Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-04-19
THE ESURCEON'SSTORY,

50 @ S~AA~~~aS S - Sha
"Will you buy my body, sir ?''
L, Charles Markham, young physician,
was sitting alone in the dusty little room
that the sign without dignified with the
title of ''of1ice, F." when these words fell upon
my ears. [ had just returned from visit
ing the few patients l could boast of,
thoroughly heart-sick at the want of hu-
manity in the world, wet to the skin, and
more than half frozen.
l never remember Il worse night liz all
respects.
II was cold as the Arctic, clustering, and
the sleet that ratified upon the windows
soon covered them with coat Of ice. 1t
had stOrned heavily all day, the stores
were closed, and the sidewalk venders
driven to shelter.
''GOd help any one that is forced To be
abroad tonight" had been my thought, as
L hurried along after finishing my profess
siOnal duties, and breasted my way home
ward.
But scarcely had [ reached it, changed
my saturated garments, coaXed the spark
ling anthracite into cheerful glow, and
made myself comfortable, and begun
building castles in Spain of the time when
| should have lucrative practice, ride III
my carriage, and own brown stone front,
when the strange and heart-chilling words
fell upon my ears, causing all my pleasant
fancies to drift away in an instant.
''Will you buy my body, sir ?''
L Sprang from my easy chair, dropping
my well-colored meerschaum in my aston
ishment, and turned to see who it was,
that, like POe's raven, had uttered those
terrible words.
''Will you buy my body, sir:'''
The question was3repeated for the sec
. I,
cred myself to become convinced that it
came from no ill-Omened bird, but from a
form of human semblance at least. Yet
the question was 50 utterly unusual, 50
much at variance with ill-preconceiyed nc
tiOns of barter and sale, that all ] could do
was to push 4 chair toward tlle intruder,
and stand in silent WOnderment.
In few moments the self-cOmmand
had learned during my hospital practice,
came to my aid, and L saw that my visitor
was a Woman-Or a girl, rather, for she
could no. have been more than nineteen or
| twenty at the utmost: and that, if it had
not been for the extreme palOr Of the face,
| the pinched up look about the mouth, and
the sad sunken eyes. she would have pos
| sessed far more than is ordinarily the case,
| the rare gift Of beauty.
The Pickering light of the fire flashed
| upon the soft brown hair, giving it a more
| golden glory, and disSolving the snow
| flakes that had lodged there. making them
| glitter like liquin pearls. This much, and
that the dress and shawl were of the cheap
est material, and but a poor defence
against the bowling storm and pitiless cold,
! and the strange request darted with light
ming rapidity through my brain.
"Draw nearer to the fire." said |. EEYou
are numbed. Warm yourself, and -
| 81 have no time and must not stay" an
swered she, with sigh, though she drop
ped heavily into chair, and brushed
away the snOWdIops from her face with
| her thin hands.
Without waiting for further remon
STRANGE, l hastened to get some reviyine
medicine, of which / saw she stood mucl
in need, and with gentle force, held it tC
her lips.
81 cannot, l cannot" she gasped, push
ing it away.
"You must" [ insisted. '.Remembel
| that | am physician, that this is pres
cription, and that your litH may depen(
| upon it."
''Life Oh, God! How long and sad
| Will it give me strength ?''
''That is certainly the object have il
urging you to take it. What else should i
| be ?''
EGivc it to me-"
And she swallowed it without nul
mur, save thankfulness.
/ wheeled her chair up nearer the fir
and stirred the Goals to a more b,illian
glow, hoping that the potion would quie
her excitement, awake the chilled blood t
a warmer, swifter glow, and that slee
would follow.
And for moment fancied l was right
The little hands dropped nervelessly int
her lap; the softly yelled lids dropped owe
the deep blue eyes. The head fell forWar
on the breast. But, alas it was momeT
tary delusion. In another instant sh
Sprang to her feet again, pressed her hanC
upon her temples, as if to still their throl
: bings, and looked wildly around.
: "Oh, God :" she exclaimed, q her
, amid warmth and comfort, and -
Convulsive sobs choked any further IL
terance.
"Sit down and tell me the reason of yol
[ coming here" almost commanded, as
, placed ber in the chair.
"Ah. [ remember all now. Remembel
, Is there no such thing as forgetfulness ,
: Yes, | remember all. | came here to-
to-
BE calm, l understand, you are here
need, and came for assistance"
81 came,'' she replied, and looked on IL
/ with utter despair, and spoke so calmly til;
D it made my blood lun cold, " came, do
y tor, to sell you my body"
Was | talking to woman or 4 maniac
i The latter was certainly my thought bI
t l could detect nothing in the clear, blu
D eyes of the wanderings of insanity. 8 So
> her body" She spoke of it as an even
| day transaction.
i "Great heaven!'' I exclaimed, laying n
j fingers upon her pulse with the expectatio
, Of finding it bounding with race horse +;
pidity but, on the contrary, finding it f;
more calm than my OWL EGreat heaveI
4 You caDnot he in e,iuest?
!, "I am il earnest God !>.-oV
o ! how much III >..l..,-s,. Al "a IA. LIST r
, sort. viii you buy it -
And she reached out her haGd towal
t me as a miser would have done, who heaI
e the dear sound OF jingling gold.
Chow can L purchase it when ycu Al
sill alye?" a ~
s But | Will soon he dead, and then
Y then you can claim it. For the love
: heaven, give ne a little, just little money