The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-30
iction
TWO LUNATICS.
BY p. Y. BLACK.


this was really too bad. In a very
short time, however, expect TO
leave"
"Oh, dear" she thought. her eyes
dimming, "they all say that! To think
that the poor man Will never, never,
never leave! am so glad-for you"
she said aloud. "You win be over
joyed.'
"Oh, I-yes. But do you know this
sanitarium is not so bad?"
'Do you mean" she said gently,
surprised, 'that you will-er-have
any regrets in leavingT"
NE" he said. mot exactly that, Of
course-not regrets so far as concerns
myself, for Il is so humiliatlng to be
committed, you know" He paused
But" he went ON, "even In asylums
one makes friends, and-one regrets
for them"
He looked down with tenderness
blushed, and for n moment there was
silence. Then she said, with an obyi
ously strained laugh:
1--WE are friends. of course, Mr.. ST.
John. What an awful existence It
would be here If one had no sympa-
thetic friends! But you must not re-
gret so much on my account. In a
very short time | think my friends
viii take me home"
He choked a groan before she could
hear It,
"The poor little thingv' he thought
"They all say that And that decent
young fellow. the doctor, assures me
her case is very puzzling and her
friends fear incurable am so glad
for you" he said. Would II not be
jolly II we became friends I'm the
world as we have been when out of
the worldY"
Then he blamed himself again.
IF she really likes me-" he thought
"and | think the unhappy child does,
should never had said that. 1t is
cruel. brutal, to put such thoughts IN
her head"
She was looking at him with the
fearful smile we essay when we en-
courage one who does not realize that
death is near
at would be nice-very nice in
deed"
They were silent again, each sorrow.
ing for the other.
There were many other patients
strolling on the lawns or sitting in the
summer houses. patients of all kinds.
Miss Tracy and st. John stood to-
gether, silent now and unostentatious-
ly observant. A sturdily built (all
the attendants were that man was
taking n patient TO the iron barred
house. He did not do It violently. He
did 1t as one may see policeman oc-
casionally escort quiet prisoner with
a light touch on the captlve's arm
above the elbow. The patient was a
little excited, but there was no dis
turbance at all A visitor might never
have noticed II. The strange thing
was the unanimous backward with
dinwal from the attendants path OF
the patients encountered, the look OF
fright or dislike on their faces direct.
ed not at the captive but at the guard.
How they all dread hIm--instlnc-
tively, 1t seems" said the young wom-
an who expected to leave soon" "He
Is polite enough and not III looking,
but
"A man Of great experience In his
peculiar work, I'm told" said st.
John muslngly.
IT'S his eye and mouth that do It,
fancy"
"A thoroughly III dispcsitioned man,
with plausible exterior" said st.
John. 81 believe him capable Of it."
"Of murder? Do-oh. what are you
talking OF, Mr.. st. johns"
st. John looked very uncomfortable.
Miss Tracy looked vexedly embar-
rassed
81 heard some rumor Of a strange
death In the institution just before |
came | was thinking [ 1 II. Were yol.
here? Have you heard anything Of
it?'
He was little eager.
How could l be here? We came on
the same day. Don't you remember"
AL, tIuts
So they watched the attendant out
Of sight and turned TO go inside them
selves
They shook hands, although there
was no reason for It. They would
meet at the dinner table in few min
utes, But--they shook hands, and that
lingeringly,
tits awfully sad" st. John pom
dered 80 sweet face, seemingly 20
| intelligent. wish--oh, pshaw! What's
the use OF wishing? These things are
not to be remedied. | wonder it-she'd
give me photograph"
Miss Tracy went to her room slowly.
81 am silly to be 80 affected by an
ordinary case. There are thousands
like him. Butch, dear; oh, dearl II
I'd known l was TO have this sad ex.
perience | would never have consent
ed 10 come-neverw
They had no opportunity to meet
alone for several days. Perhaps they
might have made opportunities, but
they did not. Doubtless II occurred to
each of these two lunatlcs that II was
the wiser thing to stihe at once any
friendship which each thought likely
| TO cauga useless main I'm tha future Ia