The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-09-03
A THRILLING SKETCH.
THE BLACK VEIL.
BY DICKENS.

For the full understanding of the accom-
panying extract, it is necessary to premise
that, on cold winter evening a young
London surgeon was seated by his cheerful
fire, listening to the wind beating the rain
against the windows, and bowling dismally
down the chimney when his musings were
interrupted by a visit from singularly tall
female, muffled in black shawl, as If for
the purpose of concealment, and her face
shrouded by thick black veil. After ap ro-
longed interview, the surgeon, gathers that
the next morning precisely at nine, his SER
vices will be indispensable on behalf of pa
| tient who then, and not before, will be under
the charge Of his visitor. 4 may be mad to
ask your aid, Sir,' says the woman, weeping
bitterly; 'but night after night, through the
long. dreary hours of watching and wee ping,
the thought has ever been present to my
mind; and although even see the hopeless
ness of human aid availing HIM, the bare
thought of laying him in his grave without
it, makes my blood run coldr' Just before
the hour appointed, the surgeon was at the
designated place, a desolate detached
dwelling in one of the suburbs of the great
city. As he knocked. at the door, low
whisper, as of stealthy conversation in the
passage, became audible. Presently, the
door was opened by a tall ill-favored man,
with black hair, and pale face and hagard as
a dead mans. In answer 10 the surgeons
question 'Am in time? the man replied
"Ioo soon, Sir; but if You'll step in here,
Sir, you won't be detained five minutes,
assure you.' The surgeon walks in, the
door is closed upon him, and he is left
alone. And now commences our scene:
". Y. Knickerbockcr.
81 was little cold room, with no other
furniture than Two deal chairs, and table
of the same material. A handful of FIRE,
.unguarded by any fender, was burning in
the CRATE, which brought out the damp, if it
served no more comfortable purpose, for the
.unwholesome moisture was stealing down
the walls in long slug-like tracks,. The
window, which was broken and patched in
many places, looked into small piece OF
ground almost covered with water. Not a
sound was 10 be heard, either within the
house or without. The young surgeon sat
down by the fireplace TO await the result of
his first professional visit.
sIia hA4l-----4 ==zamained in this position
injury minutes, when the ,.-;sa of some an
preaching vehicle struck his ear. |, stop
ped; the street door was opened; a low talk
ing succeeded accompanied by shutting
noise of footsteps along the passage of the
stairs, as if two or three men were carrying
some heavy body to the room above. The
cracking of the stairs few seconds after
wards, announced that the new corners,
having completed their task, whatever ii was,
were leaving the house. The door was
again closed, and the former silence was re-
stored
"Anoiher five minutes had elapsed, and
the surgeon had Just resolved to explore
the house, in search Of some one TO whom
he might make his Grand known, when
the room door opened, and his last nights
visitor, dressed in exactly the same manner,
with the veil lowered as before, motoned
him TO advance. The singular height OF
her form, coupled with the circumstance OF
her not speaking, caused the idea 10 pass
across his brain for an instant that it might be
man disguised in woman's attire. The
historic sobs which issued from beneath the
| veil, and the convuIsive attitude of grief Of
! the whole figure, however, at once exposed
the absurdiiy of suspicion, and he hastily
| followed.
"The woman led the way up stairs to the
front room, and paused at the door to lei hin
enter first. II was scantily furnished will
an old deal box, few chairs, u tent bed
stead without hangings OF cross rails, which
was covered with partch work counter
paine. The dim light admitted through the
curtain which he had noticed from the out
side, rendered the objects in the room 81
indistinct, and communicated 10 all of then
so uniform a hue: that he did not at first no
tce the object on which his eye at length
rested, when the woman rushed franticall,
past him, and flung herself upon her knee
atthe bed side.
"Slreched upon the bed, cosely envelopes
in linen wrapper, and covered with blan
keis, lay human form, stiff and motionless
The head and fass, which were those of
man, were uncovered, save bandage, whic
passed over the head and under the chin
/, The eyes were closed. The left arm la
heavily across the bed, and the woman hel
the passive hand. The surgeon gentl
pushed the woman aside, and took the han
in his:
"'My GoDn he exclaimed, letting it ia
Involuntary, sthe mau is dead9
"The woman started to her feet, and be;
her hands together: 'Oh! don't say SO, Sir
she exclaimed, with burst of passion
amounting almost TO phrenzy; 30! don't sal
: so, Sir. | can't bear it, indeed ! cani!-
Men have been BROUGHT to life before, whe
unskilled people have given them up fe
lost; and men have died who might hav
been restored, if proper means had been IT
sorted to. Don't lei him die, Sir, wlho'
one effortto save him! This very momel