Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-11-12
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The Doctors Bride.
BY EMERSON BENNETT.

Eve Doctors sometimes meet with strange
adventures, once said to me distinguish
ed physician, with whom | was on terms
of intimacy.
4 have often thought I replied, that
the secret history of your profession, written
out in detail, would make work of thrill
ing interest
Il do not know that [ exactly agr ee
with you in regard to detail, rejoined my
friend for we medical men, like every
one else, meet 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 a striking denoueueat, and |
doubt not many of US could give you ro-
nance in real life, comprising only what
we have seen. which would equal, if not
surpass, anything you ever met in the Say
of fiction, Bye tke bye, believe ! rSever
told you Of the mosE strange and romantic
adventure of my life?'
you never told me Of any of iour ad-
ventures, Doctor replied; but if you
have story to tell, you will find me an
eager listener
Very well, then, as have few min
utes to spare will tell you one more in
credibly remarkable, if [ may so speak,
than you probably ever found in work of
fiction
i am all attention
Twenty years ago. pursued the
Doctor, entered the medical college at
F., as student. | was then quite
young inexperienced, and inclined to be
timid and sentimental and we'll do | re-
member the horror l experienced, when a
senior student, under pretenee OF show
ing me the beauties of the institution, sud-
denly thurst me into the dissecting room,
among several dead bodies, and closed the
: door upon me; nor do [ forget how my
,, screeches of terror, and prayers for release
from that awful place, made me the laugh
ing stock of my other companions.
Ridicule is hard thing to bear; the
: coward becomes brave to escape it, and the
brave man fears it more than he would a
: belching cannon. / suffered from it till l
could bear it no more !; and wrought up TO
: pitch of desperation, demanded TO know
what might do to redeem my character,
s and gain an honorable footing among my
! fellow students.
Il will tell you,' said one, his eyes spark.
J. ling with mischief; { if you will 60 at the
y midnight hour, and dig up subject, 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
r fright
d Il shuddered. 1t was fearful alterna
r tive; but it seemed less terrible to suffer
Is all the horrors that might be concentrated
,e y, into single might than to bear, day after
day, the jeers Of my companions.
&c Where shall go and when p was NJ,
~ timid inquiry and the very thought 0
+ such an adventure made my blood rul
:. :. cold.
ct To the Easton Cemetery tonight, a
le twelve O'clock replied my tormentor, fix
e. ing his keen, black eyes upon me, and al
lowing his thin lips to curl with smile Q
So contempt But what is the use of askin
Or such coward as you to perform such
~ manly feat?' he added deridingly.
le' His words stung me to the quick an
al an without further reflection, and scarcel
IN aware of what was saying, | rejoinec
u boldly:
ue Il am no coward, sir, as I will prove |
al you by performing what you call mani
IA feat
M you will go? he asked quickly.
he I will
,eo Brayely said my lad 7 he rejoined, in
'te tone of approval, and exchanging his e.
is preston of contempt for one of surprise or
ner admiration. DO this, Morris, and Il
per first man that insults you afterward max
=. an enemy of me!
Again felt a cold shudder pass throu,
,'au w my frsme, at the thought of what was |
!, ,o fore me; but had accepted his challen
ven in the presence OF many witnesses, for Il
conversation occurred as We were leayi
~ 81 the hall, after listening to an evening |
ture-and I was resolved to make my VIZ