Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-01-21
SATURDAY, JANUARY 81, 1860.

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could not divine.
Madame Jaques had butone son he was the
idol of her heart, the comfort of her declining
years. She had lavished upon him wealth and
everything that doting mother could lavish
upon favorite child. She had watched the
change that had come over her son with an
anxiety that parent can only experience, and
when she had received his promise that he
would tell her everything, she felt that burth-
en- had been taken from her breast, and that in
cause of the disease of his mind Determined
to ferret out this matter she gave herself up to
deep reflection. At one time the tears would
course down her checks as a melancholy
reflection would pass through her mind, and
then bright CLEAN of sunshine would fit
across her countenance After celebrating a
short time she arose and proceeded to theroo
where her son was sleeping Stealthily she
entered the room and found Augusta sleeping.
She gazed upon his pale countenance as ifto read
his very soul, or to wrench something out of
his sleep. She gazed and gazed upon that pale
emaciated countenance; at length she fancied
she saw his lips move-it wds the motion of
his lips-a slight whisper proceeded from the
closed teeth. She was all suspense her ear
was held close to his mouth MS if to drink up
every accent that might fall from his lips. For
amoment he paused and she withdrew her ear,
but she had scarcely raised from her reclining
posture, when he uttered audibly: i" will in
form her of cverything-she is my mother-no
sorceress shall ever stand between me and my
mother-I will inform her of everything. Oh
the fend; what power will snatch me from her
embrace! will throw off the spell-my mother
is my good angel-she counsels me right--the
fiend is destroying me-what will do Can
throw her off! If | do she will persecute me-
While yet the mother listened, with breath
less anxiety, to catch every sentence that fell
from her sons lips, calm sleep stole over his
every sense. lie lay motioness as a dead man.
Madame Jaques leaned over her insensibe son
and placed her ear to his mouth to hear il he
breathcd, or whether life had become extinct
with his last exclamation. She was convinced
that he only slept Thcanxious mother watch
ed by the side of her sleeping son not wish
ing to disturb his slumbcr, she sat motionless
by the side of his couch. Now and then
nervous twitching of his hand would attract
her attention, and sometimes low moan would
escape his lips
What would she given to have read the
dark volume of that young mans mind with
out exciting 1t. Perhaps when he awoke he
would be more calm and collected, and they
could converse more freely upon subject that
claimed the whole attention of her heart.
While she gaze at the almost nanimatc form
before her, he moved his lips and muttered
something unintelligible Madame Jaques, anx-
ious to catch every sound, leaned over her
son, to place her ear close to his mouth in or
der to comprehend the unintelligible sound.
The young man threw up his hand and acci-
IDENTIFY touched her face. This caused him to
to start and open his eyes. No sooner did he
see the form of a woman leaning over him
than he screamed vehemently. A deadly pal
lor passed over his face, as though every drop
of blood had been driven to his heart; then
the tide returned. The eyes sweled in his
head as though they would fly from their
sockets Every vein stood up in bold relief on
his neck and face, and he turned almost black
his eyes rolled up until the sights were OBJ
scured, and his teeth chartered together--he
was in convulsion. The mother screamed
one terrific scream-the servants ran pei mel,
to see what was the matter, when to their sur
prise they found Madame Jaques lying across |