The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-03-18

effects OF the OplaCe "eTe Boue, ~"
should l find her? Alas! I knew that
the chances were a thousand to one
that her brain would still be full of
strange delusions; that she would turn
from me, as she turned last night
with loathing and anger. But my
greatest fear was that she would, upon
coming to herself, or rather to her
poor insane self, be conscious OF the
act she had accomplished. 1t was the
fear of this which made me wish that
the opium would hold her in it's drowsy
grasp for hours longer.
This wish vas granted. Hour after
hour 1 sat by her motionless form.
Now and again I glanced from the
beautiful, senseless face, and looking
out of the window saw the snow still
falling. Would my messenger ever be
able to reach town; if he did so, would
he be able to return? l was bound
to have a woman's aid. The presence
of the toughest daughter of the pillow
would be welcome to me when Philip
D aawoke. Audit was now time she did
SO. Although I felt her pulse almost
every other minute, and could find no
reason for alarm, I am bound to say
that her long sleep, protracted far be-
yond any l had in my experience seen
produced by the exhibition of narcot-
les, rendered me very uneasy. l
shall, I am sure, scarcely be credited
when l say that Philippa's unconcious-
ness lasted for sixteen hours--from
half-past nine at night to half-past n
on the following afternoon. 1 began
then to think the duration abnormal,
and determined to take some steps
towards arousing her.
But 1 was spared the responsibility.
She stirred on tbs couch. Her head
turned languidly on the pillow. Her
dark eyes opened, closed, and opened
again. She looked at me in a dazed
manner, not at first seeming to know
me, or to understand why I was near
her, or where she was. A prey to
the widest anxiety, I leaned over her
and waited until she spoke.
Little by little her bewilderment
seemed to leave her. Her eyes rested
with curious inquiry upon mine.
BASIL" she, said, family, butin tone
of surprise, "you here! Where am II"
Under my %roof-your brothers
roof" I said.
"Ah! / remember" she said, with a
deep sigh. Then she closed her eyes,
and once more seemed to sleep.
What did she remember? 1t seemed
to me too great a mercy to expect that
those hours Of oblivion had effected a
cure, but my hope was that she did not
remember what had happened when
she met Sir Mervin Ferrand on the
road. I was almost trembling with
excitement. I was longing to really
know in what state her mind was. Be-
sides, 1 thought she had slept as long
as was good for her. 1toolS her hands
and called her by name.
Once more she opened her eyes.
They expressed no fear of me, no dis
like to me. They conveyed no reproach.
They were calm. sad, weary, but gave
no evidence of any mental disorder:
"Have 1 been i'll long, Basil?" she
asked.
"Not very long. You are going to
get better soon."
Il came to your house, did 1not?"
"Yes,and here l mean to keep you.
Doyou feel weak?" ,
Every weak. Basil 1have dreamed
such horrible things"
You have been feverish and delir-
ious. People like that always fancy
strange things" ,,,
She was indeed as weak as a child,
but for the time at least, she was per-
fectly sane. Icould have cried for JOY
asI heard her faint but collected words.
l ventured to hope that l had before
me one of those very rare cases--such
"a 7 had e described, but had not
as vet met with-whero the patton:
awales from the long artiliciaily pro-
duced sleep perfectly free from VI n
niacal symptoms. Ifthis were so with
PHILIP pa if the return of reason were
to be permanent. l knew that a re"
weeks. careful nursing and judiclous
treatment might quite restore her TO
health. Even as this comforting
thought came to me, I remembered
the peril in which she stood. To-mor'
row-ay, even to-day-thething which
l dreaded might happen, and sweep
away all the good the narcotic had done
her.
She was now fully awake, and per
fectly quiet. l gave her some refresh
ment; then seeing she was lying IN
peaceful silence, l thought it better u
leave her. AS l quilted her room
drew down the blind fearing that the
whirling snow might bring recollec
lions which it was my n wish II
keep from invading her mind.
The long dreary day wore away
The light faded, and another night be
gan. Philippa still lay calm, silent ant
almost apathetic. l did nothing t!
rouse her. 1 went to her side as sci
dom as possible. feared that her see
NO me might recall the events Of tn
last night, and that recollectlons 81
awakened might destroy ali the goo'
which felt sure had been accomplished
by the long hours of oblivion and quiet
Could | have deputcd the task OF an
other I would not have even show
myself to my patient. Most anxiously
as evening came, Iawaited the appear
ance of my faithful William and ID
nurses. =.
Would they be able to reach us l.
such weather? 1t was still snowlnI
fercely. For more than twenty-fou
hours the mad white revell hat contlr
ued without intermission. Indeed tina
storm which burst upon the world rs
turned from Philippa's house on tn
preceding night is now historical;
was the be ginning of the heaviest an
longest fall which the record OF MT
years ago. For two nights and a da
the show came down in what may a
most be called drifting masses. DuI
ing that dismal day 1 saw from tt
window the heaps against the wa
grow deeper and deeper, and even
my preoccupied state of mind four
myself marvelling at the sustained +
ry Of the storm. ,
At eleven o'clock at night I sad
gave up all hope of the much-need'
assistance arriving. After all,
seemed that William had found it II
possible to fight against the weathe
so I made my preparations for anoth
night Of solitary w~atchfulness. Nv
ali but worn out with fatigue; yet
dared not sleep. If the mania returne
what might happen, were mot at hal
to restrain Philippa's actions? n
hope that the madness had really lie
my patient, not, if she were proper
!; treated, to return, was a growing on
but not yet strong enough to allow n
to leave her for any length OF time.
My delight then may be imasine
when, looking for the hundredth tin
up the road, 1 saw close at hand t7
flashing lights. and knew that Wllllal