The Lincoln County herald., 1872-01-18
THE DOCTORS BRIDE.
RI BMRhs0N BENNETT.

RI BMRksoN BENNETT.
I'VE Doctors sometimes meet viii
strange adventures," once said to me
distinguished physician, with whom
was on terms Of intimacy.
II have often thought" I replied
"tL,s the secret history Of some Of you
Pre-. aesion, IL written out in detail, woule
make o work of thrilling interest"
"I do not know that I exactly agre,
with you in regard to detail" rejoinet
my friend; "for We medical men, lik,
every ono else, meet with . great dea
that is common place, and therefore no
worthy of being recorded but grant VI
the privilege Of your novelists, to selec
our characters and scenes, aud work then
into kind Of plot, with . striking denou
ment, and I doubt not many Of us coult
pivo q romance in real life, com prisine
only what We have seen, which woult
equal, if not surpass, anything you have
ever met 10 the way Of fiction. Blythe
By, believe l never told you Of the
most strange and romantic adventure ol
my life?"
"You never told me Of any Of your sd-
ventures, Doctor" replied; but if you
have story to tell, you will find in me ar
eager listener"
"Very we'll, then as I have . few
minutes to spare, l will tell you one more
wildly romantic. more incredibly remark
able, If | may SO speak, than you proba-
bly, ever found in work of fiction"
II am all attention"
"Twenty five years ago." pursued th,
Docter, II entered the medical college a
F., a. a student. l was then quit
young, inexperienced and inclined to b
timid and sentimental; and we'll do
remember the horror experienced. wher
one of the senior students, under pretenct
Of showing me the beauties Of the insti
tuition. suddenly thrust me into the dis
secting room, among several dead bodies
and closed the door upon me nor do
forget how my screeches of terror. ant
prayers for release from that awful plsce
made me the laughing stock Of my com
psnions.
"Ridicule is . hard thing 10 bear; tht
coward becomes brave to escape il, anG
the brave man fears it more than he
would . belching cannon.
suffered from it till could bear il
no more and wrought up to a pitch o
desperation. demanded to know what
might do to redeem my character ant
gain an honorable footing among m,
fellow students.
"I will tell you, said one, bis eye
sparkling with mischief; If you will g
at the midnight hour, and dig up sub
ject, and take it to your room. and re
main alone with it till morning, We vii
let you of and never say another wor'
about your womanly fright
"Iehuddercd. 1t was fearful altsrna
tive but it seemed less terrible to suffe
oil the horrors that might be concsutra
ted into single night, than to bear, da,
after day, the jeers Of my companions.
"Where shall l 60? aud when ? wa
my timid inquiry; and tho very though
of such an adventure made my blood rul
cold.
"'To the Eastern Cemetery, tonight
At twelve o'clock replied my tormento'
fixing his keen black eyes upon me, an
allowing his thin lips to curl with q smil
of contempt. But what 10 the use O
asking such coward as you to perform
suco manly feat P he added, deridingly
His words stung me to the quick
and without further reflection, an
scarcely aware Of what was saying,
rejoined boldly:
81 am no coward, sir, as will prov
to you. by performing what you call
manly feat
"'You will go9' he asked quickly.
"I will
"Bravely said, my lad + he rejoinei
in tone of approval, and exchanging hi
expression Of contempt for one Of sur
prise and admiration. DO this, Morri'
and the first man that insults you after
wards makes an enemy Of me
again l felt cold shudder pas
through my frame, at the thought O
what was before me but | had aocepte
his challenge in the presence Of man.
Witnesses this conversation occurred
as we were leaving the hall, after listen
ing to an evening lecture-and | was re
solved to make my word good. should
oven cost mo my life (; in fact, knew
could not do otherwise now, without tn
risk of being driven in disgrace from tn
college.
II should here observed, that ii thos
days there were few professional resur
rectionists; and as it was absolutely net
essary to have subjects for dissection, tn
unpleasant business Of procuring thsr
devolved upon the studsnts. who, in con
sequence, watched every funeral eagerly
and calculated the chances Of cheatin
the sexton Of his charge aud the grave O
its victim.
"There had boen funeral that day, g
. poor orphan girl, who had been 70
lowed to the grave by very few friends
and this was considered very favorabl
chance for the party whose turn it was I
1