Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-05-24
"Is sfse never still?' The elder physi-


Never wholly so. Nervous motion of
some sort is necessary. Nothing but &C
tual interference from without can stop
it, even for an instant.
1t happened then that an external in
reference unexpectedly occurred to il
lustrate the practitioner statement A
sat, which had been curled up by the
Preside. crossed the floor and sprang
into the girls lap. With a repetition Of
the peculiar cry and sudden intensified
ton Of the dominant expression in her
face, the patient started to her feet. The
cat jumped down and ran away. The
girl gave no heed 20 his departure. Her
gaze was fixed immovably on the spot
where she had seen him, and she contin-
ued uninterruptedly for several minutes
to move her hands as If driving back
some palpable object which persisted in
remaining in her lap.
She sots the cat still" whispered
the elder physician. Just as ! thought.
The impression produced on the retina
by an object that startles her is too vivid
to leave her even after its departure.
This is more remarkable retention than
/ had deemed possible. But there is no
evidence that she thinks at all, "
mot as we think No. "
Gradually the repulsing motion of the
hands gave place to the old nervous
claspiug and unclasping. The time came
when the poor creature seemed to forget
the special terror caused by this cat in
the general dread with which all things
seemed to inspire her. But she still con-
tinued to stand.
"Thinkr mmmured the elder physi-
clan. why, she doesn't even know
enough to sit down when she is tired y
In truth, at that moment the girl be-
gan to sway violently. and had not the
foremost physician gone promptly to her
assistance she would have fallen.
Her limbs are too weak to stand so
long. " said the younger man. But
don't put her to bed yet. want to try
an experiment. y
"Of what nature:'
Simply to see what effect music will
have have known downright idiots,
who responded to scarce another provo
cation than the sight of food, to have
their interest visihly aroused by the
sound of musical instrument. Miss
Maxey viii favor Us with few selec
tions. I'll speak to her. -
He raped at the door of an adjoining
chamber and exchanged few words
with the person who responded. In n
few minutes pretty young lady with
black eyebrows and q damask color in
,,1- t.A
piano. The two physicians mad retired
to their former position behind the bed
curtains. aud tine patient, as before, sac
on the edge of her bed.
What shall play" the young lady
asked.
Something loud and energetic y
There was rustling Of Leaves. and
then the drastic opening chords OF IA
Liszt rhaspody made the vases shiver on
the mantel The sounds startled the pa
tient as a blow might have done The
dark eyes seemed to grow darker, the
pale lips quivered more perccptlblv with
the utteranoe Of that plaintive cry, the
pitiful all that was left to her of voice
and speech. But she seemed to realize
! the origin of her fright. Her glance
went Immediately III the direction OF
/ the piano and remained there, tasci-
mated, as if she momentarily expected an
unknown horror to rise up out of the
cheerful red cover which adorned the
case of the instrument. Never for an in
slant was the forlorn monoC6ny of the
moving hands interrupted. Nevertheless
the younger physician seemed satisfied,
"We've got her attention. Now let us
change our humor. No more of that
kind, please Miss MaXey. Something
/ quieter and more soothing
Miss Maxey chose q volume of Bee
/ thoven and began fav orite sonata The
clasping hands still moved: the dark
eyes still watched for the coming of the
unknown horror but there vas a change
in the indcscri balle details chat went tC
make up the dominant expression OF the
patient 8 faoe-slight, gradual, scarcely
perceptiblc except to practicod eyes ex-
! pecting it-but still change
The younger man whispered energet
ically, Shes listening"
Slowly, so slowly that it seemed al
age to those who hoped to see the end,
the clinging fingers forgot to separate
themselves and take up new positions
the heretofore incessant motion of the
nervous hands became less and less
ceased altogether; the palms rested
against each other, quite still.
The younger physicians growing ex
element could restrain itself 10 longer.
'Seol" he cried. "She sits quite mo
tionless 1t is the first time in days. Ano
there is another means which we have
not yet tried. Won't you sing to us,
Miss Maxey? Sing us the most tender
and pathetic thing you know"
The sound Of the piano stopped abrupt
ly But the patient did not change hel
attitude. In all the many minutes, while
Miss Maxey was searching for the song
she sat, seemingly inthralled, as if SHE
listened still The men Of science fel
themselves in the presence Of something
IL I ! -. -