Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-02-01

"No offence, squire but 'spense or no 'spensA
knows the laws, and alters take care 10 have
proof afore | says libel on any man"
What do you know OF Raoul Dupuy, villain,
thai you dare maintain such q thing concern
ing his character, which is polluted by your
mention OF itF
Never mind what know, squire, so long
as amt said 1t, answered the tramp.
"WhAt is your opinion, doctor ?" asked the
squire.
I" 1t is rather early to ask An opinion about
the patient, squire. The skull is fractured and
It may be necessary to trepan il, IL any portion
Is bearing on the BRAIN"
"Do you think the blow will permanently
affect her brain, or that she will be sound In
mind should she recover2"
"If the pressure OF the bone upon the brain
be removed, she will doubtless recover her
senses. But until she is completely well again,
and even after, no risk must be taken in the
case. Absence Of excitement or noise is indis-
pensable, as the slightest mental shock might
make her raving maniac. Blows upon that
region Of the head have been known 10 deprive
persons of the power Of speech, and il she ia
not kept perfectly quiet, she may recover only
to hnger out dumb existence"
After breakfast servant, whom the squire
had dispatched across the creek upon his first
arising, returned with the information that Mr.
Taylor-the gentleman whom the stranger had
left at his gate on the road-would be over
Immediately after breakfast.
Upon the arrival of Mr.. Taylor, he and the
squire retired for a consultation, to which they
after awhile called Randy, the vagrant. They
then returned to the traveller, and, after hear
ing his account once more, and comparing the
time of his leaving Mr.. Taylor with that Of his
arrival at the squires, they proceeded to the
creek in company.
Upon their arrival the squire addressed the
traveller
81 have taken counsel with Mr.. TAYLOR
touching this case, which seems a deep mys-
terry, after all the information we have been SO
far able to gather; the lady seems unknown
even to Randy, who visits every house in this
and the adjoining counties, and you are equal
ly stranger to us, consider, however, that
you have been fully discharged from any con-
nection with the affair. We must first attempt
to gather something from the lady herself.
At this point the doctor came out Of the sick
room. He stated that the lady had greatly i'm
proved during the night, and that the wound
was, in all probability, not serious the lady
had even recovered, in measure, the control
OF her mental faculties and language, though
she was not fully conscious or coherent as yet.
The squire, Mr.. Taylor, the traveller and the
doctor together proceeded to the bedside Of
the unfortunate woman, the stranger-being
assured of his release by the words Of the
squire-hrst ordering servant to bring his
horse to the door before leaving the piazzl.
Upon reaching the bed the woman opened
her eyes, and seeing the kind manly faces of
the squire and Mr.. Taylor, she family smiled,
and ran her eyes over the rest Of the group.
She passed the doctor without any variance
of expression, and then rested them upon the
face of the stranger.
The eyes becames set in horrible stare, the
light forsook them, the pupils dilated she
raised herself to sitting posture by conyul-
sive movement OF the arms then; crouching
to her knees and throwing herself wildly down
on her face, she shrieRed out with q curdling
moan
"Oh, oh, Dupuy! don't. don'tr and con-
seriousness once more left her.
Despite his self-command, the traveller paled
he at once retired with the gentlemen, how
ever to the piazza Nothing had passed be-
tween the group until the doctor broke pain
full constraint which had fallen upon all
Gentlemen" said ne, "the worst mishap
that could befall this unfortunate lady has just
occurred through her having seen this gentle
man, Mr.. Durer. She is raving maniac. She
may die, she may recover after lingering
illness; but, in any event, she will be fortu-
nate If she ever RECEIVERS her reason. Darkness
has settled upon her brain for long night,
which may never be followed by the dawn"
"To what, DOCTOR" asked the squire, " do
you attribute her shock ~
"She was evidently stricken with horror at
the sight Of Mr.. Durer, whom, from my
knowledge Of the laws Of the human brain,
she has in some way associated with the vio-
lence which has been done her, to her great
terror.
There was pause, painful lull.
Then the squire spoke to Durer.
"The case, sir, has taken a new turn. You
will not be surprised that conclude it my duty
to commit you, to await further developments
in the matter.