Francis Worcester Doughty

“ Poor Helen Dilt!
Better, much better, would it be for her to die at once, if she was to be called on to long endure the torments that were devised and executed by the ugly-faced hag who presided over that private mad-house.
The hag was literally a fiend.
And a fiend in human form at that.
We speak of the natural love that resides in the human heart, that is an indestructible part of it, that is born with it, and never departs until the member has ceased to pulse, and lies silent and heavy in the heart that contains it. ”

“ And once the person is declared insane, into a private mad-house he is inveigled, never again to see the light of day. And there he is kept until he is actually driven mad, or until death steps in and releases him.
The old hag had given herself, and delighted in, the name of Tige.
It was a corruption or contraction of tigress.
And it was into such hands that poor Helen Dilt had fallen!
Again and again did the hag stick a big pin into Helen.
And again and again did she exultantly laugh at the evidences of pain which the poor creature could not avoid displaying.
"Will you be quiet and docile?" ”

“ Helen almost shrieked.
"It's a good thing for you if you will bear your promise in mind," said Tige, grimly. "I always make people regret breaking their word with me."
Helen was left for some hours stretched on the bed, her arms and feet extended and secured by ropes to the four corners of the bed. ”