The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-09-30

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| in mind.
Mr.. William retired, leaving me with
my charge. The change, at least, fur
nished the pressing requirements for
the time. Unsuited though it was to
my taste, | soon fen into the dull
routine the life of nurse to a mad
man furnishes, and, before week was
up l felt myself perfectly able to take
any frst-class position that offered as
keeper of the unfortunate insane COM
munity.
| Mr.. Charles, at times, was violent
and rough in his manner, but after
had given him taste of the straight
| jacket few times, he troubled me
very little. Occasionally he would
| go down on his knees and plead love
for an imaginary lady, then start UP
with a clustering air, and order ME
out of the room as If had no business
there. And really, l must say there
was very little need of my staying by
him all The time; but was paid for it
so was obliged to obey.
They were both bachelors, having
considerable property. Mr.. Charles be.
came insane few years previous His
brother preferred taking charge of him
instead of sending him to an asylum.
At times, Mr.. William did not ap-
pear as rational as he should be, but it
was his peculiar manner. / learned
from the servants that he had been for
years paying his addresses to a Miss
Stebbins, an elderly maiden lady be-
longing to one of the first families of
Louisville. She often visited the
house He would be very tender in
his manner toward her, and would Of
fer her his arm when they walked in
the garden, but marriage, or any ar
rangement to that end, was never hint
ed at. He seemed to be content with
paying the polite addresses due from
an engaged swain to the object of his
choice, and there it ended 1t was evil
Gent that he was either too baShful
to proceed with his suit beyond that
mark, or else the lady objected to him
and preferred ngle-blessedness to the
duties and cares of married life
The latter seemed improbable, as
Miss Stebbins, when they premenaded
on the piazza, hung lovingly on his
arm, and threw such sweet glances at
her escort that they betrayed her will
ingness to unite her fortunes with his.
Then it was clear that the fault was
on the part of Mr. William.
AS the summer advanced Miss Steb-
bins came oftener. The greenhouse re-
quired rearranging before winter set
IN. The alterations were begun and
carried out under her plans. Mr.. Will
liam was willing slave to her ideas;
and as | watched him from my win
dow receiving her suggestions about
how the dome in the centre was to
be built, really believed that had she
proposed carrying it up hundred
feet high, he would have had it done.
1t was evidently coming to climax.
Mr.. William intended getting mar
ried; If not to Miss Stebbins, certainly
some lady would soon be mistress Of
his establishment
At present. no other female appear
ed. The only conclusion therefore to
be drawn was that Mr.. William Harri-
son and Miss Clarinda Stebbins, both
of the city of Louisville, were about to
commit matrimony.
AS for myself, during the hot wealth
er having little to do | was fast growing
fat and lazy, and the financial prospect
before me looked decidedly cheering.
So well had managed my charge, that
Mr.. William hired me by the year; an
agreement was made out, which we
both signed, that / was to continue
in the capacity of nurse to his brother
for the space of twelve months, be-
ginning June the first, at a salary of
one hundred and fifty dollars month.
Immediately after we had made this
permanent arrangement, Mr.. William
left Louisville for a few days and l
was alone with Mr.. Charles.
One fine afternoon he was taking his
after dinner nap, which generally last
ed for couple of hours. | foolishly
left him and went out for a walk. l
was gone about an hour When | re.
turned to the house, sight met my
eyes that made my blood run cold
Mr.. Charles was. In the room, not his
own, kneeling at the feet of a lady.
l always prided myself on being a
gallant and would never allow a lady
to be ihsulted, much more to see her
at the mercy of a mailman. rushed in
and secured him.
How, dare you come in here and be-
have in this manner, you rascal?" he
said, in his usual crazy manner.
"fil show you" replied, taking the