The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-28
AN ESCAPED
LUNATIC
By MARTHA v. PEASLEY
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

was going to bring his friend out to
our country place for the week end.
Hes Jim dandy. Edith" wrote
Henry land I'm bringing him out pur'
posely to introduce him to you"
About mile from our place was the
state insane asylum. Its proximity
was h great disadvantage in that !
was in constant dread lest some maniac
should escape, come to our house and
murder us all. An escaped lunatic had
once come there when no one but y
maid was in the house and had fright
ened her out Of her senses.
About 5 O'Clock one afternoon when
I was Just ready to go downstairs and
out on to the piazza there came ring
at the telephone. | answered the call
myself. 1t was from the asylum and
was an inquiry as to whether we had
seen or heard Of one of the inmates
who had left the grounds and gone in
our direction He had passed out with
q suit case in his hand, telling the gate
keeper that he had been discharged
and was going home. He was one OF
the most dangerous patients in the In
stitution.
| replied that we had seen nothing
OF him and sincerely hoped we would
not Then / went out on the piazza
and tried TO think of something else.
But | was unable to fix my thoughts
on ANYTHING save a mailman coming
down on us. Every man who passed
on. the road a short distance from
where / sat looked to me like raving
maniac. Finally | saw man coming
carrying suit case. My heart went
right up into my throat ! muttered
silent prayer that he might pass the
gate He did not. He stopped ana
looked up at our house. Hes the es-
capped patient" l moaned. Hes de-
liberating whether he'll come here or 80
on farther Heavens. he's coming I'M!
There was no man In the house, and
/ simply must meet him. sat per-
fectly still while he came up the walk,
my heart wildly beating. had read
stories of persons turning away insane
persons by GOODNESS and strategy but
/ didn't find any GOODNESS in myself,
and, as for strategy. ! was incapable
of carrying on even an ordinary con-
yersation with the man. BY the time
he reached the piazza ! saw wild
eyed creature with fiery red hair and
atmospheric disturbances similar 10
heat waves emanating from his nm
ger ends. Indeed. had | looked at
him through dancing water or an I'M
perfect window pane he couldn't have
appeared more terrible. He said some
thing TO me, but had no idea what
it was, except that 1t was a question.
go on" said-"oh. go on! They're
after you! / just had telephone from
them asking If we had seen you. AS
YOU value your freedom, gog'
He stood looking at me. Was he go
ing to spring upon me or would be
with that cunning often 10 be found
in persons Of his kind attempt to out
wit me so that he could effect an en-
trance into the house and murder us
all without our being able to call for
help?
.You can't come inr / continued ex
citedly. "Oh. go on Don't stop
moment You'll be captured. Please
go"
The man turned and, without word
retraced his steps. maintained my
position until | had seen him out OF
the gate. then | staggered into tht
house. sank on lounge. and that's
the last / knew till | saw the maid
sprinkling my face with water
Ashamed of my weakness, | soor
arose and by keeping smelling salt
continually at my nostrils managed 7
get upstairs to my room. In the cours,
of an hour the maid knocked at IN.
door and said my brother had come
I was surprised at this. for he hat
written that he would be with US OF
Saturday afternoon. and 1t was nov
Friday. | was so ashamed of my terro
at the approach of the lunatic-H enr,
had no respect for my timidity-tha
/ resolved not to say anything abou
1t. With the smelling salts In m!
hand. went down into the livini
room.
oh, my goodness gracious! Am
mad, or are my eyes askew? There
beside Henry, stands the maniac!
what the dickens did you mean
Edith. by treating Mr.. Trask as yoI
did awhile ago? missed the train
and he came on without me. only t
be turned away by you. Were yol
crazy?"
"N-n-o, b.but thought he was"
Henry was very angry, but bis frien'
soothingly said that l doubtless had al
explanation. | gave 1t. A sickly smil
gradually overspread the features o
both the men. and. as for me. | raj
up to my room and locked the door. AM
they didn't get me out OF 1t till tn
next morning When / came down t
breakfast Henry and Mr.. Trask wer
waiting for me- Henry. who was still
mortified at my reception of his friend
said by way of Introduction. just as |
we hadn't met before:
Edith. this is Mr.. Trask. whom
Erote you | would bring up with nj
this week. assure you he is In hi
right mind and has no intention o
numbering you"
YES. ! have" said the other 'T'u