Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-06-16
md was not long in coming to a con-

cluslOn.
Doctors do not usually attend the flu
nerals OF their patients, and it struck
me as little singular that Doctor Win
dleton had been present at the fanera
Of Margaret Donaldson. More thar
this, he had fingered after the depart
ure OF the mourners, and the thought
occurred to me at the time, that he was
anxious to investigate still further the
mal-formation in the chest of the de.
ceased, in which he had taken so much
interest.
Body snatching then was not so usu.
al as now, and | decided at once that
the corpse of Margaret had been the
doctors prize.
What should | do? Blocker would
go mad if he knew the truth. And
would shoot DR.. Wimbledon and be mis-,
erable himself for the rest of his life
What could I do? It was possible
that the "subject'' might vet be re-
claimed. Cautioning Spade to hold
his tongue, we filled up the grave, and
placed the empty coffin in the wagon.
| took it, and the gravestones, to my
house, placed them in my woodshed
until l could determine what was to be
done.
FASTENED to the house of DR.. Win
dleton, and found him in his office.
stated my business, he laughed at me.
grew indignant, and threatened him
with the wrath of BECKER
'1ou are mistaken, Mr.. Mortal.
am not body-snatcher."
every we'll, sir, if YOU deny it have
no alternative but to inform Mr.. Bleek-
er of the facts and give him my opin-
ion."
''That would be foolish. You will
only make the poor man miserable, and
for no purpose"
"What can | do %
"Bury the empty coffin in his lot, and
say nothing"
"Suppose he should insist on seeing
the remains ."
Il have three anatomies-,,
'Let me see them" I demanded.
He opened a closet and exhibited
them. One ofthem was satisfied was
the skeleton of Margaret Donaldson.-
There was the broken leg, which the
doctor had tinkered up with wires, and
there was the mal-formation in the
bones of the chest.
DIR. Wimbledon had to give it up
He begged me not to expose him, and
as could not do so without larcera-
ting the feelings of BECKER, 1 promis-
ed | would not In the evening took
the anatomy to my house. On my ar
rival, to my intense chagrin, [ found
Mr.. Becker waiting for me. l had
lugged the skeleton right into the room
before [ discovered him.
''What have you got there?" he ask
ed, as | entered, and laid my burden
on the sofa
I tried to evade the question, but he
had seen enough to rouse his curiosity.
can Anatomy" said he, "pray let
me see it,
'I would rather not"
s'Do, I beg you, do" and he remov-
ed the covering from the upper part Of
the skeleton. 90 you deal in these
things?" he asked placing his hand on
the skull.
''No, sir; this belongs to a physician
who is going away, and wished me to
take charge Of it, I stammered.
els it man or wOman?'
Il am not skilled in anatomy"
"a woman, [ should Judge by the
size. We'll, that is what we must all
come to- he soliloquized, as he contin-
ued to handle the bones. ''It seems al
most impossible that this frame could
have held living soul. But in that
chest has been a heart, which may have
loved. Perhaps some strong man wept
when she died. She may have been
beautiful, tender, affectionate, and low
ing. Some lover may have elapsed
these dry bones in his arms, and kissed
the cheek and the lips, which now are
gone, and been happier than all earth,
without her, could have made him.
This hand may have clasped his, and
he took the bony hand i'll his own
and been the means by which the first
dawn of love was betrayed. But Mr..
Mortal have you attended to the mat
ter upon which | spoke to you?"
was relieved to find he had not
recognized the anatomy. I told him
l had found the frost still in the ground
but would do it the next day. | breath
ed freely when he had gone, and hur.
ried the skeleton into the coffin. Ear.
ly the next morning I fastened tc
Mount Auburn, and placed the coffin
in the ground.
| never felt so much embarrassed in
my life as while he was indulging his
lovers rhapsody over that sheleton.-
What a shock if he had identified it,
He never discovered the deception.
ADVICE TO CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE
| You want air. not physic: Won want