The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-09-06
esidence, position and family. 2

consider me a man Of honor" q
"A man of honor does not. utter un-
justifable threats against his guests.
l have to perform a duty even towards
yous who are a stranger to me. Ny
reasons for refusing to accede to your
absurd request are, as you must admit,
sound and Just. Do you wish to be
the murderer Of an innocent father Of
large family p
"Well, Monsieur Lefebvre," replied
the Englishman, taking up the pistol,
81 will not fire upon you, and yet ]
will compel you to cut off this leg.
What you refuse to do to oblige. me,
through love of gain or fear of bull
let, you shall do through humanity"
How so, sir p
"l intend to shatter my leg with this
pistol, and that, too, before your eyes"
answered the Englishman, who accord
ingly seated himself, cooked the pis-
tol, and then took deliberate aim at
his knee-joint.
Lefebvre rushed forward to prevent
him, but the Englishman coolly ex-
claimed:
"Do not come near if you do / Ere.
Now only answer me this question : Do
you wish to prolong my suffering need
lessly ?"
"Sir, you are mad answered the
doctor, in despair; "but have your
own way-I am ready to do as you
WISH"
Everything was ready for the ope-
ration. AS soon as the doctor took up
his instruments the Englishman light
ed his cigar, and declared that he
would smoke until the operation was
concluded. He kept his word. The
lifeless leg rested upon the floor but
the Englishman smoked on, The op-
Grafton had been performed ia Eost
mastery manner, and, thanks to Dr.
Lefebvre's skill and attention, the pa
tient soon became perfectly recovered,
although, of course, he bad to be sup
piled with wooden leg. He reward
ed the surgeon, whom he had learned
to esteem more and more every day /;
thanked him with tears in his eyes for
the great obligation under which he
had laid him and in a short time
started for England.
About two months after his patient's
departure the surgeon received the fol-
lowing letter from Englahd:
Inclosed you will reeive token of
my boundless gratitnde--a bill of ex-
change on my banker in Paris for
$500 francs. You have rendered me
tbe happiest Of men by ridding me of
a limb which was an obstacle in the
way of my happiness. Learn then, the
reason of what you, termed my mad
ness. You assured nae that there could
| be no iusti6able excuse for so singular
a mutilation. 1 offered you a wager,
and think you were right in refusing
lit. After my second return from the
East Indies I became acquainted with
Susan Black, the most accomplished
and fascinating of women. I sought
her hand in marriage. Her fortune
and family we're such as met with the
entire appreciation of my parents. AS
for me, / thought only of her charms.
was soon happy enough to gain her
affections,-a fact which she did not
attempt to deny; but she, at the same
time firmly refused to become my wife.
In vain did l beseech her to do so; in
vain did her relations all second my
desire. She was inaexible. For a
long time ] could not discover the rea.
son of her opposition to marriage
which she herself confessed would make
her happy until at last, one of her
sisters revealed the fatal secret to me.
Susan was marvel of beauty, but she
was so unfortunate as to have lost O
leg, and she had consequently con.
! Idemned herself to eternal celibacy
NV resolution was quickly formed, and
I determined TO become like her
Thanks to you. my dear Lefebvre, my
wishes we're soon accomplished. | re
turned with my wooden leg to Lon,
don. l fastened to gain Information
of Miss Black. The report had been
spread, and / myself had taken care
to write TO my friends in England ia
the same effect, that / had the misfor-
tune to fracture my leg, and that am
putation had been found absolutely
necessary. Every one expressed the
greatest concern at my misfortune
Susan tainted oue the occasion of my
frst presenting myself. She was fol
a long time inconsolable, but at length
she consented to become my wife. II
was only on the morning after oul
marriage that 1 confessed to her the
sacrifice by which l had at length beer
enabled to gain her consent to be mine
The avowal Increased her love. On
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