The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-08-17
AN ESCAPED
LUNATIC
By MARTHA v. PEASLEY
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

\ was going TO bring MS 1rlenu out 10
2 our country place for the week end.
Hes a Jim dandy, Edith" wrote
Henry, land I'm bringing him out pur-
, posely TO introduce him TO you"
About a mile from our place was the
: state insane asylum. Its proximity
was a 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 r
maid was in the house and had fright
ened her out Of her senses.
About o'clock one afternoon when
was just ready TO 90 downstairs and
out on TO the piazza there came ring
at the telephone. i 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
a 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.
l 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 l was unable to fiy my thoughts
on anything save a n.adman coming
down on us. Every man who passed
on the road q short distance from
where sat looked to me like a raving
maniac. Finally | saw a man coming
carrying a suit case My heart went
right up into my throat. l mnttered
silent prayer that he might pass the
gate. He did not. He stopped and
looked up at our house. Hes the es-
capped patient" I moaned. Hes de
liberating whether he'll come here or go
on farther. Heavens. he's coming in!'
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
l didn't find any GOODNESS in myself.
and, as for strategy, l was incapable
Of carrying on even an ordinary con-
versation with the man. By the time |
he reached the piazza | saw a wild |
eyed creature with fiery red hair and |
atmospheric disturbances similar to |
heat waves emanating from his fin |
ger ends. Indeed, had I 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 it was a question.
go on" | said-'oh, go on! They're
after you! l just had telephone from
them asking If we had seen you. As
you value your freedom, co."
He stood looking a. me. Was he 60
ing to spring upon me or would he
with that cunning often to 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 inn continued eX-
citedly. "Oh. go on! Don't stop a
moment You'll be captured. Please
60"
The man turned and, without a word
retraced his steps. 1 maintained my
position until l had seen him out Of
the gate, then L staggered into the
house. sank on u lounge. and that's
the last l knew till l saw the maid
sprinkling my face with water.
Ashamed Of my weakness. I soon
arose and by keeping smelling salts
at my nostrils managed to
get upstairs to my room. In the course
OF an hour the maid knocked at my
door and said my brother had come.
l was surprised at this. for he had
written that he would be with us on
afternoon, and 1t was now
Friday. was so ashamed Of my terror
at the approach Of the lunatic-Henry
had no respect for my timidity-that
resolved not to say anything about
It. With the smelling salts in my
hand. | went down into the living
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 you
lid awhile ago? I Nissed the train.
and he came on without me. only to
De turned away by you. Were you
,razy"
Mo. b-but thought he was"
Henry was very angry. but his friend
'oothingly said that doubtless had an y
explanation. gave it. A sickly smile
overspread the features of =
both the men. and as for me, ran
Up to my room and locked the door, and I
hey didn't get me out Of it till the '
lext morning. When l came down to r
breakfast Henry and Mr.. Trask were
waiting for me. Henry. who was still 4
mortified at my reception Of his friend.
aid by way Of introduction. Just as II '
We hadn't met before: c
Edith. this is Mr.. Trask, whom
wrote you would bring up with me c
his week. I assure you he is In his j
light mind and has M intantinn %