaD
lishcd.
Many of the other inmates OF tho
ASYLUM resented it and wished to at
tract notice for themselves and then
foolish whims by minimizing his i'm
portance.
The visitors came up. "rhs Lucy
said Miss Bremmil, the chaplain''
daughter, to her friend, this, Lucy, Il
the rightful king of England"
'If l had my rights, MISS said tl'
old man, 81 should be a-sittihg OF
Queen Nictoria's throne now.
Incidentally" said the young MAJ
from oxford, ''he fills up his time dom:
little gardening. Your majesty Is
fond of fowers?"
"rhat l be, sir" said the rightfu
king, touching his hat, forgetting hi
dignity or perhaps finding the habits
of his former life in the world Wlthou
the walls too strong for him.
"When l comes into my own, miss
he went on, you shall have all the iii
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. lie be
gan to whistle.
The three young people looked at hin
pityingly, and then, with a word o
farewell, passed on their way.
81 am coming as far as the end o
| the gardens, DEAR" said the chaplain
| daughter to her guest. 1--WE no doun
Mr.. Fraser will see you over til
fields"
The young man gave her look o
deep gratitude. "Wonderful TACT h
thought to himself.
81 hope you've not been made misel
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"
at is rather depressing said tn
Girton girl Il dare say you'll thin
me unfeeling and horrible, but if pei
sons become hopelessly insane-reall
hopelessly, you know can't help fee
ing it would be better for them and 10
everybody else if they were painlessl
put out of the way"
"You haven't lived among mad pee
pie, as l have" said the chaplain
daughter quietly. "You'd be surprise
how sensible many of them are an
how good also. don't suppose tina
poor old rightful king ever had an Ill
kind thought in his life. He's Il dea
old thing and is always bringing IN
flowers. He's devoted to me-
aren't any Of the lunatics violer
sometimes?' inquired the young man
ooh, none on this side of the bu1lt
ing. They are harmless. Dangerou
cases are kept in a separate wing. 70
can lust see the roof over the tree
OF course I'm never allowed to e
there"
"How terrible it all seems" the Gi
ton girl said as they entered the las
long avenue, which led them to til
hillside beyond.
The sun began to make ready to sll
behind the hill, and it was now whs
the Tennyson student called "RloV