The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-18
gutelligeueer.
A SHATTERED INTELLECT.
"Help ! help I hein!"


next to It, in helpless terror. Then /
bethought me of the hall, and rushing
out there I knocked on the door next to
mine.
Silence, followed by low demoniacal
laugh!
"What is the matter z" called.
"Open the door IL you need help"
A voice, evidently that of an aged
wol4iap, called out:
"Go awayW
Then could hear her laugh and NUT
ter to herself, and I went back to my
room. On the way met the boy who
was janitor Of the building.
"Who has No. q ?"
"Some crazy woman" he answered in
disrespectful haste, and was gone before
l could ask another question.
A mad woman in the next room
Surely fa.v was unkind to me. had
come here to improve my own mind, and
found myself tete a.tete with idiocy. l
could move out, but had only just
moved in, and ducats were as scarce as
hens teeth. was preparing myself for
dramatic readings, and spent the most Of
my time in the drill work Of my profes-
sion, with intervals devoted to the rem.
dering of classical music, con dn,0re.
comforted myself with the belief that
however hard my poor demented neigh.
Dor shrieked and raved in her insane
ebulitions, could drown her out with
an opposition bed!am, and decided to
stay where was and attend TO my own
affairs.
If had only done SO!
mind your own business" ia homely
formula, but 1t Is little classic Of sensi.
bic, pertinent advice, which we would do
we'll to epgFave ON the ritual Of our daily
lives in letters of gold. So much for
parenthesis.
studied aloud. raved aud ranted to
develop my voice. I paced my chamber
in a long white gown and holding q tai.
low caudle in my right hand, while |
strode UP and down, repeated in sepIl.
cherial tones:
O.w.it dam. q Led spot, owit say-one.
two: why then tits time to-
"Saye me save me help! helpl for
Gods sake, help!"
l dropped my candle. jumped into
bed, and drew the bed clothes over my
head. There I leg snd ah;7eTed uatil
m0rnihg.
Then i ssw pale, still wo;nsa with !.
resoute face, coming out Of number q.
GLOW is your patient?" asked hur.
riedly as she passed me on the landing.
The woman stared at me moment as
if she did not quite understand.
"The-the insane woman" ex.
planned.
ooh, yes, much better, but l cannot
stop to talk" and she hastaned away
while ] wondered whether she was q
nurse to the mysterious woman shut up
there, or relative, possibly daughter.
decided on tho latter when | over.
heard the fond language she used toward
the poor demented creature. Never q
harsh or reproachful word, but the ten.
der ondearments Of an affection that was
self-sacrificlDg % only the strongest flial
love can be. And 80 proud and careful
of the unconscious sufferer that no eye
was allowed to rest upon her in that
wretched state.
honored and respected such devotion
and soon in MY own way longed to assist
the sad and silent woman, who shrunk
from the advances Of strangers, in her
labor of love. began by leaving tiny
bL.shes of flowers at the door. Then
small offerings of fruit, and had d self.
] b reward in the silence and peace that
followed each occasion. i could hear
the patienk Roftlv lauphinn or talking To
hersalf and I even imaeined ahe had
learned In eyneot tho tr}bntas of INV
evmpathv. Who knesv? !. It might even
act na a new mind Tanra. this outside
S;v.-sion from an nrIrnnisa snnrae.
Several times Ihad tried TO talk Nth
tho daughteE--aB { l:hnd decided her to bo
but her manner was GO reserved, and so
straItsa, that 7 began to think sshst she,
were. in fect. q mad family. But I he'd
learned chat she allied psresponpible poai.
tion dur;ns fhe fisyganS ffsat her whole
life was pivan I'M tb fha oheerlesa eociety
of the vrofch ss.ess go; Iisk
sueh asyetionf that yhnd nauar vat cnueht
q s!,.n::sa os haTT sa;S fast IA Sin
sueh a Sorroy, ygsa Il nri9iSsoe. nrts:I de-.
sired no thanka or anEnnvie;ig ;igneys.
And VET viii eonfsna Il now Ii uaa
sometir5ea hard 10 bear. Iha NJ ytrips OF
inaanitv s.1 f,ever nleaannt to iisten In.
.hnt tF,aya f5Ssa nsctilinr walriinega inrthe
, n,fisa M crie. W ,SIt ct ,ano, - re,,nh ~ .sd
enine wall.
Bnt there aame a climax. as there does
10 @ moat Of the traaedias Of lila and II
did not not como a moment tor, mon .oon for 7 I
had fni;en into n ,rervoua cnnd;t;on that.
If I had been o fine iady. would have
Ssussa ssSsn,ny my sn' and myself no. gsa dp
and the favv friends / hava lived far aSsSv ,
and did not tronbIe themsslyas nhour p,o.
Ana hoJ hs.nn,e ah.nrhs,iI fssc;nntaJ
hannted @ M hv e the ne,,eIss. n "a ts,roS %1t nn ths
-, ~ 49, ~ "" ehS