, 1864-05-14

must anu snail enaDte me 10 De Out on ina
day. think l could walk just now."
lie made an effort to raise himself j
bed, but sudden sickness came over him
and, with groan, his head again sough
his pillow. e.
"Doctor," said he, after a pause, "coulc
you give me such draught as would ena
bic me to 60 out for an hour or twor ]
care not how much suffer as consequence
l know" continued he, "you can prolony
life at times, though you cannot, save it
Come, doctor, have you no such medi
cine 7"
"Mr. Bromley, this is foolish. Forgive
me, it is sinful. You must not think oi
going out. can give no such medicine
as you ask. For your own safety, / advise
you ID compose yourself. Do not think oi
leaving your bed"
Bromley was suddenly silent, and seemed
to be engaged in painful reflection. The
doctor departed, promising to call again in
the evening. A considerable time elapsed
before he broke the silence, and when he
did so, l thought the tone Of voice had al
tered considerably. His look was fierce
l thought the fever had gone to his brain.
Harry" said he, 81 don't care fol
Berkely's opinion. Doctors have their
creed, and they must stick to it for the sake
Of consistency. If disease be in my sys-
TEN, how can outward circumstances affect
me! What does it matter whether lie
Or sit, or walk? Besides, l recollect an
anecdote of soldier in a retreat, who kept
his saddle for week, and the man had q
malignant fever on him. What is there
then, to hinder me from going out for ah
hour? Harry, once for oil, must be ott
on the twelfth, and you must assist me-"
"Whati is the meaning Of this honsenseY'
l exclaimed impatiently, for l had almost
lost my temper at his folly" what can
there be which SO imperiously demands
your presence, at the risk, nay, the certainty
Of your death being the consequence? II
is absurd to talk Of moving from your
room; and certainly shall not assist in
any stich mad attempt"
l was frightened at the expression Of hit
countcnance. lie was generally an open.
hearted and most kind-hearted being, but
his look was now dreadful to behold; and
when he spoke, though he trembled with
passion, the words came slowly and dis
tinctly.
"Hear me, Harry; I am fixed in my re.
solve to be cut by the twelfth, and, what
is more, you shall assist in that very mad
attempt"
He laughed; but such laugh! was
terrified. l was afraid that he was de-
ranged-was in a state Of raving madness
swell" said I, with view Of soothing
him, ave shall see how you are on thai
day, and then
He interrupted me. "Oh, yes; try ant
soothe me like child! Yes, we shall Sc.
on that day." And he was silent.
Days rolled on, and still the same wild
determination remained, and every day only
saw his resolution become stronger, if pos
sible. He laughed at bodily pain, philoso-
phited upon L, made mo read medical
books upon fever and delirium, and rea-
soned on them as abstract speculations; al
ways ending by repeating his fixed resolu.
ton to be out on Che twelfth.
II was en- the evening Of the eleventh
that was sitting with him. He was in q
state of high excitement, and talked Of go
ing out tomorrow as q thing Of course
said must 60 with him, in coach, aud
implOred my acquiescence in terms which
distressed me. had hitherto refrained
from contradicting him, as | thought the
irritation caused by my opposition made
him worse; but now ! thought it was high
time to tell him my mind, and did 50. !
represented to him as strongly as possible
the madness, the impossibility of his going
out-nay, more, that force was to be used
to compel him to remain in bed if he per
sisted in the attempt--and tried by every
means in my power to dissuade him from
it. lie heard me with perfect quietness,
though with impaticnce. When | had FIN.
ished, he made no answer, but. to my aston
ishment, got out Of bed, threw q. dfessipg
gown about him, walked firmly across the
room, ard, opening a drawer, took out a pair
of dumb bells, and having exercised them in
the usual way for about minute, put them
back in their place, aud returned to bed.
"Eycry night" said he, "since l have
been confined, I have done this; and as
long qs l can do il, no one. shall persuade
me that can't 90 out ), and, as. for force" "
contiuued he, "look here r. He opened a
case which lay ut the back Of his bed, and
produced pair of pistols, nodded signif-
cantly, and replaced them. 1t was in vain
to demonstrate. l still, Of course, thought
the necessity Of being out existed only in
his Imagination, and ! determined to take
serious measures for his confinement. AT
night | easily got possession of the pistols,
Next day called, rs he had made me
solemnly promise to. He bad discovered
that the pistols had been taken away, and
I expected a violent scene, which I was
prepared for. was mistaken, however.
lie lay a few minutes perfectly silent; and
when he spoke, he did SO slowly and mildly.
Harry" said he, "are you determined
not to assist me in going out to-day-for au
hour--or two?"
| shook my head.
"When l assure you," continued he,
calmly, "when assure you that my honor
and the honor Of my fsnily-nay, that my
life depends upon i'll"
I was astonished at the calmness and
firmness with which be spoke, but l wa,
determined not to give way.
Bromley said I, "once more, for all
I will not he aceassnrv In vour deafh anf