Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-03-17

large enough-I determined to endow
some institution. \ member of the
board of directors Of an insane asy-
lum, a lady. persuaded me to give her
pet project 100000.
drove one afternoon to the asylum
with check for the amount l was
to give. The lady l ha%a mentioned
went with me and had arranged for
her attorney to be there with the nee
essary legal papers.
When we arrived we found tele-
gram from the attorney saying that he
would be delayed. Learning that the
patients were to have a dance the
same evening, we decided to remain
and have a look at the dancers. No
patients were received in the institu-
ton except those who were considered
homeless. Indeed, @mOst of them were
unbalanced on but one subject. We
were given tea in the apartments OF
the medical director, and his wife
made US at home till the ball opened,
which was very early in the evening
for it must end Mt 10 o'clock.
and my gift were known, and moth
ing would do but that I should take
part in the festivities. I danced sew
eral times, when young man OF very
prepossessing appearance came up TO
me and asked if l would be his part
ner. There are occasions when girl
will meet a man to whom she is espe-
cially drawn. l had not been in COM
pany with this young fellow long be-
fore l felt a pang that he should be
insane. He charmed me at once.
Naturally l wished to discover his
weak point. l tried him on several
subjects, but saw nothing abnormal
until struck aviation. Then he began
to talk wild. He said that he had
some views about flying machines he
hoped to work out which would bring
aeroplanes nearer to the construction
of birds. A birds wings were not rigid.
Why should those of an aeroplane be
rigid? He had in mind a plan by
which the wings of the machine should
flap like those Of the bird.
True" he said, birds often soar
without using their piniOns, but since
they flap them at all it indicates that
tapping is necessary"
why do you wish to go up in the
ARR" l asked 81 am quite content on
the earth"
Il only know that 1 would love to
sail up in the clouds, to pass over the
tops of high mountains. would
love-
shut him off. l was quite satisfied
with having discovered his weakness
l had no mind to get him to raving
l excused myself and Joined some one
else. But later, shortly before the
/ close of the entertainment, he Joined
me again and asked for a last dance.
l declined His personality ha(
thrown a spell over me which thought
if yielded to would grow upon me. II
/ other words, l felt that | had met my
! fate in one Of unsOund mind and il
would be dangerous to my comfort tC
yield to what might soon become {
serious infatuation. He gave me 8
half reproachful glance-a glance sug
costing to me that he had been i'm
pressed by me as l had been impressed
by him-and left me.
When the evenings amusement was
ended my friend the directress told me
that we would proceed to the superin
tendents room, where the attorney
was waiting for US to transact oul
business. and then go home. | wen
with her, and, on opening the door o.
the Office, there, sitting at table look
ing over some papers, was the young
man who had gone daft on aviation
stopped short. paralyzed with aston
ishment. He arose and gave me one o.
those pleasant smiles that had helped
to charm me.
"Why," l said. IL didn't expect tC
find you here"
1t was his turn to look surprised
81 supposed you knew who was" he
said.
81 did not. thought stopped
He looked very much amused. 81
see," he said. You mistook me fol
one of the patients. I'm not sure bu
some of them might change places
with me to my advantage" Then
turning to the work before him, ht
read me several legal documents, nov
and then stopping to explain some
thing, l knowing not half as much O.
what he was talking as when he was
discoursing on aviation. When he haC
finished he gave me a lot of paper!
and took my check. which l had made
payable to the trustees
The lawyer or lunatic-I was 81
confused that | was not yet certain
in my mind which he was-rode il
the same carriage with us to a rail
road station, where we dropped him
he taking a passing train, while w,
/ drove on to my home.
l went to bed with my mind in +;
/ good deal of a whirl. but above 1t nj
was a feeling Of thankfulness that tn,
man had met was not luLatic, 70
1t was possible his mental condition
might make a great deal Of differenc,
to me.
1t was not long before he expressed
through my friend the directress a de
sire to continue our acquaintance, ant
l sent him an invitation to call on me
At his first visit | drew him on t
aviation, and I learned that he mad
it his hobby, having an inventive taste
but had never been up in an aeroplan
in his life.
I married the supposed lunatic. and
strange to say, though I can give hin
all the funds he needs to prosecut
his aerial tastes, he prefers his unin
teresting law cases.