The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-12-10
s. sfIrftrh storu.
THE DOCTORS BRIDE.
py EMERSON pESSETT.

WE Doctors sometimes meet with
strange adventures" once said to IN" II
distinguished phy.rian, with whom WAS
op terms "f intimacy.
81 have often thought" replied, '',hat
the secret history of your profession, Nrrt-
ten out III .lelnii, would make work o!
.hriling interest"
II do not know that | exactly ayiec
with you in regard to dcta l., 'rrjnrncd my
friend; "for we medical men, like ever
one else, meet with great deal that is
common place, and therefore not worthy
of being recorded /; but grant us the priv
ilegc Of You noyelists, to sci, ct our char.
ac,ers aud scenes, aud wOr., them iuin u
kind oi plot, with stuk'ng demounccmenf
and ! doubt no; nan> oi us cou.I give
YOU romance III rea! NE, counp'i, n . ouI,
what We have seen, which would rguri, II
not surpass, anything YOU ever met n the
way oi iicuon. Bye ihc hle, herve
never tod you of the most strange aui 70.
mantc adventure OF my life
You never told me OF any .. Your AL.
ventures, Doct"r," ] replied; but it you
hsye story TO tell, YOU will lind me an
eager l.sjr''er."
"Vcrv well theu, rs have few min.
utcS To spare | viii tell YOU one more III
credibk remarkan!e. # | may So speak,
than y"u probably ever found IL a work
Of fc;.on
IL am all attention.
"TNcnty five wears ago, pursued the.
Doct -, Il cn cred the medc.l college At
r, a, "a student. MAS then quite
youny. inexperienced, aud inclined to I've
iu;d and nlunvntal; and wei! do re
member the horror | experienced, When =
senior stu lent, under rret.nre of showing
NE the e.ut;es uf the institutions, sudden
w thruaI me into the dissccting ROOM
n,rony several dead bndies, aud closrdthc
do, upon me; noJ do forget how my
SC escl,es of terror, and pra' ess for Release
from that awful place, made me the laugh
ipg ,t,ck Of my other companions.
"R,dcnle Is q harl thing Ia bear The
coward becomes brave To escape it, aud
the brave man fears it more than he
would belehing capnon.. Suffered from
i till couhl bear it no more; aud
wrought NJ to pitch of desperation,
demanded 10 know what might do to
redeem. my character, and gain an homo
rabIe footing among my fellow students
al will tell you" said. one, his eyes
sparkling with mischief; 81 you will 90
at the mid p;ght bonI, and dig up sub
ject, anl take j, to your room, and remain
alone With il till morning, we will let yoa
off, anil never say another word about
your womanly fright"
II shudd1ed. 1t was fearful alter.
native; tut it seemed less terrible to sui.
fer all the horrors that might be concen
t.aied into single night than to bear,
day after day, the jeers Of my compan-
ions.
.Where shall | gol and when r. aas
my timid inquiry; and the very thought
q. such an adventure made my blood run
cid.
"To the Easton Cemetery tonight, a,
twelve o'cock," replied my tormenlor. fx
ing his keen black eyes upon me. apd NJ
lowing his Thin lips to curl with a smile OF
contempt--.But what is the use Of ask.
ing such a coward MS yon TO perform, sucll
manly feat " he added deridingly.
9" His words stung mc TO the quick; and
without further reflection, and scarcely
aware Of wha, was saying, ] I,ejpined.
boldly:
"I am no cowarJ, sir, as s win prove
TO yop by performing what you call
manly feat"
"You will got" be asked quickly.
~ will"
".Brayely said my lad :" he rejoined in
tone Of fapprosai, and exchanging his ex.
preston of contempt for one Of surprise
and admiration. "Do this, Morris, and
tIe first man that insults you afierward
makes an enemy of IRE y
Again felt cold shudder pass through
my frame, st the thought Of what was be.
fore me; hut had accepted bis challenge
in the presence Of nanv witnesses, for this
copyers alton OCCURRED as we were leaving
the hall, after listening to ap evening lee.
ture--and !. was. resolved, 10. make my
word good, should il even cost my life I'm
fact, krcw could not do otherwise now
without TIA risk Of being driven in DIS
grace from the college.
II should here observe, that in those
days there were few professional resurrec.
tionists and a. j, was absolutely, nscessa.
~ to have subjects f9r dissection, the IN
pleasant business of procuring them de-
volyed upon the students, who, in conse-
quence, watched every fnneIsl eagerly,
aud calculated the chances Officiating the
sexton OF his charge and the grave OF his
victim.
"Tbere had been funeral. that day. Of
poor orphan girl, who had been follow.
cd to the grave by very few frieuds, and
this WIS considered favorable chance for
the party whose tern twas 10 procure
The rext subject, rs Tie poor and friend.