Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-27
natter with it than the re is with my own

JnaI dn IHAu-yOu CANNOT DelleSe Me
jesting, " returned the stranger, taking
note for thousand gnilders out of his
pocket-book, and laying it on the table.
'TThere, see that this is no child's play,
and that the service I ask at your hands is
of the highest necessity and importance
to me. | eutreat you, cut this spot from
out of my hand - =
Sand say to you, sir, that all tho
wealth of the world would not ,ndnce
me to look on sound membe- ss do.
eased, or make the slightest ,ncioion in
such one. To do it wor i'd be to do
what my surgical know. edge condemns
in word, my duty f. .rbids IL The whole
world would maini 4tn that you were a
it'nstIc, DuI VI lie they would say either
u az q! l L nau Oe,en so unprincipled as to
pront py Your msnia, or that was too
lg uorAne TO perceive the error into which
you had led me.n ~.
90 be is. At least you can accord
one thls favor. | will perform the oper-
alton myfJelf. My left will, it is true,
be somF what unskillful, but let that pass.
l VIII soon finish; you will surely have
Inc goodness 10 dress the wound for me. "
The surgeon marked with amazement
4 beyond words that the strange being was
j in sad earnest, for he laid aside his coat,
turned back his sleeves, and took his pen
knife In his left hand. Aud another mo-
ment and he would have plunged it deep
\ into his right hand.
"Hold!" cried the surgeon, alarmed
lest Inc stranger should sever the artery,
4 III the operation be really inevitable,
then, IN the name of Heaven, let me per-
/ form itl''
On which, taking his surgical instru-
\ ment IN his hand, he laid the patients
| right straight out in his Own, at the same
time requesting him to look another way.
'tThat is not necessary. Allow me to
/ show you just how deep the knife shall
/ CO." And truly, during tie whole opera
4 ton, the strangers resolution did not fail
\ him; he himself directed the surgeon as
4 to the depth of the inciSion; his hand
/ never moved until the spot represented as
1 the seat of the pain was cut out, when,
\ throwing back his chest he heaved a great
sigh of relief.
''Do you feel no more burning2" ques
l toned the surgeon.
SIT is entirely gone" answered ths
stranger, smiling; ''the torture has ceased.
As for the slighter pain which the wound
| occasions me, it is to the first pain what
a warm breeze is compared to insupport-
/ able heat"
While the bandage was being applied,
the appearance of the stranger totally al
4 tered. A calm, pleasant expression met
/ the surgeons eye, instead of the former
| look of intense pain; the brow grew
clearer, the color lively, q returning look
of life replaced the late cruel agitation
4 the whole man seemed transformed.
| As the surgeon rea6justed the strangers
band in the sing, he felt his own seized
by the left hand of the latter, who, pres
| sing it warmly, said to him in most ferv-
ent tones.
| ''Receive for your most mastery seVi-
ces my most sinss thanks. You have
laid me under a real Obligation to you
for the remuneration on my part is small,
indeed, in comparison with the mighty
assistance whica you have rendered me.
l will be indebted to you all my life
long
But the surgeons estimate of his servi-
1 ces was wholly different; he absolutely
| refused to accept the note for thousand
| guilders, which still lay on the table.
The stranger persisted in leaving it, and
had passed out of the door, when, seeing
the growing displessure of the surgeon,
he turned, and begged him at all events
to consent to expend a part Of the sum
| for the benefit OF some hospital, and
hastily took his departure.
DR.. N visited his patient for few
days, st the hotel, where he was remain
| ing until his wound was completely
healed. This was rapidly taking place.
During the course of this time the sur
| geCn had an opportunity to make Obser-
vations, which resulted in the conviction
| III t he hsd to deal with refined, accom-
| plished map; one whose every word
eviDced not only extensive information,
but that knowledge of the world so agree
able when united with superiority of
| mind. Not the slightest trace of any all
ment, either bodily or ments', was to be
remarked after the operation. The
| stranger returned to bis estates shortly
sfterward, perfectly restored.
Three weeks had passed, when the ser
want was again called upon 20 announce
to the surgeon the arrival of his singular
patient. The stranger, who was instantly
admitted, appeared again, with a band
aged arm; and so great was bis suffering
that, at first glance, his features we're
fcarcely recognizable. Sinking into a
chair, before the surgeon had time to Of
| fer him a seat, he stretched out his hand
to him, no longer sufficiently master of
himself TO control his groans.
'What has hsppened?" sympa.hizingly
inquired the surgeon.
'The incision was not deep enough,
groaned the stranger, ''the pain has re-
| turned burns more fierCely than before.
l could not at first bring myself to trouble
you again. fingered, hoping that death
would come aud put an end to my exist
ence. But what l lOnged for came not.
The pain was, and still remains concen-
| trCted in this one place. Look at me, and
| perhaps You will form an idea Of my suf-
feriDgs." The cOuntenance of the stran-
| ger was white with agony, and cold drops
covered his brow. The surgeon Embossed
the bandage. The wound had closed;
everything about the hand appeared
healthy and sound as before, and the
pulse beat evenly and naturally.
"This touches ON the marvellous" ex-
claimed DR.. N. 'It passes widely
beyond every thing in my past expert
ence Wonderful"
Eyes, wonderful, terrible. Seek not
now for the cause, doctor, but free me
from this torture. Take your instrument
and insert it deeper than before; that
alone viii give me relief"
The surgeon saw that he must grant
this prayer For the second time he per-
formed the same operation; sgain did he
remark The astonishing alteration in the
cOunteDance of the stranger. Again, as
he replaced the bandage, a fresh color
took the place of the patients palor,
frightening the yissge before so wan.
But the smile returned not now, as be-
fore. Sadly he thanked the surgeon for
his assistance.
81 thank you, doctor. Again the pain
has ceased. In few days the wound
will be healed. Nevertheless be not
astonished if you see me here in q month"
''Be easy on that score, sir; chase that
thought out Of your mind!" exclaimed
the surgeon.