Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-02-28
A DOCTORS STORY.

-AAtu iAtN VT II AdNt Il fpLNs fUlnl0TLdDie
evening together, - said my wife. - And
but what's that, Irying?"
My wife started neryouslv. at a sharp peal
from the bels
Only the bell, my dear Somebody
wanting me, | suppose"
And ! went down stairs. secretly wonder
ing to myself if after all, there was such
very wide difference between a galley slave
and Il country doctor
The surgery door stood wide open. but
nobody was there, and through the binding
darkness without | could discern the dark
outline of a close carriage. and 4 man stand
ing at the horses head
- Who's there what's wanting?"
asked, coming to the threshold and instinct
iyely buttoning up the oyercoat | had hurri-
edly thrown on.
" Your wanted, doctor, said the man,
speaking indistinctly behind the muffing
that surrounded his face.
- Y es, but what for? Who wants me -
=. am not at liberty to tell
had already entered the carriage, but
this suspicious answer inspired me with dis
tIust. made a step to descend, but | was
too late. The vehicle was already in mo-
ton.
II 10 4ullt ullllINtHnttlN " dAdih tOAA-
self, doctor, - said quiet, measured voice at
my side. " Believe me, you are quite safe ;
and trust you will feel no uneasiness when
l tell you must be blindfolded. "
And at the same instant folded bandage
was deity slipped over my eyes.
- Hold - | calculated. 1t strikes me
that this is rather super1uous. The night is
dark as Erebus, and you have no lamp
- Possibly" returned the dry voice but
1t If best 10 run no risks
And then ensued a silence of some ten or
fifteen minutes, while the carriage rolled
swiftly along, and the low, measured breath
ing Of my unknown companion kept time 10
my own uncomfortable thoughts.
At length my companion spoke again in
the same soft, modulated tones
" Doctor, one more little precaution is ne
eessary-your promise never to divulge to
human soul a word of this nights visit
/ hesitated.
- | cannot bind myself by any such cove
nant The relation 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 touched my temple. 1t WAS
the muzzlc of a pistol. | rccoiled in hor-
rOr.
q" You surely would not murder me p
- You promise. doctor?'
Z" promise - ! gasped, recoiling once
more from the chilling touch Of the cold steel
at my temples.
" Very well come -
| was led up a narrow walk, through
doorway, into room, where the bandage
was removed suddenly from my eyes.
The spot was very familiar to me-a ruin
Ous cottage. long since abandoned 10 decay,
80 the very heart of dense, swampy woods.
How the carriage had ever reached it was
at q loss to know Upon pile Of straw,
burneily thrown into the corner of the
mGuiderang aoor, lay PROSTATE figure moan
pg nj every breath. His face was concealed
bv handkerchief. and the blood was slowly
drinr ing from gunshot wound Just above
the ank le-a wound which had been clumsi-
IL bandao ed by some unskiilful hand. More
cver tbere vas a dark red stain on the straw
where his hea lay, and his light brown hair
was matted with coagulated drops. Two or
three men stood around, with rude Hs&sks of
black cloth drawn over their faces. in which
three Sits were cut for the eyes and mouth ,
and n female figure knelt behind the heap OF
straw, veiled closely.
The men silently made way for me as ad-
yanced into the apartment and held their
lanterns 50 that the lurid light should fall
full upon my strange patient. ~ silently
stopped and examined both wounds.
" Well , asked my carriage comIanion.
- | can do nothing. lie must die
- Nonsense A mere bullet through the
the leg-what does that amount 10 - hurri
edly gasped the man.
4" In itself. not much but that blow upon
the skull must prove fatal.
- 4 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 whit
and beautiful in their marble agony as S
much sculptured stone. She did not seer
more than thirty, but | afterwards knew tha
she was indeed more than ten years Older
But in spite of her present anguish, ho'
.,randly beautiful she was Large dar
eyes-hair like coiled gold, catching strang
CLEANS from the shifting lanterns-and
broad, smooth brow-it was face you sc
but once in a lifetime
And yet, in the midst of her distress sh
never spoke.
" Al least you can do something for hin
doctor r. said my interlocutor, inpatient,
- Don't let us waste time here"
As proceeded in my ministrations, tn
moaning grew fainter and fainter, the cor
vulsive movements became scarcely precept
BILE. A faint glcam Of hope lighted up tt
face of the woman opposite she looked a
pealingly at me.
= He is better-he is surely better ~
"a He will be soon.'' answered, moved
pity in spite of myself " He cannot Ii
half an hour longer"