Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-06-06

that the lurid light should TALL up
on my strange patient, as silent
ly stopped and examined both
wounds. -
| "Well r asked my carriage
companion. ID
81 can do nothing. The man
must die. "
':Nonsensel A mere bullet
through tue leg-what does that
amount to r hurriedly gasped
the man. -'s e ..--..-.'1,- - 8 = i. =
"In itself, not much I; but that
blow upon the skull must prove
fatal.';
A low, halfsuppressed cry broke
from the woman opposite che
tore the veil from her face, as if
she could not breathe through its
heavy folds, revealing features as
white and beautiful in their mar
ble agony as so much sculptured
stone. She did not seem more
than thirty, but | afterwards
knew that she was indeed ten
years older. But in spite Of her
present anguish, how grandly
beautiful she was ! Large dark
eyes-hair like coiled gold, catch
ing strange CLEANS from the shift
ing lanterns-and a broad smooth
brow-itwas face you see but
once in lifetime.
And yet, in the midst of her
distress, she never spoke.
"At least you can do something
for him, DOCTOR said my interlo.
cutter, impatiently. 'sDon't let US
waste time here" & ..'e IS
As | proceeded in my ministra-
trions the moaning grew fainter
and fainter, the conyulsive move.
ment became scarcely perceptible.
A faint CLEAN of hope lighted up
the face OF the woman who knelt
with clasped hands opposite; she
looked appealingly at me. -T =
"He is better--he is surely bet
ter?" ~,
"He will be better soon," / an
swered, moved to pity in spite of
himself. "He cannot live half
an hour longer"
The horror Of that sepulchral
silence that fell upon MS as my ac.
cents died away-shall | ever for
get it And five minutes after
wards the breathing, spasmodic
and painful to hear, died into eter-
pal stiffness. s,-- y
The woman lifted corner of
the handkerchief and gazed into
the CHASTITY face. 1t was that of
young man of wo-and-twenty,
and who had evidently been mar
vellously good looking.
"Ah, heavens he is dead !"
Her clear, az, zizing voice was
ringing in my ears as they led me
back into The darkness of the
night. / felt a bank note pressed
into my hand as | entered the
carriage again.
"Doctor, you have done your
best it is not your fault that your
efforts have not been more suc-
cessful. Remember - you are
pledged to secrecy aa aEe,}rf
The next moment | was whirl.
ing swiftly through the November
midnight, with the strange unqui-
ct feeling Of one wakened sudden
ly from startling dream. Yet
it was no dream = alas! it was
startling reality. r.; 4 rsa.
The carriage stopped at a cross
road near the village. -- go.
"Please to alight, sir" said the
driver. "You are not far from
home"
/ obeyed, and stood listening in
the middle of the road, while the
roise of the carriage wheels died
away, losing its distinctness in the
shrek of the restless winds. And
the clock in the village church
tolled out the hour of one. ~. "a
Late as it was, however, my
surgery was still open and lighted
up; the servant from Haddenleigh
Hall had just ridden up tothe door.
"If you please, doctor, you are
wanted Immediately at the Hall,
The Colonel said that you were
to ride my horse, if yours was not
already saddled, and ! can walk,
SO there will be no time lost"
| mechanically mounted the
noble animal that stood waiting for
me, and rode off, rather glad Of
an opportunity to revolve In my
mind the singular adventure that
had that evening befallen me.
Haddenleigh stood little way
back from the road, on maguifi-
cent knoll crowded with century
old chestnuts and beeches and |
reached the broad stone steps in
about half an hour, by dint Of
rapid riding. ~ s.
As entered the vnstihnle. Col