The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-07-16
LAMBERTvILLE n. j.. WEDNESDAY, JULY I6, 1890

arything but that want NO sister q
mercy, no attendant; look after me at
intervals of several hours, he said, turn
ing to the physician.
He smiled at the notion.
Hartman determined not to fall sick;
he struggled terribly, and fought with
all the strength he had left against the
approaching foe.
+, There he lay shaken by the fever, but
still conscious.
"That's the nurse, that's the chair,
now ! am stretching out my hand, ]
know exactly what am doing" he re-
peated ten times every hour.
"And if it turns out otherwise, would
they give any weight to feverish dreamsf
Nurses, who have to hear SO many
things, viii not notice it at all.
81 have not committed the theft;
know nothing about it. That l will
keep repeating to myself continually;
perhaps that will influence the delirium.
They say the mind runs usually on
things that are the farthest removed
from the normal thinking, but my
thoughts are still perfectly clear"
Then veil fell over the reality. In
stead Of the Sister OF Mercy, the attor-
ney in his black gown and cap stepped
into the room, took q chair and sat down
before the bed. Through the sharp
glasses the still sharper looks were in
cessantly directed upon him. Like
glowing steel, they bored themselves
into his brain.
"You will be delirious, my boy" said
the attorney, and nodded his head.
II shall not thought the sick youth
and chung to his bed.
Day after day the tormentor sat there,
staring at him, and listened. Then more
and more of his colleagues came, also
judges in their robes, and all seated
themselves in long rows before his bed.
Breathless they listened; one gentleman,
old and hard Of hearing, always kept his
hand at his ear. Now he will be de-
lirious," they whispered at times. There
was deafening ringing in Hartman's
ears.
He felt terrible rage against the
black assembly.
He had a mind to put out his tongue
at them and to call: "Wait, If you will,
you fools, you will not hear one syllable
from me; shall remain mute as the
grave" But he controlled himself and
remained quietly lying.
The faces, in close array, drew nearer
and nearer to him. Now the nearest
were already sitting on the edge Of the
bed, and now even on his body. They
put heavy ice cold law books on his
head, heaping them up to crushing
burden. One kept striking him with an
invisible hammer on his forehead and
crying out madly; "Won't you rave now,
won't you"
1t became insupportable. He struck
out and shrieked SO that the landlord
came hurrying up the stairs and looked
through the chink Of the door, and the
attendant drew back in terror, and the
physician stood helpless for moment.
With the greatest effort the feverish
patient raised himself and cried loudly
and distinctly. "Wretehes, you think
would rave and betray myself. Now,
just to defy you | shall not do it. See,
with clear mind, to spoil your pleasure,
Isay it frankly: / stole the money from
the merchant Hellwig In his office the
twenty-fifth Of March, I, Conrad Hart
man"
AS IL relieved, he sank on his pillow
From this moment q sensible improve
ment was noticed.
The nurse told incidentally about the
strange occurrence, the landlord spoke
of it, and 50 1t happened that the young
attorney had the satisfaction, before the
expiration of the period of limitation. Of
redeeming his previous failure
The first caller which the convalescent
received was the attorney. Without
surprise, cold and quiet, he received
him and made his confession.
Afterwards he tried several times to
drink off his medicine with one draught,
but he was prevented from doing 80.
So he was able, after few weeks, to
exchange the sick chamber for the prison
Cello. Shotler in Five Stories Week.