The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-03-06
[F1'om The -New York Sunday Times.
MY FIRST NtGHT~cALL.
CONCLUDED.


My patient I found to be lovely
young woman of about eighteen. Her
beauty was of the purest Anglo
Saxon type; her hair fell unconfned
in masses ofrippling gold over her pill
low, and her rounded arm rivalled in
fairness and .lustre the snowy satin
coverlet on which it rested. She ut
tered not word as I appeared, but
her large blue eyes fixed themselves
on mine with an expression I knew
we'll how to interpret. I answered
the mute appeal by silent pressure
of the small hand which was held out
to me; but, knowing that the couple
outside were closely on the watch, I
did not venture on any explicit COM
munication of my hopes and inten-
tions respecting her.
Not more than half an hour elapsed
before the first wall of an infnnt
should have broken in upon the
stiffness of the apartment. But I
had taken measures, effectual, yet
harmless, to suppress this earliest
signal of independent existence. The
babe, q female, perfectly formed,
and giving every indication of health
and vigor, lay motionless as corpse
IN my arms. 1 had placed the mo-
ther under the influence of chloro-
form, and she remained insensible to
my subsequent proceedings
Having wrapped the child carefully,
but closely, in some linen clothes
which were at hand, I stepped forth,
carrying it with me, to confront.
and, if possible. outwit its would-be
murderers. The madman, with ashen
cheek and trembling in every limb,
started from his seat, and glared with
horror as I stood before him. The
negress rose also, and, with hideous
grin, stretched out her arms to re-
ceive my burden. Without noticing
her, L drew the man aside, and said:
II could have no scruple in doing
as you desired, for the creature I
hold in my arms is indeed monster
the most hideous and remarkable I
have ever beheld or heard of. can
not allow you to see it, for the shock
might be dangerous to you. You
have spoken to me of remuneration.
ALI the reward ask, is that you will
permit me to take this body with
me, to be dissected, and preserved
where none will ever seek to pry into
its history or origin"
Even at first, the madman had
visibly shrunk from the vicinity of
the child. He now recoiled with
averted face, and faltered forth, with
. gesture of the deepest adherence
and disgust. eyes, yes, doctor; for
Gods sake, take it from my sightp'
turned, and was about to make
my exit with all possible speed, when
the black beldame confronted me,
and, holding out her arms rs before,
while malignant glance shot from
hel dilated orbs, said, in kissing
whisper, "Let old nanny see it,
doctor; she will not be frightened"
$50 in there" 1 replied, pointing
to the curtain, behind which sounds
were now heard indicating that the
hapless mother was recovering from
her artificial stnpor-"Go in, and
attend to your mistress!'
The old witch covered before nv
look and tone like one of the inferior
animals when rebuked by man, crept
behind the curtain, and I saw her no
more.
G"Now, SIR" said, turning to my
most. "there is nothing, 1 believe,
which need detain me farther"
Still shaking with fear, and care
fuiiy avoiding the sight of what I
carried, the wretched man preceded
me down stairs to the room I had
first entered. Here he insisted ON
my taking the gold he had shown
me, and, under the peculiar circum-
stances. l felt no hesitation in ac-
cepting the gift. The bag which
contained it was placed on the seat
OF the carriage, which had been kept