The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-02-11


caring the least tha, the whole town vA'
setting me down as madman. Did
know better? Was | not in reality win
ner? Though lost one hundred ducal:
by tile young man, should win one thou
sand by the stranger.
could scarcely wait till night. A
little before the time | went with the
cloak under my arm, 10 the bridge. Will
tho las, stroke to twelve the figure fthe
unknown appeared 10 me, as it wore ou'
Of the eatth. 81, .r.r.. ID, -
"He.e it is" | answered, "but it cost
me six hundred ducais, cash"
81 know all about ~ he replied; "bnt
here are une housand.' fu a
He advanced with mo 10 the balus-
traces of the bridge, and counted the
money into my hands. There was one
thousand ducats gisIening gloriously in
the moonlight, and was delighted.
put tile money into my pocket, and began
TO scrutinize the features of ihe stranger.
which had been point of secondary con-
sideralion. But impossible! He wore
mask, out of which two fiery eyes were
cleaning. - tuaa
"Thank you sir" ] said. "What more
do you require of me?" am ready to
do your bidding; unless you bid me do
wrong. -..,.-r ....- .......r
Gas il regards wrong, you need not
fear on that point" he answered, while
putting his mantle on his shoulders, 81
require simply the aid of physician,
not for a living body, hut for a dead
one"
asked for an explanation. He beck
oned me TO follow him, and as we walked
along he said:
ii came here from very disan, coun-
try with my sister; and we stayed at the
house of near relative. had The mis- .
fortune 10 lose my sister; she was taken
suddenly.ill and died in few honrs.-
According TO custom in our family. the
deceased members are embalmed previ-
ous to their burial in the family vault
Now, our relative here intends to burg
my sister Tomorrow. Ihave no objection
to this. hut must at any rate, send To
my father the head Of his beloved daugh
ter, that he may look upon it once more"
The idea ofcut,ing off tho head Of his
sister seemed to be rather a strange one;
but | did not raise any objection, lest !
should displease the generous unknown. {.
| therefore assured him that | had prac-
tised the embalmment Of bodies, and re-
oues,ed him to conductme 'othe deceased
However, I could not help asking why all
this should lie done with so much secre-
cy. He exclaimed that if his relatives
knew of his intentions, they would con,
slider him cruel and oppose lis wishes;
but the head once off, it would be use
less to raiso any objection.
We had arrived at large and magnI-
ficen, house. My conductor pointed 10
il as the end of our nocturnal journey
We passed the principal entrance. enter
ed a little door which the stranger
closed cautiously after us. We mounted
narrow winding staircase, which led to
long corridor, from which we entered
single lamp suspended from the ceiling.
In the apartment was bed, in which the
deceased was lying. The stranger avert.
ed his face, as if TO hide his tears. He
pointed 10 the bed, told NE TO do my.
busile well, and quickly left the room.
I,ook the knife--w which in my capacity
of physician, | always carry ebonl me
aud advanced towards The bed. The
head was only visible, but i, was SO beam
tiful tha, | was seized with sentiment OF
compassion. The black hair was arranged
in long tresses; the face was pale; re
eyes closed. The instant ! made an in
csion in The threat, the deceased opened
her eyes, closed them again with long
deep sigh, in which life seemed just 10
depart, at the same time s'ream Of
warm blood flew upon me from the
wound; I iel, convinced that it was | Iha,
murdered the poor girl. For moment
Experienced great anxiety. Had been
deceived by the owner Of The red coat, or
was hls sister merely in traace9 The
last supposlion seemed the mos plausible.
Bu, was | to tell the brother Of the de-
ceased, that had I made an incision less
deep, should have awakened her to life.
instead Of putting her TO death! Impos-
sible! And lhererore fastened to sepa.
rate the head entirely from the body
Again the dying gave deep groan
stretched herselfin in a convulsive move
ment, and expired! This tine 1 was over
powered with terror; and slluddering vio
lenlly, rushed on, Of the room. Thert
was no appearance Of my conductor; and
gropipg my way Though the darkness,
reached the staircase. Sometimes
sometimes falling, ! succeeded
in finding the floor. No ono below. The
door wss ajar. and only began 10 breathe
when found myself in the fresh air.
Spurred on by fright and fear, | ran TO
my home, and buried myself in the pill
lows of my couch, endeavoriug TO forget
the act | had done. Bu, all in vain
Sleep fled my eyes; and gained little
calmness only when the day began to