The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-02-01
Misfell
A DOCTORS STORY.
A Curious Professional Adventure.

~ Sohhoob AIohC1nAouhl hoVCukotOe
"And now well have a cozy. comforta.
bic evening together said my wife, "and
but what's that, lrving?"
My wife startled nervously as sharp
peal ut the bell interrupted our brief inter-
val Of domestic quiet
"Only the surgery bell, my dear. Some
body wanting the, suppose"
And went down stairs, secretly won
dering to myself IL, after all, the,e was
such very wide difference between a gal.
Icy slave and a country doctor.
The surgery door stood wide open, but
nobody was there, and through the blind
ing darkness without could discern the
dark outline Of close carriage, and man
standing at the horses head.
"Who's there ?-what's wanting"
asked, coming to the threshold and instinct.
lively bu,toning up the overcoat I had hur-
riedly thrown on.
"You're wanted, DOCTOR" said the man,
speaking indis,inctly behind the mufiling
that surrounned his face.
eyes. but what for? Who wants me ?"
81 am not at liberty to tell."
had already entered the carriage, hut
his suspicious answer inspired me with
dis,rust. made step to descend, but ]
was too late. The carriage was in motion.
at Is quite unnecessary to alarm your.
SELF DOCTOR" said quiet measured voice
at my side. "Belicve me, you are quite
safe and trus, you will not feel any un-
casinos, when l tell you that you must be
blind.folded."
And ut the same instant folded hand.
age was defly slipped over my eyes.
1Hold!" I calculated. "lt strikes me
that this is rather supcrtluous. The night
is dark as Erebus. and you have no lamp"
"Possibly," returned The dry voice; but
il Is best to run no risks"
And then cnsued silence Of some ten
or fifteen minutes, while the carriage rolled
swiftly along, and the low, measured breathe
ing Of my unknown companion kept time
to my own uncomfortable thoughts.
At length my companion spoke again in
the same soft, modulated tones.
"Doctor, one more little precauiion Is
neccssary-your promise never to divulge
to human soul word Of this nights visit"
Ihesitated.
81 cannot bind myself by any such COW
enant. The relations between physician
aud patient are Of course confidential +;
but"
The carriage paused abruptly herr, and
the door was swung open. At the samo
instant something cold touched my temples
II was the muzxle Of pistol. ! rccoiled
In horror.
"You surely would no, murder me7"
"You promise, doctor ="
~ Ipromise!" I gasped, rccoiling once
moro from the chilling touch Of tho cold
steel at my temples.
"yey well Como" OIL.
was led up narrow walk, through q
doorway, into room, whore the bandage
was removed suddenly from my eyes.
The spot was familiar to me-a ruinous
eo,tnge, long since abandoned to decay, In
the very heart Of dense swampy woods.
How the carriage hal ever reached II was
at loss to know. Upon pile Of straw,
hurriodly thrown into tho corner Of the
mouldcring floor, lay prostrate figure
moaning at every breath. His face was
concealed by a handkerchief; and the blood
was slowly dripping from gunshot wound
which had been clumsily bandagcd by
some unskillful hand. Moreover there was
dark red stain on the straw where his
head lay, and his light brown hair was
matted with coagulated drops Two or
three men stood around, with rude masks
OF black cloth drawn over their fsces, in
which three Sits were cut for the eyes and
mouth /; and female figure knelt behind
the heap Of straw. veiled closely.
The men silently made way for mo as ]
advanced into tho apartment, and held their
lanterns so that the lurid light should fall
full upon my strange patient A. silently
I stopped and examined both wounds
"Wsll?" asked my carriage companion.
II can do nothing. The man must die"
aNonsense! A mere bullet through the
leg-what does that amount to huriedly
gaspcd the man. OIL.
sln ITSELF not much but that blow upon
the skull mus, prove fatal"
A low, halfsupprcssed cry broke from
the woman opposite. She tore tho veil
from her face, as if she could not breath
through its heavy folds. revealing features
as white and beautiful in their marble ago.
ny as 20 much sculptured stone. She did
not seem more than thirty. but ! afterwards
knew ,ha, she was indeed ten years older.
But, In spite Of her present anguish, how
grandly beautiful she was! Largo dark
eyes-hsir like coiled gold, catching stpnge
CLEANS from the shifting lanterns land q
broad smooth brow-it was a face you sec
bot once in whole lifetime.
And yet, in the midst Of her distress, she
never spoke. ..
aAt least, you can 'lo so~sihiSg for him,
doc,or7" said my interlocutor. impasicntly
sDont lot ms waste time hero"
As I proceeded in my ministraiions, the
moaning grew iaiussr and fain,e', tho con-
vulsive movements became scarcely per
cep,ible. A faint slcam Of hope lighted
up tho face Of the woman who knelt with
elaspei hands opposite she looked appeal