Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-02

have to exercise my authority. Those are m.
orders; so no offense."
"For Gods sake," painted Bertha, in {
scarcely audible voice, and nearly faintint
with terror, "tell me where l am and what il
to be- done with me! don't know how
came here-I don't know anything about it
Are you going to kill me?"
"Kil you? Certainly not-we bring peo
pie here to cure them not to kill them," wal
the reply.
"To cure them? But I am not ill-why
should I be brought here? Is it hospital ?
asked Bertha, with another fearful glance.
"a hospital-not eractly, though you might
1 suppose, call it a hospital for the mind,
said her tormentor. ats folks minds, no
their bodies, that we undertake to cure"
Bertha listened with painting, heaving
bosom, dilating eyes, and face over which
an ashen pallor was slowly spreading.
"Do you mean" she asked in low, hoarse
voice, which sounded strangely to her own
ears, while, as the perception of the fearful
truth began to dawn upon her, every drop o1
blood seemed to be receding from her heart
"do you mean-that-I-am ina mad
house 2"
ats an ugly name, my dear" said the wo
man "but if you choose to call itso-"
Bertha heard no more; her eyes closed
consciousness forsook her. and she sank back
in death-like swoon.
Over the scenes that followed her awaken
ing from that merciful stupor-which lasted
sufficiently long to arouse the apprehensions
of the whole household-pity bids us draw a
veil. 1t would be too narrowing a task to
delineate the hours, the days Of anguish that
ensued; the long nights fraught with such
terror, that the visions they conjured up we'll
nigh crazed, in truth, the poor, weak brain
that had needed only tenderness and watchful
care to strengthen and restore it to its former
clearness, partially clouded over by ill-health,
anxiety and unrest; the sickening, impotent
struggles of the victim to escape from the
thraldom that bound her-the piteous protes.
tations, met with silence and contempt and
disbelief, feigned or real, on the part of her
gaolers the slow, gradual conviction that
grew upon her, of the necessity of submission
and quiescence, of the utter folly and impo,
tence of all efforts to resist the iron rule un.
der which she writhed; the knowledge that
she was cruelty betrayed, Decentralization,
deceived by one she had loved and trusted
only too we'll. All this, we say, came upon
her by slow degrees and in that process OF
torture, her strength, physical as we'll as men,
tai, grew less and less her failing limbs, her
attenuated frame seemed advancing to decay,
as her reason grew ever feeber, until at last
the eliminating point was reached-the mind,
in truth, deserted its tottering throne, and she
became in reality, what she had been falsely
asserted to be, a maniac.
Did Alfred Stanley, in his hours Of solitude,
ever indulge in retrospection of the past
Did memory ever carry him back to the days
when he had wooed and won, gentle, con-
fding bride, who little dreamed that it was
her auealth, and not her heart, that he had
coveted for his own? Did he see her as she
had stood then at his side, timid and trustful,
with blue eyes appraised to his, as tender
flower twines about strong tree, little fearing
that its support will ever fail, or its frail,
clinging tendrils be rudely torn away2 Did
he recall his own false VOWS, her unreserved
faith in his lightest words; did he see again
the happy joyous light that had ever kindled
on her face at his approach, the blush that
had mantled her soft cheek, ere coldness and
incipient neglect, and unkind words had
dimmed that light and blighted that rose,
and brought the plaintivelook of anxiety and
care to usurp the beaming smiles and glances
of affection and happiness on the tender,
trusting face? Did he see her as she had been,
even then, meekly submissive and unreproach-
full, patient in her sorrow, striving by every
winning vile to reinstate herself in the place
she had lost? Did he see her as she was no,u,
driven by his cruelty, his fendish and skilful-
ly accomplished DEVICE to the most pitiable
condition in which it is possible for human
creature to exist-did he recognize the work
of his hands, the result of his malignant arts,
and contemplating the wreck he had caused,
still seek his pillow with tranquil mind, and
revel undisturbed in the possession of his ILL.,
gotten wealth ?
If he could do this, then surely he was a
6end, and not man.
Two years passed away, and Alfred Stanley
received the following letter from Leroy, the
unblushing though not acknowledged accom-
plice of his guilt:
"Dear Sir II regret to be obliged to in
form you of the occurrence of a most painful
and unforeseen event. MadameStanley, your
afflicted wife, Notwithstanding the most assid-
uous care and unceasing watchfulness on the
part of Madame Leroy and myself, and the
most vigilant attendance furnished her by us,
has, by some mysterious means, effected an
escape from our custod y, and we are unable
to gain the ightest clue as to her whereabouts.
She disappeared from our establishment on
Wednesday night (the I'd ultimo) and in
spite of strict and continued enquiry on our
part, battles all efforts at discovery.
I need not tell you into what distress and
anxiety of mind this sad and most unaccount-
able occurrence has plunged us. 1t is the
first time we have ever had to record such an
event in the annals of our institution, and it
aflicts US the more, as your amiable wife was
the object of our special interest and affection.
We can only attribute it to some remarkable
and still undiscovered instance of neglect on
the part of her special attendant, whom, how
ever, we have never before had cause to re-
proach for inattention to her charge, or want