The true Democrat., 1856-11-11
THE DOCTORS BRIDE.
BY EMMERSON BENNETT

d physician, with whom 1 was on terms of inti- macy.
 "I have often thought" I replied "that the secret history of some of your profession, il written out in detail, would make a work of thrilling interest"
 "I do not know that I exactly agree with you in regard to detail" reioined my friend: |" for we medical men, like every one else meet with great deal that is common place, and therefore not worthy of being recorded; but grant us the privilege of your novelists, to se- lect our characters and scenes and work them into kind of plot, with a striking de,aouement and doubt not many of us could give you 6 romance in real life, comprising only what we have seen, which would equal, if not sur pass, anything you ever met in the way of fc ton Bye the bye, believe I never told you of the most strange and romantic adventure of my life."
 You never told me of any of your adven- lures, doctor,'' replied; "but, if you have a story to tell, you will find me an eager list ener."
 Very we'll then, as have few minutes tc spare l will tell you one more wildly romantic more incredibly remarkable, if may so speak than you probably ever found in work of fc. tion.'
 {" l am all attention"
 "Twenty- five years ago." pursued the doc tor, {" T entered the medical college at F- as student. 1 was then quite young, inexpe- rienced and inclined to be sentimental, and wei do l remember the horror experienced, wher one of the senior students under pretense o showing me the beauties of the institution, sud. denly thrust me into the dissecting room. among 1nnI md cla ba |, 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 com paniOns.
 "Ridcue is a hard thing to bear; the coward becomes brave to escape it, and the brave mar fears it more than he would belching cannon l suffered from ittlI could bear no more; and wrought up to pirh of desperation, demand ed to know what might do to redeem my cha racter, and gal an honorable footing among my fellow students.
 T will tell you" said one, his eyes sparkling with mischief; if you will go at the midnight hour and dig up subject, and take it to you room, and remain with it till morning, we will let you off, and never say another word about your womanlv fright"
 !" l shuddered. It was a fearful alternative: but it seemed less ,errbie 10 suffer all tile hor TOTS that might be concentrated into a single night than to bear. day after day, the eers oi my companions.
 'WAcrc shall eo, and when?'' was my timiG inquiry; and the varv thought of such an ad venture made my blood run cold.
 "Fo the Eastern Cemetry, to-u.ght, at twelve o'clock" replied ply tomentor, fixing his keen black eyes upon me, and allowing his thin lips to curl with a smile of contempt. But what IS the use of asking such a coward as you tc perform such a manly feat?" he added derid- ingly
 "His words stnnS me to the quick; and with out further reflection, and scarcely aware o whatl was saying rejoined boldly:
 am no coward, sir, as l will prove tc you, by performing what you call manly feat"
 You will go?" he asked quickly.
 "I will"
 " Bravely said, my lad,'' he rejoine,l, in { tone ol approval, and exchanging his expres sion of contempt for one of surprise and admi. ratlon-" Do this, Morris, and the first mat that insults you afterward makes an enemy O. me"
 "Again l felr cold shudder pass through my frame, al the thought of what was before me; but had accepted his challenge in the presence of many Wltncs>cs-ior this couver satlon occurred as we were leaving the hall alter listening to ali evening lecture-and 1 wa. resolved to make my word good, should it ever cost me my life; u tacr, knew 1 couId not q, otherwise now, without the ri.k of being driveI in disgrace from the college
 shonld here observe, that in those days there were few professional resurrectionists and as itwas absolutely necessary to have sub JectS for dissection, the unpleasant business oI procuring them dcvolved upon the students who ln conSequence, watched every funeral eagerly, and calculated the chances of cheatin. the sexton of hs charge, and the grave of it. victim.
 " There had hcen funeral that day. of ; poor orphan girl, W ho had been followed to the grave by very few friends; and this was consi dered a favorable chance for the party whost turn It was 10 procure the next subject as tho graves of the poor and frieniless were never watched with the same keen vigilance as those of the rich and influential Sill It was nc trlilmS risk to attempt to exhume the bode. of the poorest and humblest-ior not unfre- quently persons were found on the watch eve, over these, and only the year before, one stu dent, while at his midnight work, had bee! morally wounded by rifle ball; and another month or two subsequently,, had been render ed cripple for life by the same means.
 All this was explained to me by a partv O. SIX or eight, who accompanied me to my room winch Was in building belonging to the col lege, and rented by apartments to such of the students as preferred bachelors hall to regular boarding; and they took care to add several ter rlfylng stories of ghosts and hobgoblins, by way of calming my excited nerves, but as have before observed old women stand around weak teverish patient, and croal1 out thei experience in seeing awful sutferngs and fata termlnations of just such maladies as the one with which their bless victim was then af ticted
 "'ls it expected that I should 90 alone?' inquired, Tn tone that trembled in spite of me while my knees almost knocked together. anc felt as if my very lips were white
 Well, mo-" replied Benson, my most dread. ed tormentor, it would be hardly fair to send you alone, for one individual could not succeed Tn getting the body from the grave quick enough; and you, mere youth, without eXpe. renee, would be sure to fail altogether No we will Sowlth you, some three or four of Us ana heIp you to dls up the corpse; but then you must take It on your back, bring 1t up to your room here, aud spend the night alone with t''
 !" It was some relief to me to find was to have company during the first part of my aw- ful undertaking; but still felt far from agree able, assure you; and chancing to look into a mirror, as the time drew near for setting out iarly started at beholdng the ghastly object 1 saw reflected therein''
 Come, boys" said Benson who was always, by general consent, the leader of whatever fro lc, expedition, or undertaking he was to have a hand ip-"Come boys it is time to be on the move. A glorious night for us.'' he added throwing up the window and letting in a fierce gust of wind ard rain; the al himself would hardly venture out n such storm!''
 lie lit dark lantern, then threw on his long, heavy cloak, took up spade, and led the way down stairs; and the rest of us three be- sides myself, threw on our cosks also, took each spade, and followed him."
 We took roundabout course, to avoid be-