Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-07-14
THE SURGEONS STORY.

"Wi you hu; my body, sir2'
|, Charles Markham, young physician,
was sitting alone in duSky little room that
the sign without dignifed with the tile of
office" when these words fell upon my
ears. | had just returned from yisitilg the
few patients | could boast of, thoroughly
hcartsick at the want of humanity in theworld
wet to the skin ami more than half frozen.
| cannot remember a worse night, in all
respects. twas cold rs the Arctic regions,
and the Slect that ratified upon the windows
soon covered them with coating Of ice. 1t
had stormed heavily all the day. the stores
were closed, and the side walk vcnders had
gone under shelter.
God help any one who is forced to be
abroad tonight" had been my thought as
hurried along after finishing my Drofes-
sionaI duties and while breasting my way
humcwari
| had scarcely reached home, changed my
saturated garments, coaxei the sparkling
anthracite into a cheerful glow, and began
building castles in Spain of the time when
] should have lucrative practice, ride in
rariage, and own = brown stone front.
when the strange and heart chilling words
fell upon my ears, causing all my pleasant
f,nces to drift away in an instant.
VIII YOU buy my body, sir y
/ Sprang from rly easy chair, droni,inc
ny we'll colored mcer>chaum III MY aston
isiirlC'it, and turned to see who it was that,
like P6c's raven, had uttered the turfible
words
VIII you buy uy b )dy, sir?''
The question was repeated for the second
time before had sulfi i ,uly recovered my
self-bctnrc was convinced that it was 10
iilomened bird, but one of human sem
blancc at least. Yet the request was 50 ut
tcrly unusual 50 much at variance with all
preconteivcd notions of barter and sale. that
all could do was to push chair towards
heinIruder, and staLd in silent wondcrmcnt.
Ina few moments, the self command
had learned during hospital practice came
Omy aid, and [ saw that my,visitor was a
woman-a girl, rather, for she could not
have been more than nineteen or twenty at
the utmost aud ii it had not been for the
extreme palloF OF the face, the pinched up
l0ok about the mouth, and the sal, sunken
eyes .he would have possessed far more
than ordinary beauty.
The HlckeHng light OF the are flashed up
on the >o!t brown hair, giving it Il golden
glory and disSolving the snow fakes tn
had oIs.d there, making thcm glitter like
N4md pearls. This much, and that her dress
and shawl We're of the cheapest material,
ami hut a poor defence against the howling
storm aud pi,iess cold. and the strange re
quest, daried with tightening like rapiIity
tir.ugh my brain.
Draw nearer to the fire, said You
are Jcnumel. Warm yourself, and
Il have no tilne-must not stay" She
answered, with sigh, though she dropped
heavily into chair and brushed away the
,noF drops from her face with her thin
hands.
Without waiting for further remonstrance
fastened to get some reviving medicine,
o. N"'ch she stood 80 much in need, and
WIN gentle force held it to her lips
! cannot cannot, she gasped, halt push
IN i, away.
lou must, | insisted Remember
an Pay>ieian-that is my prescription
'hai Your life may depend upon it.
Life o God How long and sad
VII II give me strength? p
That certainly is the object I have in
eTslng YOU to take it. What else should it
GIVE It to me?''
And she swallowed it without a murmur,
Sa.- 'Hc Of thaukfulness.
wheeled her chair up nearer to the fire,
-''' s''EJed the fire 20 a more brilliant glow,
"l'.'S that the potion would quiet her ex-
'.siHent, wake the chilled blood to a warm
and sWstter glow, aud that sleep would
r- f'F moment fancied that was right.
Ae little hands dropped nervelesSly into
Is' zap; the softly veiled lids dropped over
'-e deep blue eyes; the head fell foreward
upon the breast But alas it was only
','Ieatary delusion. In another instant
Ils sPFang to her feet again, pressed her
LA''N upon her temples, If to still their
'1'o0'ing, and looked wildly around.
y God ~ she exclaimed, Il here amid
"4Enih and comfort, and"