St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-03-21

after a long and careful considera-
ton | came to the following cOnclu-
SiOnS:
HE is not laboring under suicidal
mania.
His impulse is real, and will have
fatal results.
Confinement in an asylum would
have no curative effect.
..Then took down my books bear
ing upon the anatomy of the human
head.
The next morning addressed him
thus:
...Before | answer You as to whether
Won would he justified before God. I'M
der the impulse you have told me of,
in taking your own life to save that of
another, YOU must answer me several
questions
$50 on. he said.
when YOU consulted those doctors
did You tell them all that you told
me p
".No. did not dare. | said that |
had horrible thoughts and cravings, but
without entering into details as to what
they were. Once | went so far as to
say feared | was becoming dangerous,
and the fool smiled
".Good Did they ever speak OF
searching for that ball p
"'Ics. they said it might he the
cause of my sufferings surprising it had
lodged near the brain, but that no one
would take the responsibility of search
ing fur it-So to speak-in the dark
"'Thcy were right-the operation
might Kill You, and the ball not be found
after all
He looked up, and the dull, detected
look that had become habitual, passed
from his face.
And even if it were found | went
on. its extraction might cause youl
death all the same
"IIc laid his hand on my arm, and
tried to speak, hut he could not.
"'Still it would give YOU chance
Just Il chance of more than life. His
grasp frightened. | could feel his heart
heating. And submitting to such an
operation almost hopeless though il
would not lie quite suicide
He fell on his knees and sobhed like
Il child.
".You'll do it p he cried. tod Al
mighty bless you. You'll do it
Well" said my friend. lighting a
fresh cigar. ITO make my story short,
| did it. with the assistance of Il young
surgeon whose nerve could trust. We
found that miserable piece of lead neal
where had suspected it to he. 1t WAS
just Il ease of touch and 90. Had my
knife wavcrcd twice the breadth of it,
own edgc-had the assistant been mn
steady with the torccp> it would have
been fatal. | don't want to appear vain
of my success, 81 I'll say no more than
/ this he rccOrcrCd.
And hasn't killed anybody ?"
No. and doesn't want to-"
BY .Jovr, wouldn't he too sure
OF that And 81 the girl he wanted Il
murder married the Maior!'
''Shc did"
/ Then if were her husband I'd take
/ precious good care that your interest.
/ ing patient didn't come into the sam,
State, witt. her.
My dear fellow, if YOU were her hus
band you'd 1t" exactly as her husband
does
Does he know ?"
None better
And doesn't care -
Not bit"
Then he's brute
You'd better tell him so-here b,
comes"
Does she know p
"She does.
And she's not afraid p
"Nu.'
zone other question. Does your in
tercStng patient still live i'll this coun.
try ,"
4 "iIe does"
''ln what State 2"
This State"
Near here p
Every near.
Then. with all possible Difference fol
foolish. Were | in his place | shoulc
say. My good sir. admit that the bal
from which YOU suffered so long can
not get back into your brains, but an
by no means sure that the ideas it en-
gcndered may not return. At any Iat'
your presence near my wife is likely I,
make her nervous. and | appeal to yol
as IL gentleman. to locate Yourself il
some other part of the country. If yol
do so | shall have the highest respec
for you if YOU do not, and ever hav
the misfortune to pass within a mile o
my house, the interior of your skull
will become more intimately acquainted
than ever with lead in the usual form.
Every neatly put" said the Doctor
''but Our friend does not think of com
hitting suicide now
Mercy, Doctor" cried, ''you don
mean to say that the man who wantc,
: to murder the Majors wife isis
, .'The Major himself. Yes. sir"