Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-02-21
Mistellaneons.
A RACY STORY
A Souvenir of a Vengeance.

tached as principal assistant surgeon TO the
Military Hospital at Constantine. The
hospital is built on rock of three or four
hundred feet in height. 1t overlooks at
once. the city, the Governors palace, and
the immense plain which stretches as far
as the eye can see. No noise, not muir
muir, troubled the quiet of my studies un-
til the hour when the drum and trumpet
called our men to the barracks. Garrison
life had no charms for me. I fancied nei-
ther absinthe nor cognac. At the time of
which l speak that was called as being
lacking in esprit du corps, but cared not.
1 occupied myself with my studies, my pa
tients, and my prescriptions.
No one cared to criticise my taste, save
certain lieutenant of voltiguers, named
Castnaguac. As l was alighting from my
coach, on my arrival at Constantine, voice
behind me exclaimed: "rll wager that's
our new surgeon" turned and found
myself in presence Of an Infantry officer,
long, lank, awkward, red nose. This was
Lieutenant Castagnac. He extended his
hand, saying: "You are welcome, doctor.
Delighted to make your acquaintance
You are tired-is it not So! Let us 60 in
I'll present you to the circle"
The ''circle" at Constantine means al
ways the bar-room, the restaurant of the
officers.
We entered, for how could I resist the
sympathetic enthusiasm of such man.
And moreover, l had read Gil Bias.
"Waiter, two glasses. What's yours,
doctor? cognacs rum!'
"No-curacoa."
"Curacoa! Why not parfait-amours- !
You have queer taste. Waiter, absinthe
for me. Your health, doctor"
"Yours, Lieutenant"
Useless, perhaps, to say that this inter-
view did not particularly charm me. But
l made the acquaintance of many officers
Of the same regiment who laughed much
with me at Castagnac. One of them,
named Raymond Duterte, told me that on
his arrival at the barracks, Castagnac had
made him drink as well as myself, and that
not liking practical jokes, duel had en-
sued, in which he had wounded Cestagnac
Toward the middle of June, an epidem-
ic broke out at Constantine. The hospi-
tai received not only soldiers but a large
number of citizens. Among my patients
were Castagnac and Duterte. The former
had delirium tremens, and the only intelli
gible phrase be uttered, was "Fatima! Oh!
Fatima." .......-
This made me presume that the poor
fellow, crossed in love, might have had re-
sort to stimulants to drown his grief. This
thought inspired me with pity for him.
One day, in a moment of consciousness, he
asked me-
"What did I say, doctor? Have 1 said
anythingg"
"No, lieutenant"
81 must have been raving. Don't de-
ceive me-"
"Did you suppose I would remember
what you would rave about! If you like,
I'll jot down what you say"
then, dropping on his pillow, murmured,
"a glass of absinthe would do me good"
One morning, as was entering Castag-
macs rooms, my friend, Raymond Dueterte,
accosted me.
"Doctor, I'm going to ask favor of
you"
Willingly, my dear fellow, if possible" !"
''The favor is to give me a permit to 60
out for the day. I think I'm getting
WELL"
'The fever prevails in the city, and 1
don't want to subject you to a relapse"
"Give me two hours"
"Impossiblel Don't insist. 1t would
be useless. l know how dull you must be
your impatience to breathe the fresh air
but you must be quiet"
"You are resolved?"
"Entirely. Wait eight days and then
we will see." .
He went away in bad humor. en-
tered Castagnsc's room and accosted him.
"How are you this morning"
"Quite well. Was not that Raymond
you were talking tot"
"Yes." .. ..... ...
"What did be want9" J r
"Leave to go out, and I refused him."
he said nothing more, but vague ap-
prehension seized me. That night one of
my patients died, and I had his body con-
veyed to the dissecting-room. For two