The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-01-08
NUMBER al.

assiduity he began to prepare himself for
the trial, and in private as well as public,
spared no opportunity to obtain all neces-
sary qualifications. One evening a group
of us, among whom was Felix, had assem-
bled in the dissecting room; it was the
last practical lesson we were to receive
before the day of trial The porter of the
class had procured, as he said, Ga fine
subject" and We only awaited the arrival
Of the Professor before it was produced.
Felix-who was the pupil appointed to
demonstrate on that evening--was busy in
preparing his instruments for the opera
ton. Never can the scene be efaced
from my memory. Custom had banished
all feeling of sympathy, and the laugh and
gbe went merlily around. At length the
Professor arrived. The body was placed
upon the table, and each student, with
knife in hand, stood ready to assist.
Mr.. --,'' said the Professor, " are
you ready to proceed -
"I am, SIR" replied D -; and re-
moving the oil-cloth which had carefully
been thrown over 'ne subject, he was about
to plunge his knit into the body, when he
uttered wild uncarthly shrek, and fell
senseless to the floor.
"What can this mean ?" said the Pro-
fessor "raise him." Quick as lightning
we did so, and, applying some remedies,
restored him once more to reason.
=" Take me hence-take me hence" he
! feebly uttered "Touch her not-she is
+ mine. Emily! poor Emily! do not
|, mutilate that breast on which / have a
: thousand times reposed Take me hence
y I am dying!" and he sunk exhausted
q into our arms, and was borne from the
+ room. A carriage having been procured,
I ATTENDED him home, and saw him COM
~ mitted to the care of his young and affec-
tionate wife, but he shrunk from her pre-
y, sence as from the glance Of a basalisk.
Leave me-" he said to her, I" for few
4 minutes; have instructions to give to
% my friend here; I shall send for you
! shortly" She fondly kissed his paid
3 brow, and with tears streaming from her
v eyes, unwillingly obeyed him.
AS soon as We were alone, "Crime," +"
c said he, "you perceive cannot be con-
cealed You have twice beheld my strange
e conduct; will no longer deny the cause
of it. The young female whose body this
evening was to have served FIR our opera
tions, is one of my victims. She it was on
that evening when you were first witness
to my wildness, sought charity at my hand.
From the hour that had betrayed her up
to that night, I had lost all trace Of her /;
and although have since been untiIing in
, my search, yet have been unsuccessful.
; Save the body 1 bescech you, from the
knife let it rest in peace it is the only
, atonement l now can make. Promise me
this ere reasons leave me, for feel that
madness is weaving her spell about my
brain"
"Compose YOURSELF" I said f: I" since
you have erred, repentance yet may bring
you peace"
"Never! never! Peace only is for me
in the grave. Fly, my dear h! for
? the love of heaven, secure the body from
| desecration, and consign it to the dust !;
, that done, return and tell me all. Emily !!
| poor blighted blossom ! curses, curses on
. your seducer, and he frantically tore his
: hair and wept.
Finding that neither consolation or
e advice was of avail, / lett him, and, having
o procured coffin at tie nearest undertak-
t er's, had the corse laid within it. But
y Judge of my astonishment, when I recog-
d nzed the features to be those of the young
o girl whom, with the doctor, had fort
d night before visited. My curiosity was
: aroused, and l Immediately repaired to
l the wretched hovel, where from the old
" woman l learned that poor Emily had two
5, days before been by death released from
d her sufferings. AS an outcast from society,
an unfortunate acomon," as the delicate
is phraseology of the world terms it, she
e had been buried witht ut friend to weep
.e tear upon her ash S, and now from the
l. grave had the body leen torn to supply
Al. H. {oII ~