Eugene Norton; A Tale of the Sagebrush Land

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII. A NEW PATIENT IN THE INSANE ASYLUM. "A new patient, Dr. Norton," said the matron, as he came in from a walk to the river to clear his brain. "All right, where?" "In room 56. A woman." He went immediately upstairs, down the long hall and into the room. The patient lay on the bed. Eugene moved quickly to her side and found her sleeping. He bent over her with the practiced eye of the medical examiner, eager to catalogue the latest acquisition; but into his face came instantly a look of horror, of pity unutterable. He remained half bending above the bed some moments as if petrified, then turned aside and slowly left the room. Entering his office near by he closed and locked the door; then he fell into a chair and sobbed like a little child. "Catherine, Catherine!" he cried out in his agony. "Oh, Catherine, that you should come to this!" But no time must be lost. She needed him. He must summon all his strength, for her sake. He of all people would understand her case, would bring her out of her trouble. Yes, he would do it, he said fiercely. "She shall recover her fine mind under my care. No one else shall touch her. I will bring her back to health and then, --and then,"--he paced up and down excitedly, as he thought of the "then" and his inability to do aught to touch her life in any way. Summoning all his courage, steeling himself to the most painful experience of his life, he unlocked the door and again entered Catherine's room. She was sitting on the bedside, her elbows resting on her knees, her chin in her hands, her black, disheveled locks falling about her white face, --a picture of utter hopelessness and despair. "Melanch(r)lia," said Eugene to himself. He could hardly keep the tears back. He longed to take her in his arms and kiss away a.