The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-18
AHderspt1 gHtettigeufer,
A SHATTERED INTELLECT.
WHelp | helpl help |"

"Helpl helpl helpp
started to my feet in tremor OF
fright as this cry rang through my room,
and gazed at the partition wall which
divided my apartment from the room
next to it, in helpless terror. Then l
bethought me of the hall, and. rushing
ont there knocked on the door next to
mine.
Silence, followed by low demoniacal
Taught
ssWhat is the matter? 2" Icalled.
"Open the door if you need help"
A voice, evidently that of an aged
woman, called out:
"Go away -.
Then I could hear her laugh and mutt
ter to herself, and I, went back to my
room. On the way I met the boy who
was janitor of the building.
aWho has No. 27?"
sSome crazy woman" he answered in
disrespectful haste, and was gone before
could ask another question.
A mad woman in the next room !!
Surely fate was unkind to me. | had
come here to improve my own mind, and
fonnd myself tete. .a.tete with idiocy. I
conlS move ont, hut j had only lust
moved In. and ducats we're as scarce as
hens teeth. I vas preparing myself tor
dramatic readings, and spent the most of
nv time in the drill work of my profes.
sion, with intervals devoted to the rem.
Jsr;,a SI of classical music. con omors. I
comforted myself with the belief that
Sowaner S hard nv moor demepted neigh.
% hor %shr;eked and rayed i'm her insane
ehn,;t;ons I 7 conld drown her out with
~, annns;t;on hedlam. and I decided to
o.as o. orI rnhsra was and attend TO INV own
AFFAIR."
- If-I had only.doue so!
"Mind your own business" is homely
f,,s,nlsA bnt ;tis 4 itfle'classic of: :ssusis
az rss9; ;ne;,t. aiI Vice Which weSWoulddo
LII ~ 81 sncravaso, the ritual of our daily
.;vea in letters of gold. So much for
nsrenthes;s. - y.
studded aloud. raved and ranted to
;slavsISn nv voice. 81 paced.my chamber
* 4 long white gown and holdiDg tai.
low candle in nv right hand, while I
.troda mn and down. repeated in sepul-
ebeT;a, tones: -
0.w.;t dam.n.ed spot. owit I say-one.
tuo ..,vhv then 'tis time to- 49,
Ssaye mai save me |! help help for
GODS sate belnp
dsonned nv candle. jumped into
had and drew t6s bed.clot6es over my
head. There I lay and shivered until
morning.
Then i, saw a pale, still woman with 8
resoll,te face: coming out of number IL
ssHow = your patient?' I asked hur.
,;adlv as she passed me on the landing.
Tba woman stared al me moment as
;f sha did mt unite understand. ~
SThe-,Ee insane woman" I ex.l
nsained.
COZ. YES. much better, but cannot
ston to talk.o and she hastened away,
wh;la 81 wondered whether she was a
nnrae 70 the mysterious woman shut up
tharss [ =, a reiat;ve nossibly q daughter.
5ec;doa IN the latter when I over.
..J 49, faSj isnrnoge ebe nsed toward
n''aiu sne da,aqtea .5nn hs creatnre Never a
sne pooi assna ~ chf fni word hnt 'the tan.
1aIsn u pe.S lep.ya.Ss 80 an " atf:c,;on @ that was
uel snueo s:sa;sa s. nnin % the strongest f;l;al
Sex.,ssslD sena ssn ha "a nd 50 proud and careful
,vsH 10 ~ san nncon.c;ons r sufferer that no eve
" ...s .uo s,,nwsd tn rest unon her in that
MaetessJ WOO 49," sto.e
" r honoreJ and reanected such devotion
.na ao sonn IL nv NV own wsv loneed to assist
ehs I I ssJ and silent woman. who shrunk
f-on, I '' tha edvances of strangers. in her
iaSor % ~ ,ova heoan bv leaving tiny
hnncbes % ~ flowers at the door. Then
.SoaiI nffar;roa of irnit. and I had q self.
7 Il reward ia the silence and peace that
8 tal,auad n % each M -. occasion. j could hear
- tSa nat;ant softly laughing or talking to
haraeIf and I ayen imagined she had
& 1na.naJ - aynect the trIbntas of nv
.oa.nsthr .0a.n WSo tnew.9 Z Tt might even
spa sst 90 : nou rn;1,a i n,,fe this outside
Ss;vers;on Sv q = from an.nnEnoSWn source.
uisS s,a.avs1 % s;n,as' had tTied 10 talk with
Az - a.neLtar Ead: decided her to bs
1nS hnt % bsr msnnsr "a Was 70 reserved: and so,
.trsns,s ~ t,at ATT. Ibeean 10 thinE that she,
too Mas non scompos mentis; that they
were. in fact. i mad family. But had
learned that she filed q responsible posi-,
tion during the day Esnd That her whole
life was given up to the cheerless society
of the wratcfi whom She protected with
snch davotions nat Ihad never vet caught
. c1;m,aa of her felt that to help
such sorrow was s privilege, and I de-
s;red M thanks or acEnoWled dgment.
And VET viii confess it nowi1.---it was
,omatimes hard to bear. The ravings Of
Insanity ara never pleasant to listen to,
Int efisfe Wasa peculiar weifdness inrrhe'
mufied cries that rang through the dead:
eninr wall. -,
Bnt there came q climax, as there does
tn most Of, the tragedies of life, and it
did not come q moment too soon, for. T
/, had. fallen, into asneryous condition that,
80 rf.tl,a ;slSao,, a, finaS lady ,yyonlf h4ye