Nevada County picayune., 1889-06-26

and which might have been wood shed, summer kitchen or some other structure.
 As listened to the incessant shrieks it seemed that they came from this out building. It was awful beyond conception. The voice. al though hoarsc. was enthusiastically that of a woman.
 Inside the house in which stood it was quiet as the grave. They evl- dently heard nothing of the calling through the storm. Were they pros trated by some spell?
 "Some woman is being murdered. :" l thought. ''Pcrhaps it is robbers, who have killed the father and son and who are now trying to finish the daughter
 With feverish haste put on my clothing, raised the window. and sprang out, calling, II am coming 1 rushed toward the little building. hearing still the screams, to which was added the rattle of chain.
 There was a small window in the out house on the slde nearest me, which l broke in with blow from 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- stant was thrust into the opening. l drew back with an exclamation of horror it was the head of a woman with long locks of gray that writhod about her head and face like the twisting snakes on the head of Me dusa, and which, like that fabled fury. turned me into stone.
 The complexion was as black as that of a negress, the face long and emaciated. the cheeks sunken, while the eyes from the depths of their deep sockets shone with an internal glare. Her neck was naked. reveal ing the sheaths of protuberant cords and veins, while her shoulders were hn gf ,l- 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 l could hear the rattle of a chain.
 All this time she chattered 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 cavity in which could be seen rows of fiery red gums without any teeth.
 l was gazing with inexpressible horror at this naked, bony, infura- ted wretch, when, suddenly, some thing in her expression at moment when her contortions subsided an in- stant, gave the outlines of-Miriam All flashed over me in second; it was her mother.
 The vacant seat at the table, the breeding sadness of Miriam, her re- semblance to the maniac, explained the entire situation and with it came the overwhelming conviction that Miriam must follow in the footsteps of the unfortunate mother. For few moments my soul was rent by conflicting emotions-to remain and as best l could Tighten her journey to the mad-house, or fly. That the inmates of the house were so accus- toned to the situation that they were not even disturbed in their slumbers by her shrieks and execra- tions proved that the case was one of long standing.
 With remorse tugging at my heart l turned into the wood, and as 1 went her curses rang in my ears and even to this day they often intrude upon my dreams and frighten sleep away as they did that night at the farm home of farmer Douglas. l gave up my school immediately and returned to my native town.
 Once, some twenty years ago, l 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 ot the insane wife, il may be said that d generation ago this manner of treating the communities, The description is founded on per sona observation.
 -Poliuto in Chicago Herald.
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 The richest and poorest, the oldest and youngest, the proudeSt and humblest, the !