The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-05-31

| for the operaton. As soon as the surgeon
began to cut. the Englishman lighted his
pipe, and swore it should not go out. He
kept his word. The leg lay upon the floor,
and the Englishman was still smoking.
Thevenet did his work like a master the
wound, by his skill and the patients own
good nature, was healed at fixed time
he rewarded the surgeon like a king /;
thanked him with tears of Joy for the loss
ofhis leg, and sailed over the strait with q
wooden one.
About eighteen weeks after his depart
ure, Thevenet received a letter from En-
gland with the following contents
"You will receive enclosed, as q proof
Of my most heartfelt gratitude, an order
for $50 guineas upon mr.. Panchard, in Par.
is. You have made me the happiest NOR
tai on earth in depriving me of my leg, for
it was the only hndrance TO my earthly fe-
licity. Brave man, you may now know
the cause Of my foolish humor as you called
it. You concluded at the time that there
could be no reasonable ground for such a
self mutlation, | offered to lay wager !;
you did well in not accepting it.
After my second return from the East
Indies, became acquainted with Emile
! Harley, the most perfect Of women, loved
| her most passionately. Her wealth, her
family connexions, influenced my friends
in her favor but was influenced only by
her beauty and her noble heart. | joined
the number other admirers. All excel
lent Theycnet, was so fortunate as to be.
come the most unfortunate Of rivals. She
loved me above oil, made no secret of it,
but still she rejected me. | sought her
hand in vain in vain lmplored her par
ents and friends 10 inlerccde for me--she
was still immOveablc. For long time
was unable TO conjecture the cause of her
rejecting me, since, as she confessed her
self, she loved me almost 10 distraction.
One Of her vi5iters at length betrayed TO
me the secret. Miss Harley was wonder
OF beauty, but she had but one leg--and on
account OF this mpcrfcctiOn che feared to
become my wife lest should esteem her
less for it, My resolution was taken, re
solved to become like her; thanks to yOu,
became so. came with my wooden leg
To London aud in the first place visited
Miss Harley. II had been reported, ant
| myself had written to England, that by a
iallfrom my horse had broken my leg
which was consequently taken of. IL was
much rcgreted. Emile fell into swoOn
the first time she saw mo. She was for
long time inconsolablc, but now she is my
wife. The first day after our marriage,
| entrusted to her the secret Of what a sac
rilicc had made in Consequence ofmy wish
to obtain her hand She loves me now the
more eahTectionately. O my brave Theve
net, had ten legs to lose, | would, with
ont single contortion of feature, part will
them for my Emile. So long as live,
viii be grateful towards you. Come to
London visit us become acquainted with
my wife and then say was a fool.
CHARLES TEMPLE"
.iaS,cer Of M. Thevenet.
"Sir--l thank you for your valuable pre-
sent, for 90 | must call it, because ! csnuur
consider i a. pay for the little trouble
wusot. congratulate you on your mar
riage with u woman so worthy of your al
fectIons 1t is true leg is much to lose
oven for ,hcauiiul, yirtuous, and affection
ate Wite--but not loo much. TO gain pos
session Of Eve, Adam was obliged to par.
with Il rib md beautiful women have coS'
some men their he ado. Bot after all. per
MT me 10 adhere to my former Judgment
rruly for the moment you were correct =.
bul also was correct, but was with tins dil
tcrcnce-the correctness OF my judgmenl
wGs founded on long experience, (as every
truth should be, which We are not natural
" disposed to acknowledge Sir, mind me
Law a wager that after two years, you re
pent that your leg was taken off above the
knce. You will find that below the knee
had been enough. After three years, you
will be convinced that the loss of the foot
had been sufficient After four years, YOU
will conclude that ;hc sacrifice of the great
toe, and after five years. of the little to-,
had been too much. After six years, you
will agree with Inc that the pairing Of Il
nail had been enough. But I do not say
| this in prejudice Of the merits OF your
charming wife. In my youth, devoted
myself to love /; but never parted with a
! leg-had done so should this day, have
! said, Thevenet, thou vast fool.
have the honor to be yours, &c.
LEWIS THEvESET."
In 1893, eleven years after, during the
horrors of the Revolution, Thevenet,
whom person that envled his reputation
caused to be suspected Of arstocracy, fled
| to London to save himself from the guillo-
| tine. He inquired after Sir Charles Tenn
pie, and was shown his house. He made
| himself known and was received In an
arm chair by the fire, surrounded by TWEEN.
ty newspapers, sat corpulent man who
could hardly stand up he wa. so unwieldy.
! Ah welcome mr.. Thevcne,l cried the cor
pulent man, who was no other than Sir
Charles Temple, excuse me if | do not rise;
this cursed leg is a hindrance to me in ev-
cry thing. You have to see If your judg.
ment was correct, q" | come as a fugitive
and seek your protection" You shall have
it with pleasure. You must live with me
! c>.,.,I,, 500, a 70 n vp,sa man Won mus,