The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-29
he sun. had put on her brightest robes at her

the sun, had put on her brightest robes at her
departing. IT,
guests who were not inmates of the house, TOOK
their leave the lights were extinguished, and
silence reigned throughout the spacious man
sion. When all was still, the door Of Julia's
apartment was softly opened by her mother,
who noiselessly approached her bedside, to see
if all was we'll with her child. She was in
deep slumber; the same flush was upon her
cheek, and slight degree of restlessness was
observable; but by no means sufficient to ex-
cite alarm; and impressing kiss upon her
brow without awakening her, she crept back
to her own room An hour had scarcely passed
away, however, and she was just sinking into
quiet sleep, while every other beneath that
roof was sealed in slumber, when all were
aroused by shrek that echoed from room to
room, and filled every heart with dread. Some,
springing from their beds, believed that some
horrible dream had visited them others de-
clared that it was not within the house; but
while they reasoned, as yet half unconscious
again and again it came upon the ear, so
strange, so unearthly was the sound, that 1t
scarcely died away before the doors in every
direction were opened, and the great hall was
filled with anxious and inquiring faces
"What is it7" "What is it ?" were questions
asked on every side, but none could answer;
There was moments breathless pause, and
every faculty was strained to listen; again
came upon the ear that horrible cry, and the
parents simultaneously exclaimed
"My childp
"Our Julia ?! and rushed to the apartment,
from whence the sound proceeded. But oh
what pen shall dare to portray the scene that
met the eye of the frantic mother, the bewli,
dered and terror stricken group of guests and
servants that thronged to witness the awful
spectacle. There stood the beautiful girl who
few hours before had attracted every eye, and
was the idolized of every heart, "the observers
of all observers" her hands clenched wildly,
her eyes dilated, blood shot, almost starting
from their sockets her beautiful hair dshe-
yelled and streaming over her shoulders her
face pale as her night robe, and the white foam
pouring from her mouth.
"Father- she shrieked, as they ap-
peared at the door, II am mad-mad DO not
come to me-away-away! T.
She clung with desperate and frantic grasp
to chair which was near her, while she glared
upon them with the awful gaze of the victim
of hydrophoba and, with another heart-rend-
ing shrek. sunk exhausted and foamiDg upon
the floor.
1t was too much for the agonized parents.
"Great God ' exclaimed the father, "was it
this-this, that I have foreseenP' while the
door mother fell senseless into the arms of the
friends who were near her. She was borne to
her apartment, and powerful opiates were ad-
ministered, which kept her in state of uncon-
sciousness Physicians were summoned IN ev-
erv direction but for her-the child of many
hopes, the idolized, the worshipped-for her all
hope was past No medical skill could avail.
The venom had infected the warm current that
rushed through her veins, and writhing in the
agony of hydrophobia, which no pen can paint
a few hours must terminate her young career.
The poor victim was bound at her own request,
and the physicians stood around, overpowered
with the thought Of the ineficiency OF their
skill to avail them at this awful hour. The
wretched and almost frantic father walked the
floor of distant,room, that he might not hear
the moaning and occasional shrleks OF the
idolized child, but he could not look upon her
agony. The rector of the parish was with him,
endeavoring to whisper comfort to the bereaved
and heart-broken man.
Physicians and attendants alone were assem-
bled in the darkened room of the dying girl
Presently two of them drew apart from the
rest and held whispered consultation; the
others successively followed.
"There is no hope," said one, "and all that
remains is to shorten her misery, and terminate
this awful scene. God knows how dreadful the
alternative seems to me, yet in my heart be-
lieve there is none other"
Some minutes more passed in consultation,
and then the family physician, a man of keen
sensibility, was deputed to open their proposal
to the agonized father and to obtain his con-
sent 1t was difficult to fortify himself for the
task, but with an inward prayer for strength.
he fulfilled, with as much delicacy as possible,
the painful duty. :.
The suggestion was received with cry OF
anguish which went to the hearts of all who
heard it.
"Oh, my friend" he said, after moments
pause, ''if you cannot save my child"-here
was burst of sorrow which seemed to rend
the very heart strings-"I consent; perhaps
this is best-O God, sustain me" He covered
his face with his hands and wept like child.
The clergyman, overcome by the scene, threw
his arms about him and whispered, "He can
and he will, my friend resign yourself wholly
to him p
The physician pressed his hand silently; for
a moment buried his face in his handkerchief
and then brushing away his tears, hurried back
to the poor victim. vein was opened, and
the current of her young life-blood flowed forth
like water Ere long her struggles ceased The
sorrow stricken father was summoned; ne bent
over his sweet child, and pressed his lips to her
cold forehead, she opened her eyes, fixed them
upon him in long and earnest gaze, and then
closed them forever.
The body of poor Mary was found few days
subsequent to this event, in neiglhboring
thicket shot through the heart. She had at
tackled, with all the rage of hydrophobia,
young peasant, who had preserved his life by
destroying the well-known favorite. She was
buried near the grave of her young beautiful,
and il-fated mistress.
AS the flowers bloomed forth in the spring.
time, and the earth was mantled by carpet OF
grass, they were both buried beneath the cold
sod
Near Richmond, August, 1868.
-"I suppose" said physician smiling,