The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-02-15
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.

MacFarland's Romance of History.
''About the year 1743, person by the
name of Ogilvie, an Irishman by birth, who
practiced surgery with great reputation al
Rome, and who resided not far from the Pi
Spaugna, in that city, being in bed was call
ed upto attend some strangers, who demand
ed his professional assistance. They stopped
before his house in a coach; and his going
to the door he found two men masked, by
whom he was desired to accompany them inn
mediately,a the case which brought them adj
mitted no delay, and not to omit taking with
him his lancets. He complied, and got into.
the coach,b but no sooner had they quilted the
street in which he resided, than they inform
ed him that he must submit to have his eyes
bandaged; the person to whom they were
about TO conduct him being lady of rank
whose name and place of abode ii was indis-
pensable to conceal. To this requisition he
likewise submitted and after driving through
a number of streets, apparently with view
TO prevent his forming any accurate idea OF
the part of the city TO which he was con-
Quoted, the carriage at length stopped. The
two gentlemen, his companions, then alight-
ing, and each taking him by the arm, CON
Quoted him into a house, and ascending a
narrow staircase, then entered an apartment
where he was released from the bandage tied
over his eyes. One ofthem next acquant-
ed him that it being necessary to put out
of existence a lady who had dishonored her
family, they had chosen him to perform the
office, knowing his professional sklll-that he
could find her adjoining chamber, prepared
TO submit to her faie-and that he must
open her veins with as much expedition as
possible; service forthe execution ofwhich
he should receive liberal recompense
Ogilvie at first peremptorily refused to
commit an act SO highly repugnant to his
feelings But the two strangers assured him,
with solemn denunciations of vengeance, that
his refusal would only prove fatal 10 HIMSELF
without afording the slightest assistance to
the object Of his compassion; that her doom
was irrevocable, and that unless he choose
to participate in similar fate, he must sub
init to the Office imposed on him.
Thus situated, and finding allremonstrance
Gain,he entered the room,where he found a
lady of a most interesting figure andappeaf
ance, apparently in the bloom ofyouth. She
was habited in a loose undress, and immedi-
atelY afferward a female attendant placed
before her tub of warm water, IN winch she
Immersed her feet. Far from opposing any
impeachment to the act which she knew he
was sent TO perform, the lady assured him OF
her perfect resignation, entreating him to put
the sentence passed on her into execution
with as little delay as possible. She added,
that she was well aware nc, pardon could
expiate her trespass felicitating herself that
his humanity would alleviate her sufferings,
and soon terminate their duration.
After short conflict with his own mind,
perceiving no means of extrication or escape
either for the lady or himself, being more
over urged to expediate his work,b the two
persons without, who impatient at his re-
Iuctance. threatened TO exercise violence on
him if he procrastinated, Oglivie tooiss5dt his
lancets, opened her veins and bled her to
death in a short time. The gentlemen hav-
ing carefully examined the body, ia order 10
ascertain that she was no more, after express
ing their satisfaction, offered him purse OF
zechins as remuneration; but he declined
all recompense, only requesting to be con-
yeyed from scene on which he could not
reflect without horror. With this entreaty
they complied, and having again applied a
bandage to his eyes, led him down the same
staircase to the carriage. But it being mar
! row, and descending the steps he conuived
to leave on one or both sides of the waIls,un
preceived by his conductors, the marks OF
his fingers, which were stained with blood.
After observing the precautions similar to
those used in bringing him into this house,
he was conducted home; and at parting the
masks charged him, if he valued his life,neV-
er to divulge, and if possible, never to think
over the past transaction. They added, that
fhe should embrace any measures, with a
view TO render it public, OF set on foot any
inquiry into it, he should be infalliably i'm
moiated to their revenge. Having finally
dismissed him at his own door, they
drove off, leaving him to his reflections.
| On the subsequent morning, after great ire
solution, he determined at whatever risk to his
personal safety, not to participate by con-
cealing so enormous a crime. 1t formed.
nevertheless, delicate and difficult under
taking, to substantiate the charge, as he re-
manned ignorant of the place TO which he
had been carried, or the name and quality
ofthe lady whom he had deprived of life
Without suffering himself to be deferred by
these considerations, he waited on the Sec
Rotary of the Apostolic Chamber,and acquint-
ed him with every particular adding, that il
the government would extend TO him protec.
ton, he did not despair of finding the house
and bringing to light the perpetrators of the
deed. Benedict the Fourteeth, LAMBERT.
na,) who then occupied the papal chair, hac
no sooner received the information, than he
Immediately commenced the most active
measures for discovering the offenders. a
o,,n I'd Of The Shirri &c 1ffccr.. f I.,st; y, WIS