Jane,
wake up! I'm dying, I'm dying!" "Dying!" responded Jane; "why dying
people don't speak in that loud tone. Wait until I light the lamp, don't
die in the dark Esther."

Jane thought her sister only had the night mare, but when she lit the
lamp, she was considerably alarmed by her sister's appearance. There
stood Esther in the centre of the room, her short hair almost standing
on end, her face as red as blood, and her eyes really looked as if they
were about to start from their sockets, her hands were grasping the back
of a chair so tightly that her nails sank into the soft wood. She was
truly an object to look on with amazement, as she stood there in her
white night gown trembling with fear. Her sister called as loudly as she
could for assistance; for Jane, too, was pretty well frightened by this
time, and did not know what to do. Olive was the first to enter the
room, having first thrown a shawl around her shoulders, for the night
was very chilly. Dan, put on his coat and pants in a hurry, as did also
William Cox, and John Teed, and the three men entered the room about the
same time.

"Why what in the name of thunder ails you Esther?" asked Dan. William
and John exclaimed in the same breath, "She's mad!"

Olive was speechless with amazement, while they stood looking at the
girl, not knowing what to do to relieve her terrible agony. She became
very pale and seemed to be growing weak; in fact, she became so weak in
a short time that she had to be assisted to the bed. After sitting on
the edge of the bed for a moment, and gazing about the room with a
vacant stare, she started to her feet with a wild yell, and said she
felt like bursting into pieces.

"Great Heavens," exclaimed Olive, "What shall we do with her; she is
crazy?"

Jane, who always retains her presence of mind, took her sister's hand
and said in a soothing tone: "Come Esther, get into bed again." As they
found that she could not do so without assistance, Olive and Jane helped
her, and placed the bed clothing over her again. As soon as she had been
assisted to bed she said in a low choking voice, "I am swelling up and
shall certainly burst, I know I shall."

Dan looked at her face and remarked in a startled tone. "Why, the girl
is swelling, Olive, just look at her, look at her hands too, see how
swollen they are, and she is as hot as fire."

She was literally burning up with fever, and yet as pale as death, while
only a few minutes before her face