Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-05-15
APHYSICIAN'S STORY.

J
some twenty-five years ago.
Talk Of fiction. he said his fine eyes
beaming thoughtfully. | have known
stor es ia real life that, should ] give
them to the world in print, they would
be considered the wild. sensational
fancies Of a mad mans brain.
Many years ago ! was summoned enc
evening to n handsome residence in
the upper part Of Whilechapel street
tile street then popular forreSidences.
The mistress Of the house had been
wife three years. knew the circum-
stances Of her marriage and the history
OF her whole inner life. She was at the
time of her marriage in love with a
man who was separated, but not di-
yorced. from his wife, the laws Of the
Roman Catholic Church, to which he
belonged, forbidding divorce. She
mar led her husband because she was
poor and dependent and in those days
there seemed little else for a woman TO
do hut marry when she grew up.
The husband was a man of some
means, but dissipated reprobate an
Opium-cater and druukard and there
had been sad stories about the wife's
wretchcdncss and the husband
brutality since the marriage.
As / entered the hallway there was
an omnous, uneasy look about the ser
wants who met me. The old negro
nurse. who cared for the young woman
since her childhood. looked ashy with
terror as she whispered:
Come up stairs doctor. ! think my
chile done dead dis time, but | believe
you Kim bring her TO life
followed her silently, and she noise
lessly opened the door Of the bedroom
where the mistress lay. / shall never
forget the picture of that Young woman
as size lay in death-likc stiffness on the
white bed her face as While "a the
pillow over which strea.nea NE raven
ike masses of her silky lair The
delicate brows the long, curling lashcs
were jet black, and the only color
about thi. face Of mourning lay in the
full, red lips II was strihiugiy like
the face of Iiliaus sleeping Venus,
aud inhaled It's strange sad beauty
with my soul, rs my brain WAS busy
with the question of this woman's
strange condition and its cause. saw
in an instant that she was heavily
drugged aud turned to the nurse for an
explanation.
She, been dat way irc hours. said
the old woman, 'fu,t | thought she
was asleep. den when she look like she
done daid | sea fur you, den fine dis
bottle by her.
She handed IN, an empty morphine
phial / went Immediately to work
giving reslopuves BY dint of coffee
and compelling her to walk two hours
she finally came to herself. and the old
nurse, fairly Jagged ont begged for "a
few minute, rest. as laid her mistress
on the bed, ard SO the girl aud | were
left together
She opened her eyes. now clear and
brilliant, with n look of recognition
full upon me. you have brought
me back" she cried rcproachlully
ooh. why did YOU DO it?'
Through duty anG through human
ity,' | said calmly. She arose upon
her elbow and her eyes flashed passion
ately.
Through humaeity" she cried. is
1t humanity to bring back TO life an
utterly wretched woman? Did YOU
think to save me from he'll by it? why
hell would be sweet to me compared to
this place You ARE brutal iuhuman"
but think Of your child | pro-
tested Tho little girls SOU given
into your Keeping
My child She cried. "Ah, that
only makes me more wretched. You
didn't know | took opium too2'
A surprised stare was my answer and
she continued:
Yes. commenced taking it shortly
after we were married. He gave il TO
me and | was coward enough TO take
IT, Anything for oblivion, anything to
make me forget his existence and my
own. didn't know the child was
coming then didn't think God
would be SO mercilcss as to send me
Child after that Well, when the child
came longod for death more than
ever What sort Of mother was for
the rearing Of a girl? We have had
terrible scenes here to-day. ! think he
is asleep in the other room. Don't you
hear him?'
listened as the sound of that wierd
stertorouS breathing reached me. and
nm uncomfortable shuddcr crcpt over
me.
"Ah, YOU shudder just to hear him."
she laughed wildly. "lmagine living
with him; imagine his alternate
moods of suavliug imbecihty and
passionate. ungoyernahle rage, Then
think OF my going on i'm this way and
growing like him. Think Of our being