The daily gazette., 1877-05-18
'fHEE': 5, OPIUM [M EATER,
BY A PHYSICIAN.

"Doctor Rivers, will you come to my
house; 80 c. street, at s O'Clock, this
evening? Come as if for friendly call
only, AID do not betray an anxiety for
any OF my family. will indicate to you
silently whom wish you to notice-or,
perhaps had better not either. Judge
and examine each one for yourself, and
tell me the result of your investigations.
privately. A.DE WOLFE
Such was the purport of the note which
L received one morning. just as 1 was
stepping through the hall, cane and
gloves in hand, to make my daily
round OF calls upon my patients. Com
ing from Mrs. De Wolf, a frank, OPEN
hearted woman, who never in her life be-
fore had any concealment or mysteries
was rather puzzled; and, even in nv
arduous duties forthe day, fort wasAugust
and a sickly year, found myself think
ing OF my evening engagement with
some little curiosity.
Promptly, at the time appointed,
knocked at the door of pretty suburban
cottage, where Mrs. De Wolfe ard three
daughters resided, and to which her only
son returned home at the regular college
vacation. .a
found him at home for it was now the
long vacation. He was pale, slender
young man, with an eye of fire. and
restless, nervous appearance, which at
tributed to the high pressure which the
most gifted of his class-the gradu-
ating class-had been subjected to that
year.
The oldest daughter, Madaline, was
study to me always. She was very tall,
with that superb beauty that reminds one
of an Egyptian lily, SO pure, yet so state
ly. Her dark hair, thick and abundant,
was folded in rich, heavy bands, display
| ing the shape of her remarkable head,
and ended in large coil at the neck.
Her countenance was so pale that one
might suppose her sickly, had not the ruby
redness of her lips and the brilliant clear
| ness of her dark eyes, contradicted such
an idea.
The second sister, Ada, was very diff
ferent. She had soft, brown hair, and
brilliant color in her cheek. She was
much smaller than the stately sister, and
an occasional cough interrupted her
sweet and musical tones, with apparent
! ly passing annoyance to herself, and
look of troubled anxiety from mother and
sister. caffE. FT4-a .
The youngest sister was fifteen years
of age; in height woman, but in man
| ners only playful child. She loved So
ciety, while her sisters painfully shrunk
from it. While they kept their choicest
words for the few who penetrated to their
inmost souls. Agatha gave out hers to
every passing acquaintance. Like the
sweet brier she diffused her fragrance
upon all alike. No one was proof against
that warm, sunshiny nature thatgave out
its influence upon all who came within
its reach. f.
| The widowed mother of these children
was pale, sensitive, lady-like woman-a
fond and proud; yet disappointed mother
not from any deficiency in them, but
from the adverse fortune that had attend
ed them since the death of her husband.
| With health so delicate, that half her
sufferings would have excused almost
any one from performing any duty, = Mrs.
De Wolfe achied miracles of house keep
ing; while the three daughters went to
give lessons in drawing, music and the
languages, earning the support which she
had no longer to give them.
L
earnest and searching eye, but could
positively find nothing upon which to
base such troubles as the note from
Mrs. De Wolfe implied. The daught-
ers conversed upon general subjects
with taste and intelligence; and Arthur
touched lightly upon recent affairs at
the college. Only the mothers eye
looked consciously anxious, yet never
directing nor enlightening me by a
single glance toward either of her
children. l was puzzled, and my
judgement entirely at fault.
l should have said before, that this
family were all distinguished for a
calm, serene piety--a deep, but not
noisy, religious sentiment, the general
tone Of which was ever present to
others, yet without ever alludIng to
their personal experience. While their
heads were all deeply concerned in
religious things, their taste prevented
them forcing the subject upon any in
dividual. People felt their beautiful
faith and trust, though rarely hearing
any allusion to it from their lips.
| Just before was about to depart in
the full belief that the windows
anxiety had only magnlned some
trifing disorder, that had already dis
appeared, happened to mention the
subject. of some new doctrine, which
was apparently gaining ground in
society, and which threatened to ex-
ploded generally received opinion.
| "But You know we managed all
that" said Arthur. earnestly,
"Managed it how my young friend ?
He burst out laughing, his pale stu
dents face coloring with excitement,
and wild CLEAN lighting up his previ-
ously serene eyes.
"How o, we gave them the duce
npon that subject y
/ glanced at the mother. Her face
at that moment expressed deep agony.
Madeline had covered hers, Ada turned
to the window, and Agatha went
quickly out of the room. was thunder
struck; but, rallying, made some hall
indistinct reply, and, feeling it unnec-
essary to prolong the scene, l rose to
go. ,