The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-06-27
(From The People.]
AL M A.;
The Physician and the Appari-
tfOn of New Rochelle.
By MRS. ]. N. JULIUS.
CHAPTER I.

10
In the pleasant village of New Rochelle,
or rather in its outskirts, once stood
somewhat dilipidated, but picturesque, vine
covered cottage, inhabited by woman and
her idiot child. She lived in such strict Sc
clusion, that few knew ever her name, or
what were her means of subsistence. She
was dark and foreign looking, yet spoke
English with so slight an accent, that it was
difficult to guess the country OF her BIRTH
At length it became known that she was
| Immediately the resort Of the credulOus.
Gentle, intelligent, and affable, she easily
won the confidence of her visitors; but, if
they attempted to learn something of her
history, she always adroitly changed the
subject Of conversation; thus her former life
remained shrouded in mystery. Perhaps
this very circumstance caused her tc be re-
garded with revere,tial awe, and repelled
| undue familiarity, while, at the same time,
it did not excite any prejudice against her.
When alone, she was ever busy with her
needle or her garden. Though her exp pres
sion of countenance was sad, she appeared
contented with her humble lot, and to grieve
only when she looked on her unfortunate
| boy Then tear would glisten in her dark
eye, but she quickly brushed it away, and
resumed her employment, humming in q
| low plaintive tone, some song of other days.
So years passed by. The woman lived
alone with her boy, in the quiet seclusion of
her embowered cottage. He grew in
strength and beauty, if mere perfection OF
form can be called beauty. Often he stray
ed from his rural home to roam along the
river, or through the sylvan groves. His
feet wondered, but, alas! he had no con-
| sciousness, no sense of his own misfortune,
no mind to reason. He was the mere ami
NAL creature possessing, perhaps, ordinary
instincts, but nothing of the mysterious
principle that renders man akin to God.
| The idiots mother had sought medical
advice, but no skill had availed to findle
light in the darkness of the poor imbeclle
| brain. His constitution seemed replete
with health and vigor; his limbs were SYM
| metrically formed; but his countenance was
devoid of expression. The face was per
feet in outline, but never irradated by even
a transient beam from his overcloudcd soul.
Chance directed the attention Of young
girl towards this poor benighted being, and
all her sympathles were soon enlisted IN his
| favor. Her father, o man OF wealth and
position, was the owner of a splendid villa
in the neiehborhood of the fortune-teller' S
cottage and she, his only daughter, was
idoized by all for her surprising beauty and
gentle disposition.
Luis, the idiot boy, often passed this villa
in his wanderings. On one occasion, Alma
such was her name-plucked rose, and
offering it to him, endeavored to attract his
attention; but he, apparently insen>ibe to
her kindly sympathies, went on his way
Again and again he passed by, and as often
as Alma observed him, she strovc to secure
his attention by some token of her growing
sympathy At length he appeared to
awaken to a sense of the interest he bad
excited in her sensitive nature, returning
daily to the spot where she first offered him
flower If Alma did not happen to be in
the garden, Louis remained for hours watch
ing the doors and windows of the mansion,
until he caught glimpse of her form wher
he manifested his joy in unintelligble glib
terisb, which quickly brought her to his
side.
Thus months passed by; then she succeed
edIin bringing him to her father. On that oc
casion, Dr. Reesler, the family physician, wal
, on visit to the villa. He at once took ;
lively interest in Luis welfare, and encour
aged Alma, with her fathers permission, tc
continue her solicitude, with view to som'
physiological and psychological results
which he fancied mi ght be developed, IL
= regard to the boys intellect.
e Luis mother was vi. tied by the physician
and requested to exercise no restraint upol
her boy wandering, but to allow him tn
full bent of his inclinations Soon he be
% came daily visitor at the villa. Alma
interest increased in his fate; she walke
'. with him, talked and sang to him; while b
watched every expression of her counte
s, nance, and followed her from place to place
sesmingly consious of all that was said O
% done, yet only by dumb eloquence able t
express his gratitude.
These favorable evidences of mental pei
: ception once attained, Alma's father bt
came also the boy jealous protector DIR
: Roesler predicted the full development {
his reasoning powers, and Alma rejoicet
ID for she little knew what sacrifices she WI
,e making to bring the absent soul to ten;
n mcnt worthy of its occupation.
m ems Luis attained his thirteenth year, Ain
h, being, by several years his senior, and r
garding Elm as brother. He acquired il
IL telligence slowly, but perceptibly i
gave utteranee to words disconnected, b'
m vaguely expressive of struggling though
1' Alma assiduously watched the germ of int
lect, but it required time to ripen in
- healthy maturity. At length he converse
nationally, and read with fuency. II
y rental darkness which obscured his exi
tance being now d spelled, he was like
. new being. He entered. as student,
distant University, under the patronage
J Almas father His mothers necessiti
/. were also provided for. There he cont
ued to improve, and rose rapidly to distin
IA tion.
IT. Meantime, important changes took pla
Ill at the villa Alma was woed and won by
ho t.o stranger, and left with him for anoth
' home and other associations which b
IL health seemed to require. An almost il
" perceptible sinking Of physical strengt
IL that also tended to prostrade her mind, W
!, the first symtom of illness, and it v
tn, thought that change of scene would revi
the natural gaity of her disposition.
Luis protector died shortly after
=. daughters marriage, and the villa pass
into the hands of strangers. Previous
A. his death he purchased the fortune.t
ler's" cottage, and fited it up tastetully, a
M ch settled her comfortable with small anui
oi,, 80 that she no longer had occasion to ex
son else her former calling, and lived respect
es, by all.
md Roesler feared that Alma's maria
W, W, might have an injurious effect upon Lu
ne' mind: it was therefore concealed from h
until, having graduated with honor. be
- turned to the home of his childhood. i
recital of the events that had occurred 3
!, ring his absence, filed him with sorc
Ns but reason retained her throne, and
grief became gradually modified by
q cares incident to one dependent to his o
All All exertions.
n, cHAprERf h.
" Eome 6feen years sabeeQnsnt % the n