The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-08-23
A Terrible Alternative.

in Buckhamshire mad quartered myself
for a few days.
eWell, yes," answered; regarding it
as picture, should say it is by no
means the best of your collection, but,
regarding 1t as a portrait, there is some.
| thing about it that ''fetches' me. 1t is
| rot that the face is either handsome or
| intellectual, but their is IL strange, weird
! something about it which the artist seems
to have caught fresh from the living face
and transferred 10 the canvas, ana which
all his after art had failed to pant out.
am sure there is some grim secret cou-
neeted with that picture; you may as
we'll tell me what IT. is. Ii tits a family
secret, promise TO keep 1t sacred"
"Well," he answered alter u moments
| reflection, there is Il painful story CON-
nected with 1t. The portrait is that of
my grandfather-Dr. Mashias, let US call
him. He was one of the physicians-in-
ordinary. to George Ill, which position
I he occupied long before he had reached
middle age. He WAS a courteous, genial,
| kindly man, full OF those social qualities
which make man a fayOrite oil society.
| SO much l have heard. When l knew
him things were different. In the year
| l77O, full OF high spirits and pleasing an
| ticlpatious, he went on the continent for
| months holiday; he came back at the
end OF it an altered man-hs genial ma
| ture ciouded with an ineradicaDle gloom.
| 'He purchase ed and retired TO this place
| and turned his back upon the world, and
| though he was no world scorner, nothing
would induce him TO enter it again. He
was u widower, and his only SONNY
father-was then a boy at Harrow. You
may imagine this was not Lively place
for a higu-spirited young fellow to come
home to. Tney saw little OF each other.
In due time my father married, and l
was torn. Years passed, and one wintry
night, when l was about eighteen years
old, we received a telegram summening
us mere. We came, and were shown into
the room where you slept last night. 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 the flmy eyes
Frightened; his eager, outstretched
hands trembled as we touched them.
With the damp, death dew on his brow,
his voice quaKIng, and his whole soul
shuddering as he lived over again one
terrible moment Of his life, he told liz
the story which mad better put together
IN my own words"
1t appears that during that momentous
visit 10 The Continent he went TO Naples.
He was received by the best society ,and
most Hospitality entertained In The most
social and political circles, where he
passed many pleasant hours diseoursing
and discussing intellectual and scIen-
tific subjects-chemistry surgery, and
once, among these things, the use and
misuse Of poisons cropped up, in the
course of conversations; and some one
present--a gentleman OF some note and
importance-asked what was the quick
est and easiest death to die. The sub
ject was freely debated.
One evening he returned from one OF
those pleasant gatherings, and in re-
Elective mood OF mind, sat for an hour
looking over the moonlit city and the
beautiful, wOrid-fameus bay. 1t was
near midnight when two strangers were
shown into him, who requested his i'm
mediate attendance in case of great
urgency.
4 carriage was at the door; he got in
first. they followed him, pulled down
The blinds, and the carriage ratified
away.
They seemed to drive great distance,
turning and turning many times. Once
he inquired, Had they Tar to goW and
received the brief answer, mo" Al
last they drove into the courtyard of a
great house. The door opened as ii by
magic.
They ascended the wide stone STAIR
case, and on reaching the, first landing
they threw open door, and tor second
he was almost blinded by the blaze OF
light that stNamed out upon him. The
door closed behind him as he stepped in
the room. He took in the whole aspect
of the room at glance; it was gorgeous
~ hril utl inn RI
with wax candles; at table near the
heavily curtained window 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:
"Your patient lies there, sir"
My granutathers eyes followed the
direction Of his finger, and observed a
woman stretched upon coach. Where
had he seen that face before? Slowly it
dawned upon his memory. A few days
back he had been at the theater, and,
glancing around was struck by beauti.
Iul, fair face, which, for the time, las
cinated him; he thought 1t the loyeliest
there. He looked on 1T again now; but
how changed! the hands were clasped
dumb, white terror was written. on the
face; and in the great, uplifted eyes
there was hopeless, despairing 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 re-
Lease her mouth, that sue might ans Wer
his questions, adding:
II must know something of the symp-
toms before can attempt q cure"
t'Your business here il 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 doomed to die by a secret, though
Just, tribunal, but we must temper JUS
tlce 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"
"a doctor never travels without his
TOOLS" resumed the stranger, and as he
spoke he turned the lace back from the
tender throat, and pointing to it, added
significantly, "Open the jugular vein
it is the easiest and quickest way TO
die"
My grandfather started back amazed
and hOrror-struck. These were the very
words he had uttered during one OF those
pleasant gatherings at the house OF Gel.
ebrated Neapolitan few days back.
| sHow dare yoa propose to me such q