Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-11-05
A Physicians Story.

had been out rather late to party;
The evening had been pleasantly spent
in dancing and singing with the young
ladies who are always sure to cungre-
yate in large numbers upon such occa-
sions. Our supper had been excellent.
| had seen fair inaIDOrata to her ia
theirs domicil. and had just returned
.holne somewhat Wearied. / threw
myself upon my couch to snatch, If
possible, before day-break, a few hours
sleep; but had hardly launched off into
the arms of Morpheus ere l was hand
ed note, coming from an intimate
friend, requesting my presence at his
house at once.
must confess that felt disinclined
at first, to comply with this request,
but finally concluded to go. L hardly
know how / reached the place, but a
few minutes afterward found me seat
ed in his private room.
/ noticed he looked somewhat excl
ted, and Immediately asked for the OBJ
ject of this rather hasty and unreasona-
1 BILE summons. He babe me not to be
lover anxious, and conversed few mo-
ments upon the general topics of the
day. then said he had sent for me for a
special purpose, which he would let
me understand directly.
He had been standing all this time
near an open bookcase, and had been
fnmbling around for something that he
Seemed to be at n loss to find, when, all
at once, he turned toward me, with his
eyes fairly starting from their sockets,
demoniac stare lighting up his whole
countenaDce, a trem bling of his whole
f-or nd n MI
ing, he bade me prepare TO die.
The truth flashed upon me at once;
my friend was insane! For moment
/ Was staggered, bewildered: what
could | do? l thought my time had
come, and oh, horrors, what death!
for he held in his hand an open razor!
looked Tor chance OF escape, but none
was presented me. The door / had ne
| elected to shut was open, but now he
stood between me and thstonly chance
of escape. Like a drowning man, my
whole tife passed in panoramic view
before me. l thought of my friends, of
home, Of prospects, of one l loved dear
tertllan life, of-yes, everything per-
tanning TO my Individual existence. A
silent prayer went up to heaven. All
this was but minute. l pressed my
hand upon my heart to keep down its
tthrobbingS, and was ready.
But Thought suggested itself to me:
4 leck,p | said, "before you cut my
throat, had you not better shut the
door?p --.--
He turned silently to comply with
my request. That moment--that turn
was my salvation. With my two firm
hands I grasped heavy chair within
my reach, and rushed TOWARD him. l
struck him with force upon the back
part ofthe head, which staggered him;
the next was well directed blow upon
the temporal bone, which feIled him to
the floor, apparently lifeless. I waited
for nothins; but L jumped over his
prostrate body, through the partly
closed door, then down the stairs with
rush, making for the front door lead.
| ing to the street. / stumbled and fell!
the shock awakened me. 1 had been
dreaming. / found myself sprawling
upon all fours upon the floor. 1t seems
in my struggle, 1 had rolled from MY
bed, and the shock, of course, aroused
me.
The dream had caused the perspira-
tion to start from every pore. sat up
right, and came to the conclusion, then
and there, that late suppers, especially
when we indulge too freely in cakes
and pies of every conceivable shape
and make, were not just the thing for
PERSONS stomach, unless it could be
made of something of the consistence
and strength of leather.