The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1870-11-01

we went ior the doctor common
friend and old college comrsde. A
good liver, with a frank, merry face
aud jovial eye, and ready to do any.
thing for us all. He took his case Of
surgical instruments, slipped it into
his pocket aside that might not see.
Lint, some bandages, few little
phials, and a bottle Of pure water,
which he gave to the coachman.
All three of us break ted with de
B.. The meal was with ocea-
sional moments of unu al gravity.
| Spite of the carelessness of my char.
acter, l was afraid Of making fool
of myself When no one saw me,
stole a glance at the clock; obviously
| the waiting at once excited and ener-
waited me. What l dreaded was Meth.
er wounds nor death, but the unknown;
in word that inseparable emotion Of
a first debut, which has become pro.
verbal. / felt the need of locomotion,
of occupation. mental or physical. ]
gave way to abrupt, nervous move
me!nts, hard bursts of laughter. And
vet was not afraid. We talked great
deal. and it vas noticeable that when
ever the con versat ION wandered away
from the palpitating p."esent one us IN
voluntarily recalledit.
"Tell me. Doctor" I said to nttscula-
Plus, "Do you consider four o'clock ~
the afternoon good time to fght?''
"Assurediy," replied L--, tran
gully; "you have no uncertainties
and tremors of too early rising; you
are at your ease; digestion is effected,
and that allows the.performance of an
operation"
Against my will I shuddered at that
phrase, performance of an operaption,
uttered with so much placidity.
To turn it off I went to the piano.
Just then the footman came to tell us
that our laudau was at the door.
"Come," said George, 1--WE have no
time to lose. We have.still to go for
the other gentleman who will take us
to Saint VS. Park. That is where
the affair is to take place; nobody
will disturb us there. Come on"
took my hat quickly. l had the
honor of being the first outside, but in
the depths os my heart l am afraid 1
likcned my friend George to the most
accomplished of torturers.
We got into the landau. The other
gentlemen we're all ready, and went on
before us. The way was long, too long.
To me it seemed interminable. From
the back scat gazed at the landscape,
smoking all the while with an absent
air. Opposite me was Georges pale
face, his black mustache emphasizing
his manly countenance, His eyes never
lost sight of me, and now and again
his hand energetically pressed mine.
| Beside me sat the doctors good
comfortable figure. In the bottom o.
the carriage were the light swords
with curved guards and large hilts
easy in hand, not too long, nor so Aex
ible as easily to turn the edge. 1 fell
: childish delight in unsheathing then
as we drove along, and seeing how
they glittered after the grinding anC
sharpening of the evening before
Then 1 pressed my finger over the
: point, as an epicure passes his fingel
over his lips, aud, in spite Of myself,
} secretly found them little too vel
pointed. r
> At last the end of our route appear
| ed. As we turned to the left Ipreceiv
. ed the park railing, at which some
thing seemed tighten suddenly abou
5 my heart. But / lit another cigar, aut
went on smoking with the greatest ap
t parent tranquility.
The carriages stopped. We ha'
: ceased to talk,-involutarily our voice
T had become hUarse and hollow. l pu
my head out of the door, and Georg
J jumped down. The other gentleme
d parleyed with the porter, who opene
}. the gates. Not soul was about tn
chateau. The first carriage paoceede
slowly along the alley, conducted b
+ the porter, in had. No one spok,
c The alley was narrow and shady. Th
: gates had been closed again. Nothin
" now was heard save the wheels turnin
!; slowly and grating with sharp soun
on the gravel Of the garden. w
; turned to right, then to left, with fir,
0 quent stoppages, as if following fl
neral procession. ] bent down to ii
IS doctors ear, and whispered with IL
n greatest coolness,-
t. "Do you know if the family vault
Is | still aonaa xrav off2n