Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-01-01

my cold, humble, little bed. | fell
| asleep very soon, but such feverlsh,
dream-laden sleep! During the whole
of that CHASTITY night [ led the life of a
California rowdy Now was standing
drinks" all round to miscellaneous mob
of miners, Indian fighters, gamblers. ETC.,
at public bar. In moment L found
myself in the center of a "free fight"
| revolvers were cracking right and left
like "zigzags" on the Queens birthday
bowie-knives flashed here and there like
streaks of lightning; screams, howlss
and oaths arose on every side. had
just succeeded in shooting a man through
the head after missing him five times
when suddenly a sharp pain darted
through my neck felt the warm blood
trickfing down my breast; grew faint;
| | SwOOned.
And so on during the night.
| No wonder, then, that when | got up
early next morning to dress by gaslight
for my visit to the hospital l did not
| feel much refreshed by my slumbers. 1t
was cold, dreary, wet, winter morn
ing l swallowed a cup of cOffee-could
not eat anything-and with this prepara-
ton l dragged my unhappy carcass to
the infrmary; stood in the wards taking
notes while the professor explained the
nature of the cases which came under
our observation; finally repaired to the
operating theater with the rest of my
ow-students. When seated in the
gallery (an amphitheater of seats) | OBJ
served California jackson" below me,
and therefore nearer to the area where
the operations were performed. He
always seemed to take the operations
very coolly; this morning he looked as
imperturbable as usual.
| Suddenly the patient who was to be
operated on entered the theater from be-
| hind the hanging curtains which guarded
| the passage to the wards. l was startled
by her appearance, never having seen
her before. Tall and lady-like, she pre-
sented countenance of great beauty,
although it bore unmistakable signs of
beauty was of the Spanish type-ollve
complexion, large dark eyes, long, black,
silky eyelashes, cOal-black luxuriant
locks.
One of her hands required to be am
putated, owing, as the surgeon ex-
planned, to disease which had devel-
Oped in that member. Although evil
IDENTIFY very nervous the patient behaved
most admirably. She lay down on the
operating table and the administration
of chloroform was proceeded with. She
struggled little while this was pro-
crossing. My eye accidentally lighted
on California Jackson" and to my in
tense surprise I saw his iron features
working in most extraordinary way. At
first thought that | must be dreaming.
What, California Jackson" moved by
the struggles of patient going under
chloroform? Impossible! He clasped
his muscular hand over his face. At
length the chloroformist pronounced the
woman quite under the influence of the
anasthetic and the surgeon, having ar
ranged his assistants, advanced knife in
hand. Just as he was in the act of max
ing the first incision California jack
son" rose and hastily left the theater.
His departure gave rise to quite
sensation; but it was only momentary
and subsidized so soon as the surgeon
raised his head to learn the meaning of
the disturbance.
When the operation was over re-
paired to the college to attend lectures
as usual. found California Jackson"
standing by the gateway smoking gloom
lily. l saluted him and passed in.
Next day Jackson appeared with his
hand bound in napkin, and he seemed
fond of thrusting it into his bosom. Next
day he seemed restless his hand was
still wrapped up. | inquired frequently
how the wound was getting on, warning
him of the danger of tampering with
was getting all right, he thought. Next
lege. Next day still no Jackson. That
I n l06U-
ings when my days work was over l re-
solved to look him up, whether | was
welcome or not. | knew his number in
the dreary street where he lived.
climbed the stairs and arrived at door
bearing brass-plate with the inscrip-
ton: G
Miss VINEGAR,
s-<r Dressnadker.
/ pulled the bell-no sound. Pulled
harder-a terrific clatter resulted. In a
short time the door was opened by Miss
Vinegar herself in a towering passion.
She asked me if | knew that there was
sick person in the house. / apologized
humbly. That and my raven mustache
and general distinguished bearing molli-
fed the dear creature, whose appearance
was quite in keeping with her name.
Learned from her that my fellow student
was half deliriOus, that his hand was
frightfully bad and that she had sent
for doctor. Found matters just as she
had stated. Jackson lay tossing about
on sofa, dressed, with the exception of
his coat. The injured hand was dread
fully swollen and infamed, and at the
center of the palm, where the wound had
been inflicted, there was black spot. /
could also observe red lines and streaks
running up his forearm. His face was
| flushed and he seemed only half con-
Scious The doctor arrived, and, after
| learning the nature of the case, lanced
the hand freely to liberate the pent-up
matter. He then gave directions, wrote
prescription, and left me in charge of
the case for the night, poor Miss Vinegar
being quite tagged out by previous nurs-
| ing.
| Well, / knew that had dreary night
| of it before me. The room was shabbily y
| thing in it smelled rankiy of strong to-
ing volume and sat reading while the
slow, dreary, heavy "tick-tock" of the
large clock in the lobby sounded and
the gas kept fiaring up and singing in a
most extraordinary. way Everyone
knows this sort of thing.
About one a m. Jackson woke up and
asked for drink, then fell back into a
feverish sleep. AS ne threw himself
heavily down on his pillow large locket
sprang out from his breast, and in doing
so the lid flew open, and at a moments
glance 1 saw a miniature portrait of the
face and bust of most beautiful woman
Delighted by the vision gazed on it in
tently for some minutes in Simple ad
miration. The lady was evidently OF
Spanish, or at least Southern, birth OF
extraction. Surely | had seen such q