Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-08-16
ALONE WITH A MADMAN.

II have often heard of persons whose
hair was whitenod from excessive fear, bu,
as never saw myself any one so affected
am disposed to be credulous on the sub
sect"
The above remark was made to DR.. May
nard Us we sat on the piazza Of his pretty
villa, discussing the different effects of
terror on dissiu,lar tcmpcramcnts. With
out replying to me, tho doctor turned to his
wife and said:
"lelcn, will you please relate to my old
friend tho incident within your experience
1t is the most convincing argument cup
advance"
looked ut Mrs. Maynard in surprise.
: : had observed that her hair, which wna
luxuriant ond dressed worry bccon,iugly was
purely colorlcss, but as she was young
woman, and also very pretty one, sur
missed that it was powdered 10 hcishten the
brilhunoy Of her fine dark eyes.
Tho doctor aud had been friends and
fellows students, but aftcr leaving college We
had drftcd apart, to commence practice IN
All Eastern city, no had to pursue his pro-
fession in growing town in the West
was now on visit to him for the first time
since his morriogc.
Mrs Maynard, no doubt, reading my
eupposition ia my look of incrcdulity smiles
as she shook down her saowy tresses over
her shoulders, and seating herself by hor
husbands side, related the following episode:
at is now nearly two years pgo since my
husband was called on ono evening to visit
a patient several miles away. Our do,nes--
tics had all gone to wake 10 the vicinity,
the dead man being n relative of one of our
serving women. Thus was left alone.
But felt no fear, for we never had heard
of burglars or any soft of desyeradoes in
our quiet village, then consisting of few
scattering houses. The windows leading
out OF the piazza we're open as now, but I
secured tho blinds before my husband s
departure, and looked tho outside doors,
al except tie front one, which J left the
do'tor 60 lock after, going out, SO that if I
should. fall asleep before his return, he
GOULD enter without arousing me. I heard
tho doctors rapid footsteps on the gravel
by the urgent tones of the messenger, who
awaited him, and after the sharp rattle OF
carriage wheels had become but an echo, |
seated myself by tho parlor astral and soon
readinB before being disturbed by ;, the
summons. But after time my interest
succumbed to drowsincss, and thought of
Getring, when tho clock 10 tho doctors
study adjoining the parlor struck twelve, so
detcrmined to wait few moments more,
feeling that he would be homo very coon.
Eolosed my book, donned robe etc chan,-.
Ore, let down my hairtnpd then returnedto
my seat to patiently wait and listen. Not
tho falntost sound disturbed the etillncso Of
the night. Not breath Of air stirred the
leaf. The silence was so oppressive. |
lepged for the sharp click of tho gate latoh
and Tho well-known step Cd the gravel walk.
I"did not dare to break the hush myself by
moving or oinging, was so oppressed by
the deep stillness. The human mind is q
strange torturer to itselfn' I began to oon-
jare up vivid fancios about ghostly visi,ants,
in Tho mdstof which occurred the stories
had heard from supcrs;itious people about