The weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1883, 1883-05-09
v1cr1Ms OF OPIUM.
A High Life ensation, True in
all Particulars Except
Names.
From ondor, Life.

0AA = - ASs4eseAs~Ao . .ASSHs
Names.
From London Life.
Very recently grising young physician
in the West End q London was summon
ed to attend very urgent case. As the
carriage drew upat the door, he observed
that there was an awning and a carpet
extending from the portal to the curb,
and on reaching the hall he found that
the house was thonged with people in
evening dress The messenger, speak
ing to white-haired, military looking
gentleman who - alone before the fire.
place, said:
"sir Hugh, this is Dr.. Fielding" and
withdrew.
The gentleman addressed rose from
his chair, and as he stood in the blazing
light of the sea-coal fire he seemed man
in whose splendid physical presence the
doctor at once recognized the person of a
famous naval commander whose deeds
of personal prowess in the Pacific and in
the China Seas bad won for him some
thing more than national reputation
'Be seated, doctor, q 2aid ei9tina
to chair, "My daughter was to have
been married to-day. I have sent for
you because know your reputation for
the treatment of nervous 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
riage of my daughter has not taken place.
To-day she passed from state of vivaci-
ty and apparent happiness into one of
stupor- All our efforts to arouse her
have proved unavailing. In order that
you may comprehend the entire situa-
ton, shall be forced to detail some of
my own and of my family history. Her
mother was native of the East Indies,
1 married her after a brief courtship
when I was flag Lieutenant in the East
India squadron, many years ago. She
was a daughter of a missionary who had
given over his jealous ambition to con-
vert the heather of Burmah and gone
into trade. In short time his fortune
had reached anincredible amount There
were vague rumors that the greater part
of it had been gathered by transactions
in opium. The young lady herself was
beautiful and talented, and the sole heir
ess of her fathers enormous wealth.
Among the many suitors who came was
the successful one, and our wedding was
in many respects a most remarkable
affair. Our only child was born some
years later, and shortly after I was Or
dered to an arduous service in the Cor
sican waters. On its completion l
returned to England to find my wife
broken in health and the victim OF the
most painful complication of disorders.
1t was necessary to allay her pain and to
do this morphia was resorted to. She
fingered on and died. Before her death
she told me IN lucid moment that she
had learned the use of opium in her
childhood, and tAat, while she had never
become slave to 1t, she had neverthe-
less taken it with regularity, and she had
no doubt that her illness resulted from
the habit. In this view the physician
who attended her concurred. Now, sir
my child appears to have been using
some drug. I have no reason to believe
that she is slave 10 habit of taking
opium in any of its horrible forms, but
my heart is burdened with the gravest
apprehensions. Should you discover thai
she is, the wedding ceremony, which
otherwise is only postponed, shall neve,
take place. The bridegroom is the son
of my dearest friend, and can never
permit that he shall have the prospect o.
life of misery, such as mine has beer
the more sQfor the reason that there il
no way to insure a life happiness fol
her"
They passed out through the hall, ur
the staircase, encountering the guests
who had been hidden to the marriage
feast taking their departure. Some O.
them gave looks of curiosity, but all o
them had word of sympathy or pres
sure of the hand to bestow upon the
stricken father as he passed by.
On reaching the landing, the baronet
stopped for moment to recover his self
possession, and then gently opening {
door, ushered the doctor into the patients
chamber. The sight that greeted tho
doctors eyes embraced as its central fea
ture the form of young lady clad in 6
dress of white satin and lying on bed
A bridal veil of delicate lace trailed it,
luxuriant length over the back of chail
on which also hung wreath of orange
blossoms.
In moment the man of science saw
that the fathers worst fears were justi
fed. A mere glance at the swollen eye
lids, whose unnatural yellow color was
heightened by the dark blue veins that
traversed them, showed that the youns
lady was not only the victim of a larger
portion than she had been accustomed te
take, but that the custom itself was of ole
| standing.
"Well, DOCTOR" asked the baronet
anxiously, "is it opium?"
"We must first save her life," replied
! the doctor, evasively.
Proper remedies were administered sc
| successfully that in few minutes the
victim was aroused from the state o.
coma into which she had fallen, and
brought to her feet. Then began the
heroic treatment. She was beaten with
hands, pricked with sharp points and
subjected to repeated shocks from a gal.
vanic battery, while her stomach was
attacked with the most powerful emetics
and all the while she was kept walking
up and down the room, despite her plead
ings to be allowed to lie down and close