Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-04-04


storm, and recalling the deliciousness
of the hours spent with Miriam, | was
long in falling asleep. II seemed as
il / had been slumbering not moro
than a moment when | was suddenly
reused 10 consciousness by what SEEM
ed the hoarse shrek of a woman's voice
somewhere out in the storm. / lis
tened with strained ear and heart beat
ing with excitement. A moment or
two later the same unearthly sound
rang out through the darkness, and
with diabolical effect mingled in the
discord Of the gale.
. Again and again the voice came
shrieking through the tumult OF the
storm-now a simple scream, and then
awful oaths and blasphemies as if the
u~tterances of some damned soul.
l rose, went to the window, and
looked out. The air was filled with
swift flying clouds of SNOW. A faint
light in the east indlrated that the day
was dawning. Directly in front of my
window could be dImly seen a small
building of a single story which had
the appearance of an ont house such
as is seen about farm houses, and
which might have been a wood shed,
a summer kitchen or some other
structure.
As | listened to the incessant shrieks,
it seemed that they came from this out
building. II was awful beyond con
ception. The voice, although hoarse,
was Enthusiastically hat Of a woman.
Inside the house in which | stood it
was quiet as the grave. They evil
IDENTIFY heard nothing Of the calling
through the storm. Were they pros
trated by some srelll
'Some woman is being murdered"
l thought. Perhaps it is robbers,
who have killed the father and son and
are now trying TO finish the daughter"
With feverish hasteI put on my cloth
ing, raised the window, and sprang
out, calling, Il am coming" | rushed
toward the little building, hearing
still the screams, TO which was added
the rattle of a chain.
There was a small window in the
clubhouse on the side nearest me,
which / broke in with a blow from a
stick of stovewood that lay in the
vicinity. l pushed my face close up
to the window and was almost struck
By another face that at the same in
slant was thrust into the opening. |
drew back with an exclamation Of
horror; it was the head of a woman
with long locks of gray that writhed
about her head and face like the twist
ing snakes ON the head of Medusa, and
which, like that tabled fury, turned
me into stone.
The complexion was as black rs that
of a negress, the face long and enact
ated, the cheeks sunken, while the
eyes from the depths of their deep
sockets shone with an internal glare.
Her neck was naked, revealing the
sheaths Of protuberant cords and
veins, while her shoulders were the
bones of a skeleton. She clutched at
me through the little window, with
arms that were covered only with
skin, and fingers like claws. As she
moved frantically forward and back
/ could hear the rattle of a chain.
All this time she chartered inces
sanity, sometimes in inarticulate
screams and then in well shaped
curses and blasphemies that rolled out
with the speed of light. There were
foam and blood on her lips, and her
open mouth revealed a cavityin which
could be seen rows Of fiery red gums
without any teeth.
was gazing with inexpressible hor-
ror at this naked, bony, Infatuated
wretch, when, suddenly, something
in her expression at a moment when
her contortions subsidized an instant,
gave the outlines of-Miriaml All
flashed over me in a second; il was her
mother.
The vacant seat at the table, the
brooding sadness of Miriam, her re-
semblance TO the manaic, explained
the entire situation; and with il came
the overwhelming conviction that Mi.
RAM must follow in the footsteps Of
the unfortunate mother. For a few
moments my soul was rent by conflict
ing emotions-to remain and as best |
could tighten her journey TO the mad
house, or fly. That the inmates of the
house were 50 accustomed 10 the situa-
ton that they were not even disturbed
in their slumbers by her shrieks and
e%xecrations proved that the case was
one of long standing.
With rcmorse Juggling at my heart
i turned into the wood, and as | went
her curses rang in my ears; and even
to this day they often intrudo upon
my dreams and brighten sleep away ms
they did that night at the farm home
of farmer Douglas. l gave up the
school Immediately and returned TO
my native town.
Once, some twenty years ago, |
made inquiries of the whereabouts Of
Miriam Douglas. They told me that
she was long since dead.
NorE-Lest some people may doubt the fidelity
OF The picture ~ the insane wife, II may be said
that a generation ago this manner Of treating the
insane was not uncomm in the remotcr farm
Ing communities. The description Is founded on
personal observation.
-Poliuto in Chicago Herald.