The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-01-04

but what that, irving
My wife started nervously as sharp
peal at the bell interrupted our brief inter
! val of domestic quiet.
/ Ouly the surgery bell, my dear. Some
body wanting NE, { suppose.
And went down stars, secretly won
dering TO myself. If, after all, there was
such very wide difference between galley
slave and country doctor.
The surgery door stood wide open, but
nobody was there, and through the binding
darkness without could just discern the
black outline of close carriage, and a man
standing at the horses head
Nv hats there whats wanting?" |
asked coming to the threshold, and instinct
lively buttoning up the overcoat [ had hur-
riedly thrown on.
on 'renwanted, DOCTOR" said the man,
speaking iAdistinctly behind the muffiing
that surrounded his face.
Yes, but what for? Who wants me ?"
Il am not at liberty to tell"
| had already entered the carriage, but
! this suspicious answer inspired me with
distrust. [ made step to descend, but [
was too late. The vehicle was already in
motion.
tits qeite unnecessary to alarm yourself,
doctor, said a quiet, measured voice at my
side. Believe me, you are quite safe !;
and trust you will not feel any uneasiness
when | tell yov that you must be blind
/ folded.'
! At the same instant folded bandage
was softly slipped over my eyes.
Hold p calculated. 1T strokes me
that is rather superfuous. The night is
dark as Elebus, and you have no lamp"
Possibly" returned the dry voice !;
but it is best to run no risk.
And then ensued silence of some ten or
| fifteen minutes while the carriage rolled
swiftly along, and the low. measured
breathing of my unknown companion kept
time to my own uncomfortable thoughts.
At length my companion spoke, again IN
the same soft, modulated tones.
''Docter, one more little precaution is
necessary-you promise never to divulge
to human soul word of this nights visit. y
hesitated.
Il cannot bind myself to any such cove
nant. The relations between physician
and patient are of course confidential !;
but
The carriage paused abruptly here, and
/ the door was swung open. at the same
/ instant something cold touch ed my temples.
1t was the muzzle OF a pistol. l recolled IN
horror. -
You surely would not murder me?"
GU promise, doctor?"
81 promise |" | gasped, recoiing once
more from the chilling touch of the cold
steel at ma temples.
Very well. Comet
] | was led up a narrow walk, through a
doorway, into a room where the bandage
was removed suddenly from eyes.
(, 70 q
runous cottage, long since abandoned to
decay, in the very heart of dense, swampy
/ woods. How the carriage had ever reached
it, was at a loss to know. Upon a pile of
/ straw hurriedly thrown into the corner of
/ the Wondering floor, lay PROSTATE figure,
/ moaning at every breath His face was
concealed BY handkerchief, and the blood
was slowly dripping from a gunshot wound
! just above the ankle--a wound that had
/ been clumsily bandaged by some unskillful
F, hand Moreover, there was dark red
/ stain upon the straw where his head lay,
and bis light. brogn hair was matted with
coagulated drops Two or three men stood
around, with rude masks of black cloth
drawn over their faces, in which three Sits
were cut for the eyes and mouth and fe-
male figure knelt behind the heap of straw
velled closely.
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 patient. As 81
lent.y | stopped and examined both wounds
"Well?'' asked my carriage compan-
ion.
Il can do nothing. The man must
! die"
Nonsense! A mere bullet through the
| leg what does that amount TOP hurried
ly gasped the man.
'In itself, not much; but that blow upon
the skull must prove fatal I"
\ low half suppressed cry broke from
the woman opposite. She tore the veil
from her face, as if she could not breathe
through It's heavy folds, revealing features
as white and beautiful in their marble ag-
ony as so much sculptured stone. She did
not seem more than thirty. but afterwards
knew that she was indeed ten years older.
But, in spite of her present anguish, how
granoly beautiful she wasi Large dark
eyes-llair like coiled gold, catching strange
CLEANS from the shifting lanterns-and a
broad, smooth brow-it was face you see
but once in whole lifetime.
And yet, in the midst of her distress,
she never spoke.
SAT least you can do something for him,
doctor?' said my interlocutor, impatiently.
Don let Us waste time here.
As proceeded in my ministrations, the
noaning grew fainter and fainter, the con-
vuisive movements became scarcely pre-
cep,ible. A faint gleam Of hope lighted
up the face of the woman who knelt with
clasped hands opposite; she looked appeal
ingly at me.
He is better-he is surely better?"
He will be better soon,' l answered,
moved to pity in spite of myself. "He
cannot live half an hour longer.
The horror of that sepulchral silence
that fell upon US as my accents died away
shall [ ever forget it.? And five minutes
afterwards the breathing, spasmodic and
painful to hear, died into eternal Stiffness
The woman lifted the corner of the hand
kerchief, and gazed into the CHASTITY face
1t was that of a young man of about two
and-twenty, and who had evidently been
marvellously good looking.
ooh, heavens he is dead!
Her clear, agonized voice was ringing in
my ears, as they led me back into the
darkness Of the night. felt a bank note