Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-05-05

= Enghsh woman, radiant with beauty, heall
end gsiety, crowned with flowers, and sweep
inc through the ball room like its queen
What was there in all this to make old Chans
purse up bis expressive Chinese mouth, AM
y. DR.. Rogers lift bic eyebrows, and bite his lips
= With brow that knit with a spssm Of invol
y untaTy anxiety. Smoothing bis rufisd brow
the doctor stepped from biE place, passed Mrs
/ c., and looked full and steadily on be-
! race. She looked surprised and a little an
z noyed. but presently turned away smiling. Shl
: thought the doctor, no doubt, an odd, rude oil
/, gentleman. Very much compressed were th,
! doctor's lips, and very often did the frown Of
= care return to the eoctor's brow, as be thread.
ed bis way through the crowd, most OF WHOM
= bad some slight or merry remark 10 best0w on
!, % popular a shaTactor, until he reached The
. place where Captain c. was talking to the
c0lOueps wife and two other ladies' seated on
( an ottoman. The doctor drew Geordis as de;
= they were old friends; and begged ss a psrtic-
uiar favor that be wonld take his wife home,
{ away from the ball, but without alarming her
!. alarming her p said G-oTdie, ouite in the
! dark as 10 the doctors meaning. " Why, what
!. Blue Beard, you would make me turn out
: doctor. She's engaged twelve deep, IN be
/, bound and it wants an hour OF supper time,
and can't get her away. Besides, she's not
tired. Why shoald she 60, you know?o
To this DR.. Rogers merely answered that be
{ begged as a favor. that Capt. c. would
would be FOR the best. And being hard press
ed FOR bis reason, the doctor said Mrs. C.
yTss about to be IN. Il was his duty to ask her
husband to take hsr away from the crowded
room.
Captain c. laughed inersduIously at first,
but it was a hollow and forced laugh It was
plain that be did not believe in bic own disbe-
lief, and he knew the good old medieo too
well to suspect him Of jesting on such point
His voice quivered little as be asked for an
explanation.
fWell, If you will have it, said Or. Rogers,
laying bis head on Geordie's arm, "thsre is
something wrong in your wife. Old Ching
notieed It first, and told me Of it. and I have
seen il myself, and I have ssen such a thinl
but twice before, and both times in China.
Pray heaven that this may not end ss it did in
those two iDstancesln
"Spsak out, man, you torture me p said
Captain C, gasping for breath. and verT
pale. "lt is trihing matter. in appearances
/ at least" replied DR.. Rogers gTaveIy and
kindly; "it is a small black spot on your
Wife's face-on her left ehsek-that is all,
I and
"Wbst is it? For the sake OF all that's ss-
I cred irkGf is 20 asked c., quite heresly
The Doctor, noticing bow quickly the group
/ was increasing, drew his friend a few PAGES
back, and whispered something in his ear.
The effect on Geordis was terrible The
brave strong man trembled visibly, and sheok
from head to foot, wh lie bis bronzsd face be-
/ came OF an eshsn palensss. Then, followed
BY the doctor, who vsinly tried to keep pace
With bin, be hurried up to the place where bis
/ wife vas wheeling in tbe mazss Of the waltz
| He strode reckleszly in among the dancers
\ his wild hsggard looks and brnsque gestures
/ caused some confusion ana surprise. His wife
/ saw bin, and started, and with a word to her
/ partner, stood stHL How beautiful she looked
-iushed and excited with the dance, crowned
| with flowers, richly yet tastefuily dressed how,
too her fair English bloom contrasted with the
! pailor o. most OF the other pretty women pre-
sent; how Der soft bright blue eyes rested with
wonder on c. With apprehension for hin
lest be should be IN. Certsinlv, II one Of those
two were IN mortal danger, any observer would
have selected the husband as the one who bore
TIE marks OF it. But c. was careless Of
that All bis soul was in bis gaze, as be be-
held IN the center Of bis wife's blooming cheek
a small black spot, not much larger than the
bead OF large black pin, and CURE circular
It did not dishgurs her Ouiy keen eve could
distinguish it; and, when seen, it resembled
one OF those beauty patehes7 which tbs
bellies Of the last century used to give an sddi-
tional piquancy TO their charms Yes, there
It vas, the back spot the doctor had de- /
scribsd.
By great 'sff1rt c. smoothed his fea- /
lures, and tried to smile, as be begged pardon 1
Of the company. He had Interrupted them I
very rudeiy, b. ssid-thsy had al left of 1
dancing by this tins-snd be begged they
would 90 on, and not mind him. The must
clans had ceased playing; be waved bis hand 4
impstientlv; they went on. His wife sp-
preached BIN hsr partner beside her, a naval
commander, who did not feel at an disposed to
iorego The rest of bis dance with he queen o.
the ball "Was he IN ?" she asked IN an anx-
ious whisper. "No, no.'' be was not IN; but
be wished she would cotDs swar-ec7.e Four
HrfHN him rfnn-Efw IA
His manner was irritable, harsh. uHusual /
The young wife looked at him with surprise;
tears gathered In her blue ewes: but she was
not without spirit, and she dashed then proud
y away She could not leave yet, she said
she vas engaged FOR several dances. II there
was 10 reason to be given for leaving 50 ab-
Tuptlr, sbe could not be 50 uncivil to her par
ners- And IN a moment more the commander
WnIried Der of. c. stood and bit bic lips. /
S0e danced once, tHice, thrice more. c.
stood m00dily watching her, the doctor a. bis \
elbow Il was sad, agoni1iaC, to poor c.
to watch that glorious creature, and to know I
that she bore or Der face the mark of-what2 4
Even the doctor shrsnk from telling C. all /
be feared. Her monentary burst OF burt |
womanly pride was over; the sight Of her anx- /
ioas face disturbed Der; her gsistT fed; the 1
compliments Of her partners were unhears: /
she begged 70 be excused; left the gentleman /
on whose arm she lsant, and came up to C.
vi b sunny smile. al will be good now,
and come home"
The doctor whispered to c. to intro
duce him. C. hurriedly complied His
wife recognized the Old gentleman who stared
80 pertinsciously at her bis eyes observed Der
still. he whispered q word to The captsin
Gserdie tried 10 be calm as be asked bis wife
II shelf shs she was aware that there was a /
small black spot, mere speck, on her left
cheek. She blushed and laughed. Yes, she /
saw It in he glass when dressing. She could
not rub it away. She thought il would 20 of |
Itself. L bad annoyed her little, because it
looked SO ike one Of those absurd patches, but
she hoped nobody noticed it.
Excuse me, msdsm,o said DR.. Rogers, l
al may be OF mNe consequence than you are
aware Of. az an old doctor, and NAV be
allowed to ask questions. Does it give you
any paia ?" i,
" Noas-Eons at aH0
Ths doctor looked graver still.
There is glass nearly opposite Please
to look and see n Il has not increased In sizs.1
Ihe lady; half frighteded, complied. Yes.
II bas, inoeed-t is = times as large as il
was, almost as lsrg ss a pea-how tire
some 20
" One more question: said the doctor.
Have you any idea what brought it ?''
" None," answered Mrs. c. 0George,
leye, think would rather go.D
Think again." pressed the doctor. Has
any rsp'iie-any inssct?"
4" Yes, DR.. Rogers" answered the now fast
paiing beauty; yes, but no that could not
he r. and / was silly 10 think twice OF 50
trihing thing az the bite OF av.D
A aF? What sort Of fy?" excla med
" One Of those black flies that wsr. in shs
vsrsndah, tiresome, buzzins thing; Il stung
me very sharply Just there, on the left cheek
where The spot is. / thought OF nothing when \
the pain went Of. L was a long sort Of fy,
wiags.7
"Tns Bsl-Tss the black Jupiter hyi III,
know It. Ching know it,D said a hoarse,
grumbling voice behind.
L was the old compnsdoT, bali horror struck,
nav VAN or hia sagseityl Hastily they drew
her from the room, wrapped her shawl around I
her and hurried her home. The music struck 4,
eneerily up the dance went on. supper sue
ceeded very sumptuous AFFAIR.". and then
followed more dances; but by degrees the mirth
ianguishec, and a sort 81 uncomfortable feel
ing OF apprehension and gloon pervaded the
guests. Strange whispers, Fnuttered hfnts
went round; the very Chinese servants had an I,
Ominous look. By degrees every BODY became
aware that some uischance had befslIen the
fair young English woman whom they had inst
welcomed among them. Meme knew The exact I
truth, but an bad some inkling Of IT, Tben,
too. there was felluw-feeling, perhaps haIt- !
HFf4aAf atl1AAE AaAeE EXITS IN a eleFlE ElIWpf
The ihsidi 7uI pest that strikes one TODAY nav
strike another Tomorrow. Accordingly fhe I
high spirits Of an ebbed away, and ths ban 40
gsily begun esms te an untimely close Two I
or tbres officers went to seek the doctor In bis
quarters, lsts it was, to learn the truth. TIE
doctor was fbsent He was at Capt. c.
bungalow, The servant said. He had sent for
bis portable medicine chest. Also TIE phvsi
clan 20 the forces and the marine surgeon
bad been called up. The next morning, when
most Of The officers were at breakfast in the
bsrrsek mess-room, subsltern entered has
tlT:
"Hsvs yen beard about poor Mrs. G--5D
eWhst? Desdw
L was ever 50. She had been cut down in
ths very pride Of her beauty, like some qneenly
flower. Il was sWfHlly sudden L threw
gloon, FOR a while, even over merry, sckly, !
feE'ivs-lovinz Hong Kong. Il broke bsr hus-
bandis life and hope Il blow. He never was
seen to smile after her loss; be shrunk away
from his old fisads; be Jeff TIE Fifes, exchsng-
ing into regiment that was serving IN Upper
India, snd died Of fever IN the Tersl. Poor
Gondiel ] have taken some liberties With the
names Of those concsrDed, but there are net
few living who viii be able to recognize, under