The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-04-27
A Night in the Life Of a Physician.

! | was sitting doing IN my easy chair,
when tremendous knock was heard at the
door, The servant opened it, when man
rushed in in the widest disorder.
For Gods sake Doctor" said he, "cone
with me, it's case Of life and death. A
young girl has stabbed herself; she is bleed
ing to death. One thousand dollars to save
her. Come, oh do not tdelay." and he rush.
ed towards me as if to drag me along.
! | hurried away with him, snatching my
instruments from the table as passed. it
think | never saw before such convulsive
grief as this mnn's face expressed He was
, a handsome man with one ofthose faces that
the ladies' admire, jet black hair, clustering
in waving curls over white forehead
The lower part Of his otherwise feminine
features was relieved by deep jet black
beard.
l as ed him the particulars Of the
case.
Doctor said he, smake haste. | shall
60 mad. Why, l would give every drop of
blood in this body to save one drop of hers
Oh, Cod" said he, "preserve my reason
She stabbed herself before could prevent
Fher. Make haste. Oh, my God. my
God"
We reached the house On a satin
couch, in a splendid room, the rich Turkey
carpet covered with blood, lay young girl.
Il think ! never saw such beautiful
creature. Even with pallid countenance
and bloodess lips she was more Of heave
than earth What she was when the rose
played on her downy cheeks | would not
fancy.
There was deep wound over the heart,
and it was quite evident that the blow had
been given with right good will. On the
floor, covered with blood, lay the weapon
a slight Damascene dagger, the handle rich
" set with pearls, strongly lit up with
the reflection from the bleod-stained ivo-
ry
was too late. Alas. the life blood was
slowly dropping away The masterpiece
of creation was soon to be cold and inani-
mate She slowly opened her eyes and fix
ed them with dying love upon the young man
who had summoned me to this scene of
death.
"Sdney," she said, Sidney, | am dying.
Ny own Sidney, could not live neglected.
/ told you would love you to death. Kiss
me, Sidney She sank back, and death
closed upon his victim.
Nv companion sat for some time strange
" staring at the lifeless form on the couch.
I could perceive that reason was tottering
ON its foundation. l was fascinated by his
strange look. At last | went up to him
"Sir," said /, .'she is Eo more. Death has
released her from her troubles"
"Dead! did you say she is dead, doctor!"
said he, with strange and curious look at
me- ..Ah, and you have murdered her."
yelled the madman-for such he was now.
"You have murdered her, and IL shall
murder you. All. ah. it will berare sport"
Before could prevent him, he had picked
UP the dagger. "Yes," said he, with yell,
Il will murder you with her dagger. Twill
stab you in the same place. Oh, It will
be rare sport to see you groan and struggle
like she did. All. ah!'' and he made bound
at me. Now this was far from pleasant
In fact, ii was very awkward fix to be in.
did not know how to act. The mailman
made grab at me, but fortunately | eluded
his grasp, and thinking it better to fight in
the dark, seized the light and cast it on
the floor The room was now dark. The
madman set up terrific yelling, andI could
hear him lock the door and put the key in
his pocket, while he kept muttering, 81 will
kill him. Oh, it will be rare sport to see
him die like she did,
felt nv courage rise with the emergen-
cy halt determined to try struggle
with him, but knew the increased strength
that the insane possess, and thought it
scarcely prudent. What should l do! |
must do something. Itwould soon be day
light, when l would again be in his power.
| felt for some weapon with whichto defend
myself, and as luck would have it, found a
heavy dumb bell in the corner where lay
concealed Presently heard the madman
slowly searching for me. Iraised the dumb
BELL ''mav God forgive me-" said; it de-
scended, and was free. The madman lay
stunned on the floor. rushed to the door,
smashed in the lock with the heavy metal,
and rushed down stairs. Presently the
house was all r commotion. Oh what
scene. the girl deadin pool of blood, the
man insensible on the floor, with the dag
ger firmly clutched in his hand. bled him
and he slowly recovered But reason nev-
er returned.
He is a madman to this day. never
heard the history of my patients of
that night. They were strangers in the
house. l never will forget that nights ad-
venture.
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