The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-09-27
Horror Seven Hours Long
An Exhibitions of Courage by . Yankee
School, Ma am.

is said," remarked the old
doctor, that q person can't
/ i've and retain his senses in a
state of blind, animal terror for
more than very few minutes at time.
Either nature will take refuge in her
cyclone cellar, unconsciousness, and
the person will faint; or the brain ten
ZION will get beyond the swapping point
and he will become insane; or the heart
will collapse under the strain, and
death will follow. Or any two or all
Of these things may occur at once. So
cay the authorities. 4 was of the same
opinion once, but I've known better for
. good many years, although4've never
seen second case to disprove the rule.
Did it ever occur to you when some
long-standing record of courage or en-
durance, or the ability to bear pain has
been broken, how often it is a woman
that breaks it?
|. 3This was a young woman, New
England school-teacher by the. name of
Mildred Wicks. She had been invited to
pay visit to two elderly maiden
aunts who lived on the outskirts of an
old town in the central part of Vir-
ginia, where I began the practice of
medicine. The house was one of those
three-storied southern colonial struc-
tures with broad verandas and futed
columns the entire height of the front.
From the left, in the rear, there extend
Cd considerable wing which. in some
former period. of prosperity, had been
given over to the guest but
Fhich now for years had been little
used.
! by some misunderstanding the
young woman arrived just week ear
Ar than she was expected, to find her
aunt's house in the midst of prepara-
tory housecleaning. 1t consequently
beeame necessary, until the room in
tn main part OF the house could be
prepared for her to put her in one of
the wing chambers, and in one of these,
Eson the third floor, she was duly in
stalled. 1t was one of those enormous,
high-studded rooms that have entirely
gone out Of fashion nowadays, even in
large houses. There was great fire.
place in it and solid mahogany furni-
ture Of somber, old-fashioned type.
The elderly aunts were somewhat
epprehensive lest the remotensss and
long disuse of the chamber might cause
Sher niece some uneasiness, but she
. WAS . healthy young person not given
@ nervousness, and scoffed at the idea.
4 was arranged, nevertheless, that the
saousekeeper, who ordinarily slept in
We main division of the house, should
occupy, that night, chamber adjoin-
mg the visitors for the sake Of COM
sYaay.
Is At bedtime, however, an unexpected
sculty arose. 1t was suddenly re-
emeered that the keys to both the
onng woman's and the housekeeper's
eelber had been missing for num-
of years, and the doors were also
eapFovided with inside bolts. The only
- epficate keys were in the housekeep-
bunch held together by solid
ass ring, from which they could be
ssmoved oAlytby breaking or fling the
sss ring. Leaving the young wom-
Aa door entirely unsecured was. OF
purse, not to be thought of. The
soeekeeper finally proposed that she
I mould lock the door for the night from
Is outside, taking the keys with her
.o her own room and unlocking it
sln early in the morning. The win
lsoNs OF the chamber being three
les from thesground there was no
& ability of inArusion from that
sfce, and shosld the housekeeper's
s!s ence be needed at any time during
s night it needed only'a few vigor-
Iaps on the wall to summon her.
49, !eung woman found no objection
~ IS, anas pfan. and the housekeeer, after
D dlng her goodnight. went out and
8 g tie door after her.