The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-10-01

It appears that during that mOmentOus
visit to 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 discoursing and dis
cussing intellectual and scieotific subjects
chemistry, surgery, and once, among
these things the use and misuse Of poisons
cropped up in the course of conversation !;
and some one present-a gentleman of
some note and importance-asked what
was the quickest and easiest death to die.
The subject was freely debated.
One evening he returned from one of
those pleasant gatherings, and in a refiec-
tive mood of mind, sat for an hour looking
over the mooulit city and the beautiful,
world famous bay. 1t was near midnight
when two strangers were shown in to him,
and requested his immediate attendance in
great urgency.
A 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 a great distance,
turning and turning many times. Once he
inquired, "Had they far to CO." and re-
ceived the brief answer, "No." At last
they drove into the courtyard of a great
house. The door opened as if by magic.
They ascended the wide stone staircase,
and on reaching the first landing they
threw open a door, and for a second he
was almost blinded by the blaze of light
that streamed out upon him. The door
closed behind him as he stepped in the room.
He took in the whole aspect of the room at
a glance; it was gorgeously furnished and
brilliantly illuminated with wax candles
at a table near the heavily curtained win
dow man of stern, commanding appear
ance sat writing. He raised his head as
they entered, and pointing to the far end of
the room, exclaimed:
"Your patient lies there, sir.'
My grandfather's eye followed the di-
rection of his finger, and observed a wo--
man stretched upon couch. Where had
he seen that face before? Slowly it dawped
upon his memory. A few days back he
had been at the theatre, and, glancing
around was struck by beautiful fair face,
which, for the time, fascinated him; he
thought it the loveliest there. He looked
on it again now but, how changed The
bands were clasped upon the breast, as
though in prayer 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 torelease her
mouth, that she might answer his ques-
tious, adding:
81 must know something of the SYM
toms before can attempt cure.'
"Your business here is to kill, not to
cure, Doctor" said une in a strangely sad
tone which accorded i'll with his stern,
fearful phrase. "Your patient has spoken
her last words in this world. She is doomed
to die by secret, though just, tribunal,
but we must temper justice with mercy
and spare her the shame and public dis
grace. You can cause her to die easily
and secretly, therefore we have brought
you here"
ga 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's
the easiest and quickest way to de-"
Ny grandfather started back amazed and
horror-struck. These were the words he
had uttered during one of those pleasant
gatherings at the house of a celebrated
Neapolitian few days back.
"How dare you propose to me such a
crime?' he exclaimed. clam an English
man, and will not commit murGer'
''Pshaw! your nation produces as many
honorable criminals as any other. Do
your work, sir, and quickly -
81 refuse to obey Jour cruel command.
Let me 60"
The man who had been writing, and
until now had taken no part whatever in
the scene that was passing around him,
then rose and joined the group. Laying
his hand lightly on my grandfather's
shoulder, he said:
"There is no escape for you, Doctor !;
every moment you hesitate you prolong
that woman's pain. She must die; and
you can dispatch her with painless speed"
''What if I refuse? You cannot force
me to commit 80 foul murder"
lie pointed to two swarthy figures (either
soldiers or liveried servants Of some noble
family-my grandfather could not tell
which), who had been standing motionless
by the couch, and answered /:
sThen those faithful fellows will dis
patch you and afterwards dispatch her ;
they are not professionals, and their work
will be clumsily done. If the operation
be not performed upon your patient before
the clock strikes, you know your fate
your life without saving hers. She is
doomed no power on earth can save her. -
1t was vain to speak or to expostulate