Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-02-02
THE SURGEONS REVENGE.


saw light in the city of Brussels, in the year
1914 His father was an apothecary. attach
ed to the service of the Princess Margaret.
aunt of the Emperor Charles v, and governess
Of the low countries.
Up TO the period when Vesale first rendered
himself conspicuous, the anatomy of the hu-
man body was so imperfectly understood, as
scarcely TO merit that the term OF science
should be applied TO the dim and confused
ideas relating TO it. Vesale was the first to
break through the trammels with which igno
rance and bigotry had crippled the march of
science, surmounting with admirable courage
and constancy, the disgust, the terror, and
even the peril. nseparable from this descrip-
ton of labor, in which he had devoted him.
self, he was to be seen whole days and nights
in the cemeteries, surrounded by the fostering
remains of mortality, or lowering about the
gibbets, and disputing with the vulture tor its
prey, in order TO compose perfect skeleton
from the remains of executed animals left
there TO be devoured by the carrion bird.
1t was during sojourn at Basic, after his
return from Italy, that Vesale first beheld at
the house of Hans Holbien, the painter, Isa-
belle Van Steenwryk. the daughter of mer-
chant at Haerlem, who was destined to exer-
else some influence over his future life. He
was scarcely twenty eight years of age, and
already he had attained the summit of well d.
rected ambition.
The family of Van Steenwryk was veal
thy and honorable one, far superior to that of
Vesale in birth and fortune; but the dlstln-
gushed position the latter had acquired for
himself, entitled him to aspire to an allegiance
even more exalted The son of the Princess
Margarett's apothecary would have been re-
iected by the rich Haerlem burgher; the En-
peror's first physician was accepted by him as
The most eligible son-in-law. The marriage
solemnized, Vesale, accompanied by his yeung
bride. set off for Seville, where Charles then
held his court.
She loved her husband, there was so much
awe mingled with her affection as to throw
an appearance of restraint over her demeanoI
toward him, even in the privacy of domestic
life. The very nature of his profession and
occupaton was calculated to increase that
awe, and even to create some degree OF re-
pugnance, in shrinking mind, which moth
ing but strong affection could overcome
IsabeIla's nature required skilful drawing out
and tender fostering. Vesale. unfortunately,
mistook her temerity for GOODNESS, and resent
ed it accordingly; this led to estrangement on
her part. which he attributed to dislike, and
Jealous distrust at last took possession OF his
| soul.
Amidst the galleries of Seville, where for a
woman to be young and attractive, was to
command the attention and authorize the de-
votion of tie other sex, it was no difficult task
to arouse the susceptibilities Of suspicious
husband.
Vesale's house became the resort of all that
was noble and gallant in Seville, and he for a
time believed his own scientific conversation to
be the attraction. At first the young wife
showed her usual calm Indifference to the ad-
miraton that followed wherever she was seem
but. at last, something in her manner and
countenance, whenever one particular person
appeared, or his name was mentioned, betray'
cd that there did exist being who had disco
vered the secret of causing the blood to flow
more unanimously through her veins. That
person was Don Alvar de Solis and as he
was Young, handsome, gay, and the most in
constant gallant in Seville, the suspicious OF
Vesalle were painfully aroused. He took ST.
lent note of the unusual emotions that agitat-
ed Isabella, whenever that nobleman was in
her presence.
The general conduct of Don Alvar was CAL
culated to battle suspicion, being marked by
Indifference This would have misled the vi
gilant husband, had he not, on one occasion
when his back was turned towards Don Al
var, perceived him, in an opposite mirror, fix
his kindling eyes upon Isabella, with an ex-
preston not TO be mistaken, while she grew
red and pale by turns, and then, as though
unable to surmount her agitation, rose and left
the room. Shortly after, Vesale received an
ANONYMOUS note, saying, &c Look to your wife
| ~ To- Al1or do Co11C oDd bo Hncaivc6
by appearance. They only want fitting op
portunity to dishonor You. Even now he car.
ries about him the gloves she dropped for hin
at mass"
Vesale shut himself up TO ponder over the
most effectual means of avenging himself
His resolution was promptly taken. He haC
established schools of anatomy at San Lucal
and Cordova-obtained the Emperor's permits
sion to visit them,-quitted Seville, ostensibly
for that purpose, but returned the same hight
concealed himself in tenement belonging tt
him, at some distance from his abode in Alca
Ear; which was devoted to the double purpose
of laboratory and dissecting room. He hat
taken no person into his confidence; he wa
alone in his vengeance, and he listened to hi
own counsel. At dark in the following even
ing, he issued forth, mufled to the eyes in ;
woman's mantle and hood, and left note a
Don Alvars habitation, containing an embroi
dered glove of Isabella's and these ords:
'I have obtained the key to Vesale's labo
ratory, during his absence, be at the gate al
hour after midnight, and you will be admitte'
on pronouncing the name of Isabella"
The designation was promptly kept by Dol
Alvar. At an hour past midnight he left hi
house. alone; but he never returned to it,
Whittier he had gone none could say; nor coul
any trace of him ever be discovered. II wa
f supposed he must have missed his footin
and fallen into the Granddaughter, near ,whicl
his abode was situated and that his body ha
been swept away by the waves into the ocean
Such an occurrence was calculated ito pro
duce a great sensation in the place where
had happened; and Yesale, recalled, tire
,, weeks after. by the illness of his wife, foun
the disappearance Of Don Alvar the theme q
every tongue. The altered appearance of Is
abella was attributed, by Vesale, to grief 70
The mysterious absence of Don Alvar, and tina
conviction took from him all pity for her sui
ferings.
1t CHANGED to be the festival OF Santa IsabeI
, la, and to do honor to her patron saint, as We
as to celebrate the return of her husband, lisa
bella put on her wedding dress, and seate
herself by an open easement that overlooke
the Alvar gardens, she watched for his com
ing. But whilst her eyes were vainly fxe
upon the path by which she expected him
| appear, hand was laid upon her shoulde
: and turning round she beheld Vesale standin