Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1917-05-31
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Copyright, by w. G.. Chapman)

nave you tiulcu OH lDt new ntlSu-
Dor Yet. motherY
NO" answered Mrs. Kirk. "And I
don't think ! shall be in hurry to do
So"
Ogden Kirk looked up in a mystihed,
questioning way. 1t was his first
weekend visit to the new country
home where he and his mother expect
ed TO spend the summer. He had
hoped that their nearest neighbor in
the small house, whose lawn adioined
theirs, would prove companlonable to
his mother, as she Ind no acquaint-
ances in the neghborhood.
whats the matter?"
well, haven't quite made out my
self. All can say, it's queer"
whats queerT
THE goings-on over there ! have
seen no one about but a young girl,
grim-loo4ling old woman and a scrub
woman who came In to clean. Yester-
day the shrieks and means and mani
acal laughter were enough to curdle
your blood. / was almost on the point
OF going over to see what was the
matter, when | noticed the old woman
outside, calmly wedding a flower bed,
so | thought If she was so unconcerned
over it, l would better stay home My
solicitude would probably be resented"
DO you suppose" queried the young
man, "she has fits OF Insanity"
ut must be either that or Mysteries.
At any rate, it's uncomfortable and
creepy. If had known ! was moving
next door to private asylum, | would
have gone somewhere else"
Il suppose the old woman is an at
tendant or some sort of keeper for the
young lady. Too bad, isn't It'll"
Il should think SOL"
Mrs Kinks tone was sharply en-
phatic. She was evidently thinking
Of her own annoyance rather than the
plight OF the girl which had been up
permost in her sons mind
Perhaps" he soothed, at is only
temporary, and won't go on long"
perhaps" she assented. ''But if it
does"
Well we will see" he said.
The next Saturday when young Kirk |
arrived he jerked significant finger
toward their neighbor, and asked
What about it2"
shes had two or three attacks this |
week; goes on just about the same
way"
II wonder il she is insane"
4
this week"
How do you know 1t was a doctor?" |
His car looked like physicians, |
and he went in with o case in his |
hand"
"Oh'" said the young man with
some feeling "Then there must be |
something the matter"
did you suppose she was doing this
for amusementf" asked his mother,
with some asperity.
We'll, no, of course not. But when
| came past there the young lady was
training up vine and laughing and |
talking to the other woman Just as
well, ms natural as anyone"
mo doubt she has lucid intervals.
Perhaps they hope for her recovery in
time"
81 should think you'd get so curious
you'd have to CALL" ventured the
young man.
Never! She might return it; and
| shouldn't feel safe for q minute.
Don't you, either, think Of making a
call, If you don't want me to pack up
and go to town."
Ogden had to at once dIsclaim any /
intention of so doing. He liked the
place, and was looking forward to
spending his vacation there.
The next week he came out to stay
for awhile. In answer to his usual
question as to the developments next
door, his mother replied that It had
been unusually quiet. Perhaps the pa
tent had been taken away.
well, then she's back again, for I
saw the yang lady as 1 passed" he
said.
Perhaps after all she isn't the
crazy one. They may" she added in a
cAc"pS, Suuuuer9 zone, nave some |
poor creature shut up there"
81 see it's up TO me TO fathom this
mystery"
81 don't see anything Of the kind"
snapped his mother. you let il
alone"
That afternoon he took n little stroll
down to small stream near by TO see
If 1t promised anything in the way Of
boating or fishing. In a pretty wooded
spot, where the branches hung over
the water, he dropped, ostensbly to
watch for fish, but In reality to be
idle and dream. lie saw book lying
in the grass few feet away. He
looked around for the owner. There
was no one in sight. He listened, but
there was no sound Of human COM
pany: so after waiting a few minutes.
he reached for the book. 1t was Mrs
Browning's Aurora Leigh" book
not much read these days. but a poem
he greatly liked. He began TO turn
over the leaves, and to read here and
there bits that he loved. He saw MAT
many lines We're marked, lines that
tan I