Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-11-12
An Extraordinary Story.

A VERY strange story was told to me
the other day. In town not far from
London there lived young lady who was
handsome, tolerably wealthy, and more
than usually well educated. Her father
was an invalid her mother was an in
sipid, cold and heartless woman. Two
years ago physician of London was
called to attend the father; in this way
the young lady saw him. He paid no
attention 10 her-his mind was engrossed
with his professional duties. A few
weeks ago this doctor, after paying a
visit to his patient, was somewhat sur
prised by being asked by the young lady
to give her the favor of private inter
view. She took him into drawing-room
and led him to the further end of the
apartment Doctor said she, :" / sup
pose that gentlemen Of your profession
are accustomed to receive strange conf
dences. have a confession to make to
you" He supposed that the impending
confession had something to do with the
state of her own health or with that of
her father, and he begged her to proceed.
You will, however, be scarcely prepared
for what / am about to say" she con-
tinued But l wish you to hear it. 1t
Is now just two years since first saw
you. You have scarcely ever exchanged
word with me, but / have learned
much about you. am not mistaken in
believing that you are unmarried?"
mo-" said he, am not married"
"And your affections are not engaged?"
You scarcely have the right to ask
that" said he.
"Well, them" she replied, Il will not
ask it, but | must make to you my con-
fession. love you with all my heart.
wish you to marry me. loved you
from the first moment saw you. | said
to myself, will wait for two years--if
he then speaks to me will know what to
say. You have not spoken; and now
speak. say I love you with all my
heart; you are necessary for me; will
you marry me?"
The doctor, who, although not very
young man, was twice the age Of the
young lady, recovering a little from his
surprise, tried to turn the matter off as a
joke; but the young lady was very
serious.
No." said she, IT am in very sober
| earnest. / know all that you may say OF
think as to the indelicacy of my proposal
more, can you love me, and will you
| marry me?"
In sober earnest, them" he replied,
81 cannot marry YOU"
"Then / shall die" said she, very
calmly, and she left the room.
The doctor had heard people say be.
fore this that they should die, and he
left the house without attaching much
importance to the prophecy, although
wondering greatly at the other portion
Of this interview.
! A few days after this the young LADY
was found dead in her bed Two letters
| laid upon her dressing table One was
| addressed to her family solicitor. 1t re-
| called TO his mind q promise he had made
her. She had gone to see him, and had
asked him to make out FOR her paper
transferring the whole of her property to
! person whose name she would not then
give him. He was to prepare the neces-
sary paper rand send 1t to her to fill up
the blanks and to sign. She had done
this, and she now Enclosed the paper,
filled up and signed. Every penny of
her property was given to the doctor, and
the solicitor was instructed to make the
transfer to him, to ask no questions, and
to take no receipt. The other letter was
to the doctor. II told you / should die, .
said she, land when you receive this /
shall be dead. For ten days / have taken
no food nor no drink; but that does, not
kill me, and now have taken poison. |
have no reproach to make to you, but
could not 1--we without your love. When
| / am dead, look at my heart. You will
see your name there. ] have two re.
| quests to make Of you. Go TO my solicit
| or and take what he has for you, and
then go off ON holiday to Italy for few
months. The other request is that you