The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-07-22

One evening he returned from one of
those pleasant gatherings, and in re-
Elective mood of mind sat looking over
| the moonlit city and the beautiful world
famous bay. 1t was near midnigt when
| two strangers were shown in to him, who
| requested his immediate attendance in
| case of great urgency. He representa-
! that he was there on visit of pleasure,
| not for professional purposes They
were perfectly aware of the fact, they
| said; still, they urged him so strongly
| that at last they over-came his scruples,
| and he consented to go with them. A
carriage was at the door; he got in first,
| they followed him, pulled down the
| blinds, and the carriage ratified away.
| He did not like his position, and began
to suspect all not right. They kept ut
| ter silence,
They seemed to drive great distance,
| turning and turning many times. Once
he enquired. ''Had they far to go?" and
received the brief answer ono" At
! last they drove into the courtyard OF
| great house. The door opened as if by
magic. There were no lights, he might
| as well have been blindfolded; there
| would have been a total darkness but
| for the moonbeans which struggled
! through the stained glass window and
| fell in fantastic shadows at their feet as
they ascended the wide stone stair case.
On reaching the first landing they threw
open door, and for second he was al
most blinded by the blaze of light that
streamed out upon him. The door clos
ed behind him as he stepped into the
room. He took in the whole aspect of
the room at glance; it was gorgeously
furnished, and brilliantly illuminated
with wax candles; at a table near the
heavily curtained window man of stern,
commanding appearance sat writing.
He raised his head as they entered, and
pointing to the far end of the room, ex-
laimed:
''Your patient lies there, sir.
My grandfather's eyes followed the
direction of his finger. and observeda wo-
man stretched upon a couch. Where
had he seen that face before Slowly it
dawned upon his memory. A few days
back he had been to the theatre, and
glancing around, was struck by beau
tiful fair face, which for the tune fasci-
mated him; he thought it the loveliest
there. He looked on it again now, but
how changed! The hands were clasped
upon the breast as though in prayer; a
dumb, white terror, was written on the
face, and in the great upliftted eyes
there was hopeless, despairing agony,
sickening to behold.
He enquired what was the matter
how she had been attacked, and seeing
that she was gagged, he begged them to
release her mouth, that she might an
swer his questions, adding:
81 must know something of the
symptoms before can attempt cure"
hI,r1 To- IL 10
DOCTOR" said one in a strange sad tone,
which accorded i'll with his stern, fear
full phrase. ''Your patient has spoken
her last word in his world. She is
doomed to die by secret though strict
ly just tribunal, but we must temper
justice with mercy, and spare her the
shame and public disgrace. You can
cause her to die easily and secretly;
therefore we have brought you here"
eff this lady has committed any crime
SO great as to deserve DEATH" he an
swered, full of compassion for the un-
frotunate, s'she must meet her punish
ment from the hands of the public exc
cutioner, not by mine"
''By yours, and yours only" said one
Of the conductors gravely. "There is
no time to waste in more words. She
knows that she has deserved death, and
she knows that she must die"
"God forbid p exclaimed the physi-
clan, a frozen horror stealing over him.
The ominous stiffness, the aspects of
the terrible men, struck chill to his
heart. He realized all the horror of his
position.
ga doctor never travels without his
TOOLS" resumed the stranger, and as he
spoke he turned the lace back from the
tender thoat, and, pointing to it, added
significantly, 'tOpen the jugular vein,
it is the easiest and quickest way to
die"
My grandfather started back amazed
ard horror-struck. These were the very
words he had uttered during one of
those pleasant gatherings at the house
of celebrated Neopolitan a few days
back.
Glow dare you propose to me such
crime" he exclaimed. "l am an Eng
lishman, and will not commit murder"
ssPshaw your nation produces as
many honorable criminals as any other.
To your work, sir, and quickly. If you
have conscientious scruples, remember
an enforced sin lies lightly on any con-
science; lay that comfort to your soul.
No more words" he added peremptorily
81 refuse to obey your cruel COM
mand Let me CO."
The man who had been writing, and
until now had taken no part whatever in
the scene that was passing around him.
then rose up and joined the groupe.
Laying his hand lightly on my grand
fathers shoulder, he said:
"There is no escape for you, doctor;
every moment you hesitate you p1olong
that woman's pain. She must die; and
you can dispatch her with painless
speed"
eWhat if I refuse? You cannot force
me to commit SO foul a murder"
He pointed to two swarthy figures
(either soldiers or iveried servants of
some noble family-my grandfather
could not tell which) who had been
standing motonless by the couch, and
answered:
ssThen those fellows will dispatch
you, and afterwards dispatch her; they
are not professional and their work will
be clumsily done. If the operation be
not performed upon your patient before
the clock strikes, you know your fate; if
you are obdurate, remember you throw
away your own life without saving hers.
She is doomed; 50 power on earth can
save her."
1t was in vain to speak or expostulate
with these fends in human form. He
felt they were as stern and inexorable as
fate. 1t was as cruel as horrible and
cowardly. Five men assembled to wit
ness the professional murder of young
and beautiful woman! What had she
done? Whom had she offended? Some
secret machinery was at work; these
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