Smyrna times., 1860-12-20
What do you mean, sir!

What 40 you mean, sir
will tell you what mean. will shatter
my leg at single shot, and right before your
eyes!
Inc Englshman sat down, took the pistol,
anu placed the muzzle close to the knee.
Iheyenet made an effort to restrain him.
Lont move cried the Englishman, or fire
Answer but this one question. Will Won need
lsssly increase and pEolong my sufferiugs!
Sir replied Thevenet, you are mad man /!
Your will be done. I'll cut off that doomed leo
! of yours.
EVerythng necessary for the operation was
prepared. The very moment the cutting was
aoout 10 be commenced the Englishman lit his
plPe' and declared it should not go out during
Tue operatlei. lie kept his word. Thevenet
performed the operation in a most mastt rly
manner. In very short time the patient was
Well rewarded him richly, assured him of his
everlasting friendship, and thanked him, with
tea:@ In his eyes, for having taken of his leg.
Shortly after the Englshman returned to his
native Country, minHS one leg.
ABOUT four months after his departure, They.
enet received letter from Engiand, saving;
NY DEAR SIR:--lnClosed | forward. as
PROOF OF my sincere gratitude, bill of ex-
Cnange ior 2OO gulneas, payable at the office of
MessIS Blanchard, Paris. You made me the
happlest OF morta|s by depriving me Of a limb
which was the obstacle to my earthly felicity.
Noble-minded man. Now YOU shall hear the
cause OF my foolish whim. as you once termed
II. You were pleased to say at that time that
II was impossible for any one to have u sutii. T..
cleht reason for such self mutilation as mine. /
Now listen. Shortly after my second return
nome irom the East Indies, | became acuuaint- /
ed IN Emlly Harley, the most perfect OF wo
men. l adOred her. Her fortune and family /
connections engaged also the attention of nv
friends; but her beauty aud noble mind were /
the sole attract lions for me. Joined the crowd |
ot her admirers; and dearest Theveuet. | vas
fortunate enough TO become the most uaaappy |
OF al my rivals She loved me in preference
TO others; never denied it, and reieeted me for
TINS very reason. In vain entreated her-in
vain her parents did all in their power on nv
Dehal. Alas! she remained npxorable Some |
tune passed before could find out the cause of
neF dlslncIinaton TO marry me whom, as she |
helselI confessed, she so psssionately loved
One OF her sisters, however, revealed the So
cret to me. Mss Harley was an extraordinarv
beauty, but, strangely enough, was of ma
turally defective person, having only one Leo
and on account of this imperfcction. refused 10
become my wife. She feared might in future
treat her rather indttierentiy in CONSEQUENCE.
I orthwlth my mind was made up. | resolved
to make myself like her; and, thanks to YOU,
dear Thevenet, | succeeded. returned ia
London with my wooden leg. Ny fret bnsi.
ness was to present myself TO Miss Harlev.-
MY friends spread report, aud myself wrote
before hand to England, that 10 consequence
OF t"l! from my horse, had broken leg, and
amPutatIon had been found necessary. Every
one met Pllicd me. Emily tainted the first
Time she saw me. For long time she was in
consOlable; but she became INV wife. The d.v
after the wedding, confded to her, for the
hrst time, the secret Of the sacrifice had made
for her. She loved me the more for il. NV
lear Thevenet, if had ten more legs, would
sacrifice them without the least hesitation for
hmily. AS long as live, remain your debt
1r. Come and see my excellent wife, and then
Iare say again that am a mailman.
Yours, forever,
"CHARLEs TEMPLE"