The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-01-22


Ensasa,s The rrisInyys Of Confederate 6Olfjiert
and Ministers of the Gospel! VINO are unable
to take . paper. and we VIII send them the
JOB work done Mt BaIti,nore rates, for Cash
Correspondents .M.v 1ll naS5ss yrRGrxrAN..
EFron Southern Society.
THE L9s1.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY 4. n
MILLER.
In the fall Of 1882 the celebrates surgeon
Louis Thevepet, then practicing at Calais,
received an anonymous letter asking him to
come on the next day to a country house
near the road to Paris, and to bring with him
everything necessary for an anputation.
Thevenet was known far and wide as the
most skillful man in his profession. It would
have been nothing strange if he had been
called across the channel to England for the
sake of his professional services, but still he
wondered at this letter. Time, hour, place,
were all specified with the greatest exactness
,ohen and acbere he was expected but, as we
have said, the note had no signature. Prob
ably, some one wishes to send me on "a FOOLS
errand," thought he, and he did not go.
Three days afterward he received SINH
lar invitation even more pressing, adding
that at nine o clock the next morning car
riage would stop at his house, to convey him
to the place designated In fact, as the clock
struck nine q pretty, open carriage appeared :
and Theyenet with no further delay sprang
inte it. M
"Who has sent for me {" he asked as be
got in.
II don't know" answered the driver, "and
I don't care"
"a pleasant. beginning" thought Theye-
net
The carriage stopped at last at the country
house which had been described in the let
ter. 'sWho lives here? who is sick hereF
asked Theyenet as he got out.
The driver gave the same answer as before,
and Theyenet, not very we'll satisfnd turned
toward the house. At the door handsome
young man appearing to be about twenty eight
or thirty years old, received him, and con-
Quoted him up stairs into q large chamber
The young mans language showed him to be
an Englishman.
sYou have sent for met" said Theyenet
in English, after the usual salutations had
been couateously given on both sides
II am much obliged to you for coming"
answered the Englishman ssTake seat,
sir; here is chocolate, coffee, wine. You had
better take lunch before you commence the
operation"
sThank you; but [ must FIRST see the pa
tient and decide whether amputation is nee
essary"
sit is necessary, Doctor Thevenet; take q
seat and hear me out have perfect conf
dcnce in you. Here is purse Of two hun
dred guineas. promise them to you as
your fee for the operation which you are to
perform. It makes no difference whether
you are successful or not. On the other
| hand, if you hesitate to execute my wishes,
here is loaded pistol, you are in my power,
| and will blow your brains out"
"Sir, Iam not afraid of your pistol. What
do you want !? Only say the word without
any more cireumlocutions What am | to
do here
"You must cut off my leg"
"Very willingly, sir, if you wish it, and
your head, too. But SO far as can see, the
leg appears to be perfectly sound. You
sprang up the stairs before me like rope
ldancer. What is the matter with the leg T.
"Nothing, but want to be rid Of it"
"You are fool"
"That is none Of your business, Dr.. The
| venet."
.What crime has the beautiful leg com
mittedY
"None but are you going to take it ~
"Excuse me- sir, do not know you. You
must give me proof that you are in your
right mind"
'sAre you going to do what ask, Dr.. The
venet 7"
"As soon as you give me Q reasonable
ground for doing it."
| Il cannot tell you the truth now, perhaps
| I can in year or So But will tell you,
Doctor, that you yourself will say year
| from now that my reasons are the noblest
possible"
II will not bet, sir, for you have not told
me your name, your place Of residence, your
family, or your business"
Cali that you shall know presently, not
now However, | will tell you that I am a
nobleman."
"a noblsman does not threaten his ply
stefan with pistol. I have duties even to-
ward you, unknown as you are. I will not
main you unnecessarily. If you wish to
murder an innocent man, shoot OF"
Every we'll, Doctor, " said the Englishman,
taking up the pistol. 4 will not shoot you
but will compel you to take of my leg
What you will not do out Of kindness, nor
flor the love of the reward, nor from fear
Of bullet, you must do ost Of pity"
/ Glow SO, sir {"
Il will break my own leg With q bullet
here before your eyes. The Englishman
sat down, and put the nuzzle Of the pistol to
| his knee. Thevenet s,about to spring for.
ward and take the pistol From him. "Don't
move" said the Englishnsan, ANSWER me ons
question will you needlessly increase ans
lengthen my pain z
You are fool, sir; but III right; l vii
/ take Of your cursed leg" ia "
All was prepared fer the operation Al
soon as the Doctor was ready to begin, tt,
Englishman lit his pipe, and swore i SHOULD
not go out. e He kept his word The leg LAY
on the floor ;sthc Englishman was still smok
ing.
| Theveret did his work like master. b
1 III az rationt was cured IN a tnlarah),