The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-23
Insanity Produced by Terror.

| The particulars of this story the writer
| has merely put into a form more sulta-
BILE for publication without adding at all
| to details. 1t is tale which should in
terest readers of every class, not only
| from its intrinsic pathos, but from the
singular emotional phenomena devel-
oped in the case. These are but further
illustrations of the power of fear and
sympathy which, in nervous tempera,
menls, are SO potent to work wonderful
| effects.
Mary Earnest is the only child of a
mother, whose whole being is wound up
in the welfare of her daughter. Mrs.
Ernest is n widow. She was devoted
wife, and the death of Mr.. Ernest proved
an almost fatal shock to her nervous sys-
TEN, she then being in very weak state
of body. Shortly afterwards, Mary was
bO1n-born, never to see her fathers
face, or know fathers love. During
many days, her mothers existence hung
on a thread-equally balanced between
life and death; at length she recovered
returned from the dark confines of the
shadow of death to live .again-not for
herself, for her individuality had expired
with her husband, but. tor the little
daughter who was left.
Years passed away. Mary grew to be
almost Woman-She is eighteen, and
past. Mrs. Ernest had learned to smile
again. Mary's was a peculiar DISPOSE
ton, whose eccentricity became more
marked and prominent every day. Pre-
dominating over other characteristics,
and giving bias to all her actions, was
an excessive nervousness. The watch
tul mother was fully conscious of this at-
lection, but trusted time would modify or
remove it. Such, however, was not the
case. AS she grew up it began to ac-
quire a morbid character, and became
more distinctive in its features, consti-
tutlng constant source of PAIN and an
noyance. The girl could never sleep
without light in her room; the slightest
noise disturbed her, and filled her with
apprehensions. Sometimes she could
! not sleep at all, and arose in the morn.
, ing with Il dull pain in her head, and
heavy eye-lids, unsoothed by the soft
touch OF Morpheus. Otherwise her
health was exceptionally good, and her
appearance, but Tor rare pallor OF coun-
tenance, betokened no abnormal condl-
ton OF body. Mary had a pleasing face,
: large blue eyes, Il sweet mouth. and a
: rather melancholy and thoughtful ex-
i. preston. Altogether, though it was not
beautiful, there was something very at
y tractivesin her appearance.
SO thought William CotWay, for he had
i bestowed ON her all the fullness OF his
@ heart, and loved her with manly, fer
vent devotion. 1t was pretty contrast
: the fragile tendril tWlned round al
: oak-this strong, hearty man and the
a sensitive young woman. They were tc
be married sOon-in two weeks. Mr.
Ernest had left his widow in t0lerable
y circumstances. She did not want tol
s moderate means, which were increased
!. by industry and economy. William Cot
Way was steady, Woodworking fhechaE
$ ic, against whose character no one had {
e word of reproach. Thus they were wei
e matched, and Mrs. Ernest was more hope
- lul for the future Of the delicate girl, whit
. would now have protector in whom sht
y could place the tirmest reliance.
s. The night before the wedding William
o was at the house Of his betrothed. Mrs
Ernest wished to pay q short visit to
II neighbor's. and as she was only to b.
IS zone about an hour, Mary insisted tina
e William should be her escort, deciarin!
, she was not at all afraid to remain alon
for SO short q period.
u When the two were gone she went int,
e her own room, which was adjoining thu
k parlor, where there was cheerful fir
burning in The CRATE. The blaze wa
sufficient TO cast n somber glow on tn,
different objects in the apartment, ant
| IulS SDCClCS vi bWlllSuD vas DlCuSdHlC
n than II brighter illumination would hav
n been, ior her thoughts were of the impo,
e tant, and to her joyful step in life sh
d was to take on the morrow.
1t Leaving the girl gazing at the coal
III and building love castles in the air, W
is will turn aside IL few moments 10 give
5, slight description of tne room.
Of In one corner was bed, placed so q
in to extend across the angle between tn
,h walls, thus forming an open spac
st in The rear. There were also q fey
s. chairs, q bureau, an armolr, and, restin
it on the mantei-piece, was large mirror
I'd the top leaning u couple Of feet forward
d SO that Mary, from where she sat, oppe
st site the fire, could easily by merely rails
st ing her eyes look into the glass.
u. This was the arrangement OF The varj
IL Gus objects when the event happene
ut that we are about to relate.
10 Now, mark! All was stiffness in til
'g house-eXcept the regular tick tick! {
$. the clock in the adjacent room. A gentl
l, mouse ran out, lowered timidly aroun
IA Mary's foot and then scampered 6tf q
X, some imaginary noise. Was it imagil
Ii, airy? The girl heard it and listened;
n was like the hard breathing Of MAJ
y, The blood rushed back to her heart. Sh
ne was tempted to get up and rush from III
BY house, but calmed her fears with th
e thought that 1t was but trick Of IL
tn fancy.
nd She got book Of pictures-tor sh
es couldn't read then-and resuming ht
re seat, she began gluncing over the leave
he by the tire-light. A few minutes eiapse,
n, and again the sound was distinctly aud
o. BILE; this time there could be no mistak,
it. it was the iabored breathing OF som
lr- thing, or somebody, and 1t was there, b
hind the bed. She shuddered with no
ror, but mechanically turned her head {
az look in thai direction. BY the htf
In. flashes of the blaze, she could make O,
a nothing with certainty. The awful CO
I'd ner seemed lost in a shadow; lines ar
*. verses OF the "Kayen" gliaed throue
Id her stimulated memory; there was
We leuce again. Now the se0r girl cou
scarcely breathe; she could not fy-n
leyen rise from her ssat-but was AZ
person with nightmare, only her sehs,
K, we're painfully acute. Then there W,
cd q stealthy tread behind her back; ii
pg itap! tip! tupi 1t was coming towar,
or her. The thing, whatever it was, W,
iei approaching across the floor. She wi
i" almost frozen with terror-paralyzed
every limb-chained TO the spot, but h