The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-05-24
VICTIMS OF OPIUM.
A HIGH BIYE SENSATION FROM LONDON.
Why a MARRIAGE WAS BROKEN OFF
ADRCrrLY.

LO,uloM Life vouches for the truthful.
hess in every particular Of the following
narrative, the names alone being with
held
Very recently n rising young physician
IN the West End Of London was sllnl-
moned to attend an urgent case. AS The
carriage drew up at the door, he observed
that there was an awning and a car
pet extending from tho portal to the
curb, and on reaching the hall he found
That the house was thronged with people
in evening dress. The messenger, speak
ing to white-haircd military-looking
gentleman who sat alone before the fire.
place, said:
"Sir Hugh, this is DR.. Fielding" and
withdrew.
The gentleman addressed rose from his
chair, and rs he stood III the blazing
light Of the sea-cOal fire he seemed mai
Ill whose splendid physical presence the
Doctor ct once recognized the person Of
Il famous naval commander, whose deeds
Of personal prowcss i'll the Pacific and in
the China Seas had won for him some.
thing more than national reputation.
"Be seated, Doctor" he said, pointing
TO chair. my daughter was to have
been married to-day. have sent for
YOU because I know your reputation for
the treatment of nC vous diseases is very
high"
"My professional skill is at your ser.
vice." said the Doctor.
''Your answer is frank and TO the
point, returned the Baronet. "The mar.
tiage of my daughter has not taken place
To-day she passed from state of vivac-
ity and happiness into one of stupor.
All our efforts to arouse her have proved
unavailing. In order TINT you may conf
prehend the entire situation, shall be
forced to detail some Of my own and Of
my family history. Her mother was a
native Of the East Indies. / married her
after n brief courtship, when was a
Flag Lieutenant in the East India SQUAD.
ron, many years ago. She was the daugh.
ter OF missionary who had given over
his Jealous ambition to convert the hea-
then Of Burmah, and had gone into trade.
In short time his fortune had reached
m Incredible amount. There were Vague
fnmors That the greater part Of it had
been gathered by transactions in opium.
The young Lady herself was beautiful and
talented, and the solo heireSA to her fa-
ther's enormous wealth. Among the
many SritoIs who came I WIS the sue
cessiui one, and our wedding in many rr.
spccts was remarkable affair. Our only
chlld was born some years later, and
shortly aftcrward I was ordered to nm az
duous service in the Corean waters. On
us completion returned to England 10
tnd my wife broken in health, and the
victim OF tho most painful complication
OF disorders. 1t was necessary to allny
her pain, and to do this morphia was re.
sorted to. She fingered on and died Be
fore her death, she told me in n lucid mo-
mont that she had learned the use of
opium in her childhood, and that while
she had never become q slave to ii. she
had nevertheless taken it with regularity,
and she had no doubt that her illness ro.
suited from the habit. In this view the
physician who attended her concuIred.
Now, sir, my child appears to me to havo
oeen using some drug. I have no reason
&c believe that she is slave to the habit
OF taking opium, in any Of its horrible
forms, but my heart is burdened with the
graVest apprehensions. Should you dis.
cover that she is, tho wedding ceremony
which ls only postponed, Shall never take
place. The bridegroom is the son of my
dearest friend, and / can never permit
tnat ne shall have the prospect Oh life
OF misery, such as mino has been tho
''AO@O NJ AOA VLlS lc(I3On tluU IDefG IL no
way to ensure happiness for her."
They passed out through the hall, up
the staircase, encountering the guests |
who had been hidden to the marriage |
feast taking their departure. Some Of
them gave looks Of curiosity, but all Of
them had word of sympathy or a pres
sure of the hand to bestow upon the
stricken father as he passed by
On reaching the landing the Earonet
stopped for moment to recover hi, self.
possession, and then gently opening a
door, ushered the Doctor into the pa.
nent,s chamber. The sight that greeted
the Doctors eye embraced as it's central
feature tho form Of young lady clad in
a dreSs Of whit, satin, and lying on
oed. A bridal vAiI Of delicate lace trailed
its luAuriant length over the back of a
chair, on which also hung wreath OF
orange blossoms.
In moment the man of science saw
that the fathers worst fears were JUST.
ned. mere glance at the swollen eye
hds, whose unnatural yellow color was
heightened by the dark.blue veins that
iIaYersed them, showed that the young
lady was not only the victim Of a larger
portion than sbe had been accustomed
to take, bat Fat the custom itself was
Of old standing,
swell, Doctor ssked the Baronet.
hnGiously, ,is IL opium r.
hkRn rnYat fiRat gaya hep lfRn - yagAiieA