Julia's Last Hope by Janette Oke

asked the larger man.
    “Yes. Mr. Williams said she has been ailing,” admitted Julia.
    “What else did he tell you?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Then you don’t know that she has been assigned to an asylum?”
    Julia drew in her breath sharply.
    “And that she is absent without permission? That Mr. Williams spirited her away to avoid the authorities?”
    “What? I—I can’t believe it. They seem like—like such a fine couple—”
    “In fact,” the man continued, “Mr. Williams is indeed Mr. Williams, but Mrs. Williams is Miss Margaret Whistler.”
    “But—why—why would—?”
    “Apparently they were childhood sweethearts and then the war and circumstances separated them. When he returned she had been terribly ill, and the fever—well, she has been in the asylum for years. He kept visiting her, determined that she would recover. She didn’t. He kept asking for her release, but they wouldn’t grant it. Finally he just took it upon himself to run off with her.”
    Julia could not hide her amazement. “Mr. Williams? There must be some mistake. He seems so—so—”
    “Shrewd? Oh, he’s shrewd all right. Downright clever. He planned the whole escape himself. Outsmarted everybody. Folks at the hospital got so they trusted him—and then he took off. Now it is costing a small fortune to find them and take them back.”
    “But surely—surely you don’t have to take them back. He cares for her. He seems most solicitous. He—”
    “Oh yes. He cares. He means well. We’ve been told that he even has the foolish notion of a hasty marriage. Thinks that will give her ‘security’—help her get well again. It just doesn’t work. We’ve tried to let others out. They do all right for a few days or possibly weeks—and then they need to be locked up again.”
    “Locked up?” gasped Julia. It sounded so cruel. “What do you mean? She is such a—a sweet, agreeable person. Perhaps a bit confused, but perfectly harmless. She—”
    “No one confined to an asylum can be considered harmless,” said the man. “She might seem fine today—but who knows what her confusion will cause her to do tomorrow? She might start setting fires, or she might take a knife to someone or something.”

Chapter Thirteen
    A Twist
    Julia’s eyes widened with shock. “Not Mrs. Williams!” she gasped.
    “Miss Whistler,” corrected the smaller of the two men.
    “Why I—I just can’t believe it. I mean—”
    “We’re going to be taking them back,” said the bigger man.
    “Oh my! I do wish—You don’t think they would be fine if someone watched out for them? I mean—”
    “Sorry, ma’am, but we can’t take those chances.”
    “Of course,” murmured Julia.
    “Now if you’ll just go get your boarders, we’ll be on our way.”
    “House guests,” Julia corrected. All the way up the long flight of stairs and down the hallway Julia mumbled. “What a shame! What an awful shame.” She raised her calico apron to brush away the tears.
    She hesitated before the door of the bedroom occupied by Mr. Williams. She had decided to speak to him first. He could talk to his wife—to Miss Whistler. He would know the best way to break the news to her.
    Julia sniffed away her tears and lifted a trembling hand to knock. There was no answer so she knocked again. Still no answer.
    “Mr. Williams? Mr. Williams,” called Julia, softly at first and then louder. Still no answer.
    “That’s funny, I didn’t see them go out.”
    A noise behind Julia caused her to wheel around. The small man was eyeing her with suspicion.
    “They … they don’t seem to be in,” Julia faltered. “I didn’t see them go out, but perhaps—”
    The man pushed past Julia. He opened the door without knocking and entered the room with one swift motion.
    Julia peered over his shoulder. The room was empty. The bed neatly made. The two small suitcases missing.
    “He’s—he’s gone. But how—?”
    “Tricky little—” The man bit off the rest of his