The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-02-01

anu struggling 10 De cain asked
care you not afraid Doctor, he will
sink under it ? Is there any hope that
you can save him?
] dared not tell the poor suffering
| creature the actual condition and, dan
ger OF her husband, evnded her inqui-
ries rs well as | could and left her
chamber as soon as possible determin-
ed to remove her husband out of the
dwelling house, where his chilling and
narrowing language might no longer
reach her ears.
When | returned to the room where
Morton was still raving found that
his father had just arrived, was aston
ishcd at the extraordinary composurc
and calmncss of the old man. There
was something awful in his s,oical en-
durance ofthe lrightful gaze and deli:
rious biasphemy of his son that made
even my own nerves to tinglc, nc
customed rs | was to suffering and
| death.
lquickly limited to the old man the
critical condition of his daughtcr-in-
law and urged upon him the immcdi-
ate necessity of remoSipg her husband
from the house. Heat once asscnted
and gave orders for preparing house
! upon the farm, which was fortunately
unoccupicd, not more than two hun
drcd or two hundred aud fifty yards
distant.
1t was some two hours after dark
when we removed Allen to the house
which had been prepared for him. Two
stout negro men attended us in the
hands ofwhom he struggled fitrcely rs
we left the dwelling. His rawlings were
continually Of some bloody tragedy in
which he f;'ncied hinnscf the prominent
actor, and then he spoke of hosts OF
ficnds hot and rceking irQm the awful
pit, led OH by the Arch Fiend all strug-
| Cling to bear him away. Then came
a season of gloomy silence and despai
and breaking out into wild yocifara-
tions the terrific tragedy was again re
| ncwed and rc-cnacted in all its horrible
details.
Despite his struggles we bore him
along, and placed him upon the bed
which had been prepared for him. The
hut where we laid him was Il small
log structure Of some fifteen by twen-
ty feet with mud chimney at one end
and a door on each Of the two sides.
So careful was i in guarding against
any antci patcd violence on the part OF
my patient that had ordered every
article Of furniture that might have
been used Extensively by him, to be
removed out of the hut. was even s.,
thoughtful as to order the chairs which
had been brought for our nse, to be
carried back to the dwelling house.
One of the negro boys who att nded
us, had brought with him a hatchet fol
The purpose of splitting wood, and
since it appeared almost necessary,
foborc to order its removal, though
poinlcdiy cautioned him not to leave
it for an instant in his reach.
| We had stripped Morton ofall bui
his shirt aud drawers, and put him in
bed, and by skillinlly administered
remedies had succeeded in quictine
in some degree the violence Of his par
oxiSms, snal ching the favorable oppor
tunity, determined to return to the
dwelling and examine into the copditiol
Of his wife. who | had much reason to
fear was in Il situation little less dan.
gcrous than his own.
Previously however | determined tc
take the old nan aside and whatever
pain it might cost. frankly tell him my
impressions us to the probable tcrnli
nation of his sons illness.
1t was bitter and painful task, yc
| felt it incumbent upon INC to dca
with him frankly and faithfully.
bcckoned to him and together We lef
the hut and retired into an angle o
the enclosure around it, and seated
ourselves upon rude seat under &
widc-Sprcading oak. The moon was
shining beautifully bright and coult
mark every change of his conntenance
rs we conversed together. Allen Nor
ton, as we left the hut. was lying in &
disturbed slumbcr in which his waking
dreams seemed still to haunt and har
row his mind.
Mr.. Norton" said ], in as calm 4
tone as ! could assume, when the old
man had taken his seat, by my side
81 do not feel ut liberty to hide from
you the situation Of your son, an
constrained to tell you his disorder is
beyond the reach of any remedy that i,
can apply. Although for the present
he seems more quiet than since | frs
saw him, still do not expect him tc
survive until daylight.
"God's will be done!" replied tn,
old man, solemnly. 81 feared as much
But my poor dear young Allen thai
used to climb upon my knee and throw
his infant arms about my neck My
poor Allen NV son nv snnl Coz