The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-07-02

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We came and We're shown into the room
where you slept lastnight. The old man,
with the stamp of death upon his face,
was propped up on pillows where he had
lain for hours, his eyes fixed on the door.
watching for us. As we entered the room
his tilmy eyes frightened; his eager, out
stretched hands trembled 4, we touched
them. With the damp death dew on his
brow, his voice quaking, and his whole
soul shuddering as he lived over again n
terrible moment of his life, he told us the
story which | had better put together i'll
my W words.
1t appears that during that mOmCntOuS
visit 10 the Continent he went To Naples.
He was received by the best society, and
most Hospitality entertained in the most
distinguished social and political circles,
where he passed many pleasant hours dis
coursiag and discussing intellectual and
scientific subjects-chemistry, surgery,
and Once, among these things, the use and
misuse of poisons croppedup in the course
of conversation: ana some n preSent-a
gentleman of some note and Importance
asked what was the quickest and easiest
death to die. The subject was freely de-
bated.
One evening he returned from one of
those pleasant gatherings, and i'll Il reflect
i've mood of mind, sat for an hour looking
over the mOOnlit city and the beautiful.
wOrld-famOus bay. 1t was near midnight
when two strangers We're shown into him,
who requested his immediate attendance
in a ease of great urgency. He represent
ed that he was there on a visit of pleasure,
not for professional purposes. They were
perfectly aware OF that fact, they said,
still, they urged him so strongly that at
last they overcame his %scruples, and he
consented to 90 with them. A carriage
wa AT the door; he got in first, they fol-
lowed him, pulled down the blinds, and
the carriage ratified away. He did not
like his position, and began to suspect
that ali was not right. They kept utter
silence.
They seemed to drive Il great distance,
turning and turning many times. Once
he inquired, Had they far to go?' and
received the brief answer, No. Atlast
they drove into the courtyard of a great
house. The door opened rs if by magic.
There were 30 lights, he might as well
have been b%liudfolded there would have
been a total darkness but for the moon
beams which struggled through the stain
OIL ,Ioc- urin,Inu- onH foil in Fantastic Sh1I-
owS at their feet as they assembled the wide
stone staircase. On reaching the first
landing they threw open a door, Il for a
second he was almost blindtoidcd by the
blaze of light that streamcd out upon him.
The door closed behind him "a he stepped
into the room. He took in the whole as
pect of the roo at q glance; it was g0r-
g~eouslv furnished. and brilliantly illumi-
mated with wax candles: at a table near
the heavily-curtained windows a man OF
stern. commanding appearance sat writ
ing. He raised his head as they entered
and, pointing TO the far end of the ROOM,
exclaimed
"Y0ur patient lies there, sir"
Ny grandfather's eyes followed the d.
rectiOn of his finger, and observed a wO-
man stretched upon a couch. Where had
he seen that face before? Slowly it dawn
ed upon his memory. \ few days back
he had been to the theater, and. glancin%
round, was struck by a beautiful, fair face,
which for the time fascinated him; he
thought it the lOvcliest 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
uplifted eyes there was a hopeless, despair
ing agony sickening to behold.
He inquired 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 answer his ques-
tions. adding:
"Imust know something of the symp-
toms before I can attempt to cure
"Your business here is to kill. not to
cure. Doctor" said one in a strangely sad
tone. which accorded i'll with his stern
fearful phrase. Your patient has spoken
her last word in this world. She is doom
ed to die by a secret though strictly just
tribunal, but we would temper justice with
mercy and spare her the shame and pub
lie disgrace. You can cause her to die
easily and secretly; therefore we nave
brought you here
"If this lady has committed any crime
so great rs to deserve DEATH" he answer
ed. full of compassion for the untortu'
nate. "she must meet her punishment
from the hands of the public oXecutioner
not by mine"
BY yours, and yours only" said one
of his conductors. gravely. There is nc
.;,nn 70 v.Stp i'm mere words. She know: