The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-01-05
Another sell-Madness and a Method in 1t

Another sell-Madness and a Method in 1t.
On Wednesday last, q neatly dressed, very
prepossessing and prettily spoken woman, some
where between sixteen and twenty-five years of
age, drove up to the door Of the Insane Hospi-
tai, over which Dr.-presides, and inquired
for that gentleman. She was ushered into the
reception room, and awaited the coming Of the
doctor with an air Of non chalance which rather
fascinated the servant, who looked upon her
with eyes of admiration and unfeigned pleasure.
When left alone she amused herself, a woman
always will, in gratifying her curiosity by in
specting the various articles in the room
critically and thoroughly. The doctor being
announced, she received him with one of those
bewildering smiles which SOM women know so
well how to bestow, and whose influence no
man of feeling can resist. The doctor wei
coined her with more than usual. warmth, and
soon learned the object of her visit.
She had come, she said, with a glance full
of melancholy, and a tone Of more than woman
ly tenderness, to ascertain Of the doctor, in
person, whether she could secure private quar-
tiers for her husband, who was subject to insane
fits of alteration of mind, but whose conduct
toward her, bitter and cruel as it was, could
not ALLEVIATE her love for him, which was the all
pervading passion of her soul. He had grown
SO violent Of late that she wished to have him
secured from violence to himself as well as to
her, land here the charming creature wept for
some moments,) and if she could make an ar
rangement with the doctor, she urged that it
should be kept as private as his most secret
thoughts, and her husband beyond the scrutiny
of visitors. And then she said her heart would
break, she knew it would, and wept bitterly
and long.
The doctor, as all who know his kind and
Observation-Disclosures will readily imagine, was
not insensible to the touching recital of his
visitor, and with that frankness which always
characterizes him, he promised to comply with
her wishes, to give her husband a private
apartment and his special care-and also to
shield him from the gaze of curiosity seekers
who run down public institutions.
The lady was not long in arranging terms
she was not long in expressing her thanks, in
termingled with tears; she was not long in
settling the details of her husbands %contine-
ment she was not long, in short, in taking her
leave. And as she stepped into her carriage,
aided by the kind hand of the doctor, she
turned her beautiful face toward him, and cast
upon him a glance that was full of tenderness
and solicitude, and inspired him anew with
admiration and pity.
The carriage drove away, the doctors eyes
following amid the clouds of dust which fol
lowed in its wake, until it was entirely lost to
view. Down to the bridge, along the crowded
t~horoughfare, over the pebbled way Of Chestnut
street to a fashionable, if not the fashionable,
jewelry establishment Of our city, the carriage
passed, its sweet and solitary inmate gazing out
and smiling within, and growing radiant with a
thought that requires another paragraph to
learn.
She aligned, and gliled into the bazaar Of
gold and silver and precious stones, with all the
stateliness of a queen. One or two of the gen
tlemanly attendants ran to learn her wish.
She wanted to select q set of silver ware, not
too plain, something neat, tasteful and beauti-
full. The various patterns were shown, and a
set valued at $500 was selected by the lady OF
stately tread. She desired the articles to be
put up, q bill made out, and she would settle
it.. Her wishes were complied with and the
lady took out her elegant port monnaie, but
alas there were but about $40 in it. She had
picked up her wrong port monnaie, she said
with bewitching sweetness, and she was vexed
at her stupidity. She, however, could arrange
it. She was the wife of Dr.-,t the princi-
pal physician of the Insane Hospital, and she
desired her attendant to accompany her to thai
place, when she would pay him at once. Who
could resist such a request from a beautiful.
woman-a request spoken as much with the
eyes as the voice? Not the clerk certainly.
The two got into the carriage together, ani
back it whirled to the Hospital. The lady
jumped from the carriage, and was warmly
greeted by the Doctor, who was at the entrance
"Doctor, this is my husband" said she witt
an air at once sweet but sorrowful.
The poor attendant started. He was strucl
aghast. He could not tathom her meaning.
What did you say?"
"Doctor, this is my husband, please talk
him in charge"
1.-The devil, madam. I'm not your husband
what do you mean"
Bursting into tears she sobbed aloud: al,
has another spasm-he has another attack
Oh! Doctor, if you have pity in your soul, Sc
cure him, and save yourself and me from vic
%lence." In vain the poor fellow attempted t,
explain.
He was hurried along the corridor and int,
a room, and confined securely-the woman al
the while following close behind, weeping q
though her heart would break. The Docto
and the lady returned to the reception room
and the latter, after giving the other an outlin