The broad ax., 1909-01-09
Fiction
TWO LUNATIcS.
syP. Y BLACK.

'Tt was a shameful rap.. be said.
ION the part Of my people. The doc
tors we're very careless IN their dag
posis. To shut me mp In place IKE
this was really TOO bad In a very
short time, however, expect 20
leave"
"Oh, dear" she thought, her eyes
dinming, "they all say that! To think
that the poor man WI never, never.
never leavel am 50 giad-for You"
she said aloud. you win be over
j0yed."
"Oh, I-yes. But do you know this
sanitarium Is not 30 badg
do you mean" she said gently,
surprised, ''that you will-er-have
any regrets In leayingT
NO" he said, not exactly that. Of
course-not regrets 50 far as concerns
myself, for It is 50 humiliating to be
committed, ron know" He paused.
But" be went on, seven IN asylums
one makes friends. and-one regrets
for them"
He looked down with a tenderness
and a pity he could not hide. and she
blushed, and for a moment there was
silence. Then she said, with an obvi-
ously strained laugh:
I'VE are friends, Of course, Mr.. ST.
John What an awful existence It
would be here II one had no sympa-
thetic friendsi But you must not re-
gret 50 much on my account In a
very short time I think my friends
viii take me home"
he ehoked a groan before she could
hear It
'The poor little thingF' be thought.
They all say that And that decent
young fellow. the doctor. assures me
her case Is very puzIing and her
friends fear incurable. / am 50 glad
for you" he said. would It not be
jolly II we became friends In the
world as we have been when out Of
the WorldT
Then he blamed himself again.
'1f she really likes me-" he thought
''snd think the unhappy child does,
should never had said that. Il II
cruel. brutal, to put such thoughts In
her head
She was looking at him with the
tearful smile we essay when we en-
courage one who does not realize that
death is near.
cit would be niee-very nice In
deed"
They were silent again. each sorrow
ing for the other.
There were many other patients
stro1ling on the lawns or sitting In the
summer houses, patients Of an kinds.
Miss Tracy and st. John stood to-
gether. silent now and unoStentatious-
II obserTant A sturdfly built tall
the attendants were that man was
taking a patient to the iron barred
house. he did not do # violently. he
did It as one may see-a policeman oc-
casionally escort a quiet prisoner with
q light touch on the eaptive's arm
above the elbow. The patient was a
little excited, but there was ne dis
turbance at all "A visitor might never
have noticed Il The strange thing
was the unanimous backward with
drawal from the attendants path Of
the patients encountered. the look OF
night or dislike on their faces direct
ed not at the captive. but at the guard.
How they an dread hin-tnsttnc-
lively, # seems" said the young WON
an who expected to leave soon "He
is polite enough and not III looking.
but
"A man Of great experience In his
peculiar work, Tn told" said St
John musingIy.
Tfs his eye and mouth that do It.
fancy"
"a thoroughly III dispOsitiOned man,
with a plausible exterior" said st.
John. II believe him capable Of IT =
Sof murder7 DO-Oh, what are you
talking Of, Mr.. st. Johnr'
st. John looked very uncomfortable.
Miss Tracy looked yexedly embar-
rassed.
T heard some rum0r Of q strange
death In the institution Just before 1
came. I was thinking Of It. Were You
here? Have you heard anything OF
ft5"
he was a little eager.
How could / be here7 We came on
the same day. Don't Jon rememberT
@Ah, trueP
So they watched the attendant out
Of sieht ana turned to 90 inside them
selves.
They shook hands. although there
was no reason fcr it They would
meet ct the dinner table IN few min
utes, but-they shook hands, and that
nngeringIy.
sTfs awfuHy sad St John pom
dersd. ESQ sweet face. seemingly 80
intelligent Iwinh-oh. pshaWi what's
the use Of wlshingf These things are
not to be remedied. / wonder if-she'd
give me a photograph
Mis- Tracy went to her room slowly
'T am SHY to Be 30 Affected by en-
ordinary case. there are thousands
IKE him. Butch. dear: Oh. deari II
I'd known was 70 have this sad ex-
perience / would never have consent