Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1863-11-04
The Maniac Doctor.

It must be confessed that it is a very
provoking thing to receive a letter on
Christmas morning, calling you two hun
dred miles away on immediate and i'm
portant business. Yes, it is very pro-
voking thing, indeed-at least [ found it
so, both in anticipation and and in very
deed; but there was no help for it.
Shocks, my lawyer, wrote and told me
that if on the %, [ was not at o., |
should probably lose-never mind what,
but something which induced me to pack
my portmanteau in all haste, send for a
hanson, and drive to the X Y. H. Sta
ton. When [ arrived there, [ found |
was too late for the train that I had wish
ed to catch, and that the next one did not
start for three quarters of an hour In
wardly cursing my i'll fortune, I went to
the waiting room and endeavored to make
myself comfortable; but despite all my at
tempts | think never knew time to pass
so slowly in all my life, except certain
twenty minutes about which [ am going
to tell.
Although, as I said, the time went very
slowly, nevertheless it did go; and, in
process of time, [ found myself snugly
enconsed in a frst-class carriage, which
had but one occupant besides myself,
cheerful looking little old man. with gray
hair and strange, restless look about the
eyes. As [ got into the carriage he ad-
dressed me in a familiar way
A merry Christmas is YOU"
"The same to you" said | rather gruff-
ly, as | was not in the best of humors,
and did not feel inclined to be cheerful
and peighborly.
Why, bless me. sir" said the little
old man, renewing the attack, "you have
not anything wherewith to keep yourself
warm on this cold winters day; allow me
to offer you one Of my travelling wrappers.
[ always take care to be well provided
with such things when [ go on journey"
And my companion took from his side
rolled up rug, unrolled it, and taking a
small mahogany box from the folds, threw
the rug to me.
"Thank yon sir" said 7, feeling in
spite of. myself, a shade more cheerful.
ooh, no thanks-no thanks do it
for my own benefit, not yours, I assure
you"
How do you make that out ~
"Why, I like to have comfortable
face opposite me; and besides, the grand
experiment, you know"
"What grand experiment [ asked,
somewhat startled by the mans excited
manner.
"Oh nothing,-nothing," said he col
oring violently, F." only-that is to say
exactly, are you Freemason 2"
"No sir"
Not Freemason? Why, bless me !!
you ought most certainly to become one" J"
"Why so z"
Because you would then know that
| they have got sort of-that is to say
in fact, a secret.
know that already"
Really? [ declare you are the most
extraordinary man ever met. Well I've
got secret, too, and that's my grand ex-
pertinent
Gas it's secret, [ suppose you will
not tell me what it is?''
"Oh, yes, will though, perhaps
I had better not never mind, I'll tell
you; it is simply this, to discover what
are the different feelings of different per-
sons on different occasions"
81 should hardly call that an expert
ment."
Wouldn't you now? Curious, that /;
yes, very curious, for, to tell you the truth,
[ don't know myself, whether | am JUS
titled in calling it an experement. But
enough of that matter for the present.
May I ask where you are going?
"To C."
:" Have you any friends there ?"
None I am sorry to say, [ am called
ther on some disagrecable though import
ant business.
Then may have the pleasure of your
company to dinner when we arrive there %