The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-22
ICY FINGERS.

The road ran through beautiful half
cleared wood, and at the end, on slight
rise OF ground, stood tho madhouse. OF
course II was not called a madhouse, or
people would not have sent their mentally
unhinged friends there. II bore tho eupho-
nious appellation of CDR. Brier's Home
Sanitarium" and was consequently well
patronized. People usually dislike calling
o thing by Its proper name.
The perfectly kept grounds were SUR
rounded by a high iron fence, within
which the harmless inmates wandered at
will during certain hours of the day.
On-a rustic bench sat young woman.
Her eyes were closed, and as she remained
in repose she was beautiful, with Span
ish type of beauty thai no other nation can
equal
Suddenly she started up with avid mo-
ton of the hand toward her throat as
though she were being choked. The dark
eyes showed intense fright, and the whole
face was oonvulsed. Gradually the frenzy
passed away, and she sank down upon tho
bench again, with a weary little laugh.
The soft breeze rustled the leaves of the
trees and murmured gentle lullaby.
Slowly the beautiful head sank lower and
lower until 1t was pillowed on a fleecy
wrap which lay on the end Of the bench,
and she slept
At that exnct hour it happened that
curious woman accompanied by friend,
asked permission Of one of the physicians
on. the stan to be shown through the place.
He had the misfortune to be one of her
friends, SO acquiesced, but being busy at
the time turned her over to the mercies of
young doctor, who, finding the curious
| woman and her friend rather amiable,
did his utmost to entertain them.
And SO 1t occurred that after going
through the building they sauntcred
about the grounds and saw the Spanish
beauty lying asleep, with her face as calm
and sweet as that Of a sleeping child.
| "Oh," cried the curious woman ecstat-
ically, lido tell y about her"
The young doctor smoothed his budding
mustache and looked about him. No one
was visible.
1--WE don't often tell the history of our
patients, idphe began hesitatingly, "but
this Il Rrather peculiar case, and II you
specially, dssire'--
"oh, do tell u.s." cried the curious
woman with aworld of persuasion In her
voice; 81 assure you 1t will go no further.
Is she SPANISH"
They moved away slightly that their
voices might not disturb the sleeper The
| young doctor replied:
"0h, yes. She was born In CASTLE and
while yet little more than child-hardly
10, believe-lmarred for wealth and posi-
ton Spaninrd three times her age.
affairs went smoothly for two years,
when the husband contracted disease
which proved fatal. Now it would have
been much nicer and more like what one
reads in Sunday school books n he had
bade his relatives an affectionate farewell
as he lay on his deathbed, but instead OF
doing that he called his young wife to him
and said, In tones so low that no one but she
could hear, Inez, II you marry again,
shall come back from the grave and with
the icy fingers of death shall choke you
choke YOU'D His face was oonvulsed
with passion, and shortly afterward hi
died. He was buried with the pomps and
ceremonies required In Spanish family
of position, and for two years the widow
remained in seolusion.
AT the end of that time she came forth
moro beautiful than ever and Joined par
ty Of friends travelling In England There
she met the man who was to be her futur,
husband-a handsome, athletic young
American of the Anglo Saxon type
"Her former husbands dying words 81
haunted hor that at first she repulsed tn
Americans suit. However, he followed
ner 70 her nome III OhStlle, anu at ldst
sensibly concluding that these haunting
words were merely the rawlings Of deliri
Gus man, she married the American.
They came to America to live and TO
time were very happy but after a tim
they-that is, She
The young doctor paused and clears
his throat. The curious woman and he
friend exchanged glanoes,
: ''She began to suffer from . strang
Authorization, he went on. "At nigh
she ofton woke with a scream, bellsvin
that the icy fingers OF her former husban
were choking her. Tho matter grew worse
until she felt the fingers not only at night
! but also In her waking hours Number
less physicians were consulted, but the
; offered no romedy.
: "Her husband was heartbroken an
: tried everything in his power to snve hel
. but nothing availod and she gradual
l grew worse until it was necessary
= bring her here. Do you notice the erin
; son roses pinned on the front Of her gowr
They seem to be the only thing she oart
: for Her husband comes every week an
brings huge bunch Of them. She lik,
the flowers, but pays no attention to hin
Some day the icy fingers will close tight
/. together, and that will be the end. i"
v 'And can she not be eurodY' asked Il
q curious woman.
v "Oh, not said the young docto
j. 'Quire hopeless. Chicago News.