Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1866-08-25
the DOCTORS ADVENT uRE.

"And now we'll have a cosy comfort
able evening together said my wife,
"And-But what's that, Irving p
My wife started nervousIy as a sharp
peal at the bell interrupted our brief in
! lerval Of domestic quiet.
"OoIy the office bell, my dear some
body wanting me, l suppose"
And went down stairs, secretly won.
dering TO myself If, after all, there was
such very wide difference between 4
galley slave and a country doctor
The of1ice door stood wide open, but
nobody was there, and through the olind.
ing darkness Without could just discern
the black outline of close carriage, and
. man standing at the horses head.
"Who's there !-what's wauting?' |
asked, coming to the Threshold, and in,
stinctlvely butsoning up the overcost l
had hurriedy thrown on.
"Youre wanted, Doctor,' said the
man. speaking ind.s,inctIy behind the
mufiling tlat surrounded his face.
"Ye,, bu. what for? Who wants me 2"
81 am not at liberty to tell
had already entered the carriage, bat
this suspicious answer Inspired me with
distrust. | made a step to descend but
was too late, the carriage was already in
/ motion.
" 1t is quite unnecessary to alarm your
self, Doctor,' SAID quiet, measured voice
at my side. Believe me, you are quite
safe, aud trust you will feel no uneas-
ness when | tell you that you must be
bIiLdtoded."
Aud at the same instant folded band
age was deity slipped over my eyes.
Hold + calculated. lit strikes me
this is rather superhuous. The night is
dark ss Erebus, and you have no lamp
Possibly" returned The dry voice :;
but it is best to run no risks
And then ensued u silence Of some ten
or fifteen minutes, while the carriage
rolled swiftly along, aud the low, meas
ured breathing Of my unknown compan-
ion KEEP time 10 my own unco miortable
Thoughts.
Al length my companion pike again
in the same soft, modulated tones
Doctor! One more little precau,ion
Is necessary; your promise never to d.
vulge word Of this nights visit to any
human SOUL"
! hesita,ed.
~ Cannot bind myself by any euch
covenant The relations between physi-
clan aud patient ure Of course conilen-
tiai hut"
Tbs carriage paused abruptly here, and
the door Was swung open. At the same
instant something cold touched my ten
pes-it was the muzzle Of u pistol. re-
coiled in horror.
You surely would not murder me ?"
Your promise, Doctor p
IL promise gasped, recoili-g once
more from the chilling touch Of The cold
steel at my temples.
"Very well. Come"
was led up nsrrew walk, through a
doorway, into room, where the bandage
was moved suddenly from my eyes.
The spot was very familiar to me-a
ruinous cottage, long since abandoned to
decay, in the very Leart Of dense, swampy
woods. How the carriage had ever reach
ed it was at a loss to know. Up,n a
pile Of straw, hurried!y thrown into the
corner OF the mouidering floor, lay u
PROSTATE figure, moaning at every breath.
His face was concealed by handkerchief
and the blood was slowly dripping iron
a gunshot wound just above the ankle
wound that had been e!umsily bandaged d
by some unskilltul hand. Moreover.
there was dark red stain upon the straw
where his head lay, and his light brown
hair was matted with coagulated drops.
Two or three men stood around, with
rude marks of black cloth drawn over
their faces, iu which three Sits were cut
for their eyes and mouth, and a female
figure kneit beside The heap of straw,
closely veiIed.
The men silently made way for me as
advanced into the apartment, and held
their lanterns SO that the lurid light should
fall full upon my strange palien,. As
silently | stopped, and critically examin-
cd both wounds.
"Well p asked my carriage conpan-
ion.
II can DO nothing. The man must
die"
Nonsense A mere bullet through
the leg-what does that amount lo?"
hurried!y gasped the man.
. In itself not much; but that blow
upon the skull must prove fatal"
A low, halt suppressed cry broke from
the woman opposite; shc tore the veil
from her face, as if she could not breath
through its heavy folds, revealing features
a. whit, and beautiful in their marble
agony as so much sculp'ured stone
Large dark eyes-hair like coiled gold,
catching stsange CLEANS from the shifting
lanterns-and broad, smooth brcw--it
was y face you see but once in lie time.
And yee, in the midst of her distress,
she never spoke.
AT least you can do something for
him, Doctor said my in,erlocutor, i'm
patiently. "Dor't let us waste time"
AS | proceeded 10 my miuislrations,
the moaning grew fainter and fainter,
the conynlsiye movements became scarce
ly perceptibls. A faint CLEAN OF hope
lighted up the face of th, woman, who
knel' with clasped hands opposite she
looked appealingly at me. ...
He 10 better-hs is surely better?'
HE will bs better soor," ! answered,