Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-07
THE DOCTORS WIFE.
A Young Mother Forced To SEQ Her
BABY Dissected.

TENT" said one OF the attaches OF
Longview Insane Asylum to a reporter
for the Cincinnati Enquirer
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 q 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
err to DO forgotten. 1t was not fresh
and white. rs one would expect in n
young woman. but deal and lifeless
ashen gray that contrasted strangely
with her snow white hair. But this
was not what made it 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 line. 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
dlated 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 the 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. as it were. frozen"
In his private office he told the story
Of how tie young woman become thus
transformed into living and breath
Ing statue Of horror.
Il think when have finished"
said lac. you will agree with me that
hers is the saddest. and at the same
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 with
the instruct ions that no expense should
he spared in making her comfortable.
That was two wears ago. She was
! Al inh
cen she WAS married to a young
physician of her native town. who.
bv skill and attention. had gained an
extensive practice. In every way they
seemed happily mated. She was
beautiful. of a happy disposition. and
had been engaged TO him since early
childhood
ale had sufficient wealth to max Ike
tho match desirable from worldly
point of view. Yet her relatives had
always looked on the engagement
with disfavor. They warned her that
there was insanity in his family. and
that he Ia mself was subject to it's 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
thore was new Joy in the little family.
Tho young physician loved his child
pass onately. for its own sake and be-
cause she was its mother.
LAS the first anniversary OF the we'd
ding come round they determined to
celebrate it with especial rejoicing. as
il 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 aud he censured her
impatiently. almost harshly. The
tears came to her eyes. He
instantly repented. and all was
sunshine agan. Presently she said:
II am going to mothers few
minutes to tell her to come over early
tomorrow morning. Take care of
baby while I'm gone. You need not
come after me. as | shall be home
long before dark She spent an hour
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 aud finding 1t Unattached
she walked in. Annie! Annie" 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 llantly 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
a 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