Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-12-19
Giterarp 5eIeftions.
THE DOCTORS BRIDE.
By EMERSON BENEFIT

intimacy.
Il have often thought, I replied, that
the secret history of some of your profes-
sion If written in detail would make a
work Of thrilling interest
81 don't know that exactly agree with
you in regard to detail rejoined my
friend; with a great deal that is common
place and therefore not worthy of being
recorded; but grant US the privilege of
YOU novelists to select our characters and
scenes and work them into kind of plot,
with view Of striking denouement,
and ] doubt not many of US could give
you a romance in real life, comprising
only what we have seen, which would
equal if not surpass, anything you ever
met in the way of fiction. Bye the bye
I believe never told you of the most
strange and romantic adventure of my
life?
You never told me of any of your
adventures, Doctor, replied; but if you
have story to tell you will find me all
eager listener.
Very well then, as have few min
utes to spare, / will tell you one more
wildly romantic, more incredibly remark
able, if may SO speak, than you proba-
bly, ever found in work of fiction
: ] am all attention.
Twenty-Five years ago, pursued the
Doctor, entered the Medical College of
F-as student. was then quite
young, inexperienced, and inclined to be
timid and sentimental; and well do re-
member the horror experienced when
one of the senior students, under pretenee
of showing me the beauties of the insti-
tuition, suddenly thrust me into the dis
secting room among dead bodies, and
suddenly closed the door upon me nor
do / forget how my screeches of terror
and prayers of release from that awful
place made me the laughing stock Of my
older companions.
Ridicule is hard thing to bear; the
coward becomes brave to escape it, and
the brave man fears it more than he
would belching cannon. l suffered ii
till I could stand it no longer; and
wrought up to pitch of desperation,
demanded to know what l might do to
redeem my character and gain an hon.
orable footing among my fellow stu
dents
i viii tell you,' said one, his eyes
sparkling with mischief; if you will go
at the midnight hour and dig up a sub
ject and take it to your room and remain
alone with it till morning we will let you
off and never say another word about
your womanly fright
I shuddered. 1t was fearful alter.
native but it seemed less terrible to suf
fer all the horrors that might be concen
trated into single night, than to heal
day after day the jeers of my compan
ions.
where shall go? and when p wal
my timid inquiry; and the very though
Of such an adventure made my blood rur
cold.
TO the Eastern Cemetery, tonight
at twelve o'clock, replied my tormenter
fixing his keen black eyes upon me, ant
allowing his thin lips to curl with con
tempt. But what is the use of asking
such coward as you to perform such
manly feat ? he added deridingly.
His words stung me to the quick an
without further reflection, and scarcel,
aware Of what was saying, joine
boldly:
I ana no coward sir, as I will prov
to you, by performing what you call
manly feat.
1ou viii go?' he asked quickly.
Twill.
nragely said, my lad!' he rejoine
IN tone Of approval, and exchangin
ms expression Of contempt for one of SUI
Prise and admiratiOn. Do this Morri
and the hrst man that insults you after
wards makes an enemy of meP
Again felt cold shudder ma,
through my frame at the thought of VIII,
was before me; but l had accepted tn
challenge in the presence of Witnesses
for this conversation occurred as we wei
leaving the hall, after listening to a
evening lecture-and was resolved
make my word good should it ever co
me my life; in fact i knew l could n
do otherwise now, without the risk of b
Ing driven IN disgrace from the college
should here observe that in tho
days there were few professional resu
ect'onials and as it was absolutely nece