Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-09-13
THE DOCTORS WIFE.
A Young Mother Forced TO Soc Her
baby Dissected.


Lunatics OF all ages and Of various
degrees OF madness were grouped
about He was pointing toward the
window, where woman was seated.
leaning forward in the attitude Of one
who is observing something. intently.
She was clad in a simple black gown
The graceful lines of her form and the
shape of her slender hands. which were
clasped loosely in her lap showed
plainly her youth. Yet her hair was
white as snow. Her face was one new
or to he forgotten. 1t was not fresh
aud white. as one would expect in a
young woman. but deal and lifeless
ashen gray that contrasted strangely
with her snow-white hair. But tn is
was not what made il remarkable.
The range of expression of the hui
man features IS almost unlimited. But
the expression of this face seemed to
transcend the power of even human
features. In every llne in every swol-
len vein and muscle, in the great star
ing, distended eyes whose pupils were
expanded unit only nerve line of
gray iris could be distinguished. in the
dilated nostrils, in the compressed and
pallid lips that seemed to be ever sup
pressing a cry of anguish that ever
rose to them. horror. absolute and un-
utterable horror. was written. Agony.
terror. misery too profound for fears.
were there also. but high above them
all could be read this frightful horror
that seemed to only family express it.
self
At first one would think it was
mask that some marvellous genius had
carved. But then tho humanness of
the expression was too apparent. The
soul that was thus giving vent to itself
was too near at hand. Terrible indeed
was the picture presented by that
quiet. patient, almost girlish form.
and then. rs it were. frozen"
In his private Office he told the story
of how the young woman become thus
transformed into living and breath
ing statue OF horror.
Il think when | have finishei,"
said he. you will agree with me that
hers is the saddest. and at the same
time the most frightful story you ever
heard.
She was brought here about two
years ago by her older brother. who re.
lated all the particulars to me. told
him then that her case was probably
incurabe. She was left with us W tn
the instructions that no expense should
be spared in making her comfortable.
That was two years ago. She was
then nineteen. When not quite eight
cen she was married to young
physician of her native town. who.
bv skill and attention, had gained nm
extensive practice. In every way the,
seemed happily mated. Sine was
beautiful. of happy disposition. and
hal been engaged TO him since early
childhood.
''He had sufficient wealth to make
the match desirable from worldly
point of view. Yet her relatives had
always looked on the engagement
w tn disfavOr. They warned her that
there was insanity in his family. and
that he msef was subject to tits of
melancholy, but she laughed at their
warnings and married the man she
loved. Nothing could have been hap
pier than the first year of their mar
ried life. He was no longer melan-
choly, and seemed to be more devoted
with each passing day. In June the
young wife became mother and
there was new JOY in the little family.
The young physician loved his child
passionately, for its own sake and be-
cause she was its mother
LAS the first anniversary OF the we'd
ding come round thew determined to
celebrate it with especial rejoicing, as
it marked an era in their happiness.
The evening before-it was the even
ing of the Goth OF Augustine young
physician for the first time since his
marriage seemed melancholy and de.
pressed. The summer had been hot
and the demands upon his services
many. HIS wife asked him some
question and he censured her
impatiently almost harshly. The
tears came to her eyes. He
instantly repented. and all was
sunshine agan. Presently she sad:
IL am going to mothers few
minutes to tell her to come over earl
tomorrow morning. Take care of
baby while I'm gone. You need not
come after me, as [ shall be home
dong before dark She spent an no ur
with her mother. then started home
through the dark. The walk was
short and the neighbors soon saw her
pass in at her own door with a light
happy step. Exactly what happened
in the physicians house that night
will never be known. The next
morning early the mother. accord
ing to promise. came over. Knock ing
at the door and finding it unattached
she walked in. 'Anniel Anniep' she
called. Her daughter did not reply.
and the mother went up the stars
thinking to find her in her bedroom.
She opened the door. The room was
br lliantly lighted with gas. and the
blinds were closed. The Mortified wo-
man almost fell over the body OF her
son-in-law. sprawlcd upon the floor in
great pool OF blood, with his hand
some face set white and gastly. A
fearful cash across his throat and a
dissecting knife in his right hand told
the story of suicide. The mother
4, screamed and looked wildly round. ex-
pecting to see the dead body of her
daughter also. Tied to the bed-post
with her hands behind her back and a