The Portland daily press., 1867-02-07

Tar OH, Will SUCH instruments as were neceS-
sary for an amputation. Thevenet was some
what surprised at tie manner of the invita-
tion, but concluding it was the work of some
wag, paid no regard to it. Three days after
he received second invitation still more
pressing, and containing the information that
the next day at nine O'Clock carriage would
stop before his house in order to convey him.
Ihevenet resolved to let the affair take its
course, and when, on the following day, at the
strokinS OF the clock, an elegant carriage stop
ped before the door, he seated himself in it,
and asked the driver to whom he was to car
ry himp
The driver replied in English-"What 1 do
not know | cannot tell"
At length the carriage stopped before the
door of the hotel A handsome young man
OF about twenty eight years OF age, received
the surgeon at the door, and conducted him
up stairs into large chamber, where the fol
towing conversation took place:
"You have sent for me?"
81 am much obliged to you for the trouble
you have taken to visit me. Here is coffee,
chocolate, or wine, if you would take anything
before the operation"
"Show me the patient, sir; must first as
certain whether the injury is such as to rem
der an amputation necessary" ua.a eli i,
1T Is necessary. Doctor, seat yourself;
have perfect confidence in you-listen to me.
Here is purse of one hundred guineas; this
is the pay you will receive for the operation
If done successfully it is yours. Should you
refuse to comply with my wishes, see, here is
loaded pistol. You are in my power; will
shoot you.' M
"Sir, am not afraid of your pistols But
what is your particular desire? Tell me
without preamble. d f3tt
"You must cut off my right leg"
"With all my heart and, If you please, your
hnad Sut 10 aO ic
up stairs just now with the agility of dane
ing master. What ails your leg?'
Nothing. l only want it off"
"Sir, you are foOl" ea1 e. -.a....ts . t
"Why does that trouble you?
"What sin has the leg committed?"
None; but are you ready to take it oT?"
"Sir, do not know. Bring me evidence
that you ale sound of mind"
"Will you comply with my request ?"
Yes, sir, so soon as you give me sufficient
reasons for such mutilation of yourself"
IL cannot tell you the truth, perhaps, for
some years; but will lay a wager that after
certain time you shall understand that my
reasons are most noble-that my happiness,
my very existence, depend upon my being
free from this leg"
Sir, lay no wagers. Tell me your name,
residence, family, and occupation"
"You shall know all that hereafter Do
Joo o"hO AhO iOl oil AOuOIdDt HAL
4 cannot. A man OF honor does not
threaten his physicians with pistols. have
duties toward you as a stranger. / will not
mutl.ate you, Ii you wish to be the murder
er of a guiltless father of family, then
shoot" ~
"WeIl, Mr.. Thevenet, I will not shoot you /;
but will force you to take off my leg. What
you will not for the love of money, nor the
fear OF bullet you shall do for compassion"
"And how so?"
81 will break my leg by discharging my pis-
tolls, and here before your eyes,"
Inc Englisnman seated himself, and placed
the mouth of che pistol close to his knees.
Thevenet was on the point of springing to
prevent him, but be exclaimed
"Stir not, or 1 firel Now" said he, awill
you increase and lengthen out my pains for
nothingp' hl
"You are fool,0 says Thevenet, shut it
shall be done. will take off the unfortunate
leg"
The Englishman calmly laid by the pistols,
and all was made ready lOr the operation. AS
soon as the surgeon began to cut, The English
man lighted his pipe, and swore it should not
go out He kept his word The leg lay upon
- the floor. and the Enelislman was still smok-
ing. Thevenet did hIs work like master I;
the wound, by his skill, and the patients own
good nature, was healed at a fixed time. He
rewarded the surgeon like king, and thank
ed him with tears of joy for the loss of his
leg, and sailed over the streets on a wooden
one. About eight weeks after his departure,
Thevenet received letter from England with
the following contents:
You will receive inclosed, as proof of nv
most heartfelt gratitude, an order for two
hundred and fifty guineas upon Mons. Panch.
ard III Paris. You have made me the happiest
mortal on earth in depriving me of nv leg. for
1t was the only hindranee to my earthly felici-
~. Brave man, you may now know the cause
OF my foolish humor as you called it,
you concluded at the time, that there could
De no reasonable ground for such self-mutla-
tlon. offered to lay wager; you did well in
IN not accepting it. After my second return
with Emile Harley, the most perfect of wom-
en-. L loved her passionately. Her wealth,
her family connections influenced my friends
IN her favor; but was influenced only by her
beauty and her noble heart l ioined the
number of her admirers. All! excellent
Ihevenet was so fortunate as to gain her
affections. She loved me above alI-inade no
secret OF it-but she still rejected me. 1
sought her hand in vain; in vain I
impIored her parents and friends To
lntercede for me. She was still immovable.
For long time was unable to conjecture
the cause Of her refusing me; since as she con-
iessed herself she loved me almost to distrac-
tlon. one OF her visitors at length betrayed to
me the secret. Miss Harley was wonder of
beauty, but she had only one leg; and on ac-
count of this imperfeotion she feared to be-
come my wife, lest should esteem her the less
tor 1t. My resolution was taken. I resolved
to become like her; thanks to you L became
so. i! came with my wooden leg to London,
and in the first place visited Miss Harley
1t had been reported, and myself had writ
ten to England, that by fall from horse, I
had broken my leg, which was Consequently
taken of. Emile fell into swoon the first
time she saw me. She was for long time
lnconsolable, but now she is my wife. The
mrs nrst day after our marriage intrusted to her
the secret OF what sacrifice had made in
consequence of my wish to obtain her hand
she loves me now, the more affectionatelv
On, my brave Thevenet had 1 ten legs To
lose, would without a single contortfon of
feature, part with them all for my Emile.
80 long as live l will be greatful to Won.
Come to London-visit us-become acouai11tad
WIN my wife, and then say was fool
CHARLES TEMPLE, BART"
ANSWER OF DR. THEvENEr.
AStr-I thank you for your valuable nresant.
tor SO must call it, for cannot consider il q
reward for the little trouble was at / con-
gratulate you on your marriage with woman
30 worthy OF your affections. 1t is true a leg
is much to lose, even for a beautiful, virtuous'
and affectionate wife-but not too much. To
gam possession of Eve, Adam was Obliged to
part with rib; and beautiful women have
oit some men their heads, But after all, per-
mt me to adhere to my former iudgment
Truly, for the moment You were corract h..
WIN TINS dlfference; the correctness ~ INV
judgment was founded on long experienced ~
every truth should be, which We are not I;s s'
posed to acknowledge. Sir. mind mo iou- ui'
wager, that after two years Won viii ry iay |
that your leg was taken off above tho IPon' IP
You will find that below the kneo ne hna hnee. 1.
enough. After three years Won will he Deeh "ss
vinced that the loss of the foot had hoo, S,ir
ficient. After four years you conclude that
the sacrifice OF the great toe, and after five |
years of the little toe, had been too much AZ |
ter six years you will agree with me that the |
pairing of nail had been enough But 90 |
not say this in prejudice of the merits of yonr
charming wife. In my yenth devoted myself !
10 love, but never parted with leg. Had |
done SO, should at this day, have said, The |
Venet thou vast fool
have the honor to be, yours, ETC.,
"LEwIs THEvENET"
p Erven years after, during the horrors of the
nevo,u1oh, Ihevenet, whom person that en-
wed his reputation caused to he susnecteS Of
f.o,'' a. ned to Londen to save him eff
Ttnr, frpr sns r. guliiotlne. He inquired after Sir
Hnalies Temple, and was shown his honSo -
ne maze himself known, and was rooo;',
In an armchair by the fire, surronnSeI ,eSeiVed.
twenty newspapers, sat a corpulent mar py
could haridy stand up, he was SO unu;aII, VINO
"Ah, welcome, DOCTOR" cried the cor,,,yy
man, who was no other than Sir CharIas TeEt Tsl
pie; "excuse me ii do not rise This o,,,ai, nen,
leg Is hinderance to me in everytbino Ve' seu
have come to see ifyour judgment was corl Uu
rect" 'oi-
1t