The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-12-29
LOUISIANA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 1858


Ii z zIE
! In the year 1853, came on to New York
In order to pay long promised visit to one o
my earl y friends and schoolmates. found my
friend waiting for me upon the wharf at whicl
the steamboat landed, and after many warn
congratulations on both sides, we repaired te
his house, an old-fashioned building about foul
miles from the city. The mother Of my friend
Harry Warren, received me with great cordi
ality, and placed chair for me before cheer
full fire, which blazed upon the hearth. Harry
and myself were soon engaged in animated con
versaton; the happy days we had passed al
college, and the incidents attending them, were
recalled, one after another, and afforded a
theme to while away the hours of an autumn
evening. In the course of conversation, my
friend informed me that he should be married
in a few months to girl, whom, judg dging from
| his description, must have been a paragon OF
beauty and virtue.
"Who is this divinity of yours?' inquired
| ''She is the only daughter of worthy min
ister, who lives but few steps from here
"You must give me an introduction
II shall be happy to do so. Tomorrow l
will introduce you, and doubt not that you
VAN wi oluiolS uiC upOu NY CllOfCt
l was about to answer this speech, and had
lifted my head for the purpose, when my eyes
became riveted upon a strange looking figure,
which at that instant had glided stealthily into
the room, and stood as motioness as a statue,
about two feet behind my friend.
This figure was tall, skeleton-like in proper
ton, and the head and face which surmounted
it were the picture of death-all but the eyes,
which were keen, and wild looking, like two
fiery points in a deep cavern; a half-sneering
haf-deadly grin played about the coloEless lips
which trembled and twitched conyulsively. As
looked at this intruder, he suddenly raised his
skinny hands to his forehead, and uttered one
Of the most dismal and awful cries that | ever
heard, and which fairly made my blood run
cold. My friend turned round at the cry, and
instantly perceived who had uttered it.
He hastily arose from his seat, and walking
up to him said, in a kind tone:
$50 up to your room, Oliver, that's good
fellow
"NoI won't want to howl, and to make
other people"
Come, come, Oliver" said Harry, coa1ing-
ly, ''go to your room and be a good boy"
81 want a wife, and will have wifep' cried
the maniac wildly, and clenching his teeth and
his hands, he turned away and left the room.
For heavens sake, my friend, who is that?"
| enqulred, when the maniac had departed.
Harry heaved a deep sigh, and then said:
"That man is an unfortunate cousin of mine,
ard has been an idiot from the hour of his birth.
His father died not more than year after his
birth, and his poor mother was thus forced too
take the whole charge of her unfortunate son
The inirmlty under which he labored made
him doubly dear to the poor woman, and it was
constant source of grief to her that bis mind
was destroyed with disease time could never
obterate. She had done all in her power to
that effect, but all her efforts were unsuccess-
ful, and she at last gave up the attempt in des-
pair. A few years ago she died, and with her
latest breath earnestly begged my mother to
take Oliver into her family and treat him kindly.
My mother promised, and the poor woman
died contented. Since his mothers death my
cousin has become worse than he ever was be-
fore-nay, be has even attempted violence upon
NE. If he continues in this way, | am afraid
we shall have to shut him up in the insane hos
pial.'
After some further conversation upon this,
and other subjects, my friend and myself re-
tired to rest he to dream of Lizzie and to lay
awake and think of his cousin, the strange
maniac.
/. While I was still restlessly tossing in my bed
+ thought that | could hear something like a
stt1ed shrek coming from the outside of the
house. | hastily sprang from my bed and open
ing the window of the room. looked out A |
full moon was shining, and the leahess branches
OF the trees were tossing about in the autumn
wind. But save the rushing sound of the
breeze, | could hear nothing. The grounds
about the house appeared to be entirely desert
ed. I shut the window, and returned to my
bed, in the belief that what I have heard re-
hen fell into feverish sleep, from which was
aroused by lusty shake of the shoulder, ac
'ompanled by these words:
"What going to sleep all day? come wake
Up! breakfast has been ready this half hour"
opened my eyes, and perceived the laugh
ne countenance Of my friend bending over me-
L arose and dressed myself, and in short
lme after, was seated at the breakfast table
The maniac was at the table with Us, and, ex-
eptlng that he ate very fast and varociously,
'ehavea himself pretty well.
During breakfast, / alluded to the noise
which I had heard in the night. While was
peaking the maniac suddenly lifted his eyes
rom his plate, and glared wildly upon me for
moment, then abruptly rose from his chair,
nd rushed out of the room.
do not think that anybody, but myself,
noticed this strange movement on
he part Of Oliver; but began to feel little
usplclous, and to believe that it was something
esldes the wind | had heard my thoughts to
'yselt, whatever they might be. u
AS soon as breakfast was finished, Harry in
'rmed me that he was going over to the house =
the minister, and that if | chose might ac- ),
ompany him. As much as | would have liked l.
have seen his future bride, declined the
fer, judging that my absence would be more t
,ceptable to two lovers than my presence. t.
AIRY shook hands with me, and said he would S
ot be gone long, and then took his departure b
is mother showed me up to the library, tt
ltered into conversation for while, and then p
,cused herself, and left me to solitude and n
'oks. l sat myself in comfortable position, a
I'd taking up a volume of "Byron's Poems,'
as soon interested in its contents. Fifteen n
inutes had hardly elapsed in this manner, ere o.