Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-03-23

I ABOUT the TOOus III lew MOIueutS tue
blind closed as noise!c<sly as it had been
opened, and the cautious footstcp came
toward the door. 'Merciful heaven!' l
cried, in horror.stricken whisper, as i
heard the key turn in the lock, the doc.
tor, in his haste, must have forgotten to
withdraw the key" ....-'.
''Gcd forgive me!' calculated Doctor
Maynard, into, rupting his wife and look.
ing far more excited than she. II can
never forgive myself for such thought.
less act. Please proceed my dear"
II heard the front door open, the steps
in the hall, and helpless as statue I still
sat rivited in my chair. The parlor door
was open. and in it stood tall, thin man,
whom had never beheld before. lie
was dressed in long, loose robe, a sort
Of gaberdine; and black velvet scull cap
partially concealed broad forehead IN.
derneath which cleaned black eyes,
bright as living Goals, and placed so near
together that their gaze was prcternatur'
al in its directncss; heavy grizzled eye
lids hung over them like the tangled
name Of a lion; the nose was sharp and
prominent, and the chin was overgrown
with white hair, which hung down in
locks weird as the ancient mariner s.
lie politely dotted his cap, replaced it,
and then said, in slightly foreign &C.
cent:
"'Madame, it is not necessary for me
to stand on any further ceremony, as
your husband, Doctor Maynard, (here'
upon he again bowed profoundly has
already acquainted you with the nature
Of my business here tonight. per
ceivc, he added, glancing at my neglige
robe. that you were expecting me.
"N:o," I found voice to stammer.
The doctor has said nothing to me about
having visitor at this hour Of the night
"'Ah, he wished to spare you no doubt,
disagreeablc apprehension he re.
turned, advancing and taking seat OH
the sofa opposite me, where for few
moments he sat and eyed me kecnly
from head to foot with strange glitter
ing light in his eyes that mysteriously
impressed me. You have remarkably
fine physique, madame he observed. qui.
city; one that might deceive the eye
of the most skilled and practical
physician. Do you suffer much pain 2
"Unable to speak, shook my head.
A terrible suspicion was creeping over
me. I was alonc-milcs perhaps away
from aid or rescuc-with a mailman.
"'Ah,' he continued, reaectivcly 'your
husband may have mistaken a tumor for
cancer. Allow me to feel your pulse, he
said. rising and bending over me.
81 thought best to humor him, remem
bering it was unwise for helpless woman
to oppose the, as yet, harmless freak Of a
lunatic. He took out his watch, shook
his head gravely, laid my hand down
gently, then went toward the study,
where on the table, were an open case Of
instruments.
"'Do not be alarmed madame he said.
turning to me as vas about to rise and
Zee, and in another instant he was by my
side with the case in his possession.
"Involunta:ily I raised my hand and
cried:
"'Sparc me! O, spare M, I beseech!
Madame he said sternly, clasring
my wrist with his long sinewy finger
with grip Of steel. you behave like a
child. have no time to parley, for
have received letter from the Emperor
Of the French stating that he is suffering
from an ilica abscess, and is DESTROYS OF
my attendance. Unjust start for Europe
Immediately after performing the Upper
alton on your breast and before l could
make the slightest resistance he had me
in his arms, and was carrying me into his
study, where there was long table with
green b lie. On this he laid me, hold.
ing me down with ono hand with the
strength Of maniac, he brought forth
from some hidden recess in his gown
several long leathern straps, with which
he secured me to the table with the skill
of an expert. 1t was but the work Of a
moment t" unloose my robe and bare my
bosom. Then after carefully examining
my left breast, he said:
Madame, your husband has made q
mistake. I find no necessity for my in.
tended operation
cat this gave long.drawn sigh Of
relief. and prepared to rise.
"'But,' he continued, 4 have made the
discovery that your heart is as large as
an OK! will remove it so that you may
see for yourself, reduce it to its natural
size by curious process OF my own, un.
known to medical science, and of which l
am the sole discovercr, and then replace
it again.
He now began to examine the
edge Of the cruel knife, on which closed
my eyes, while my every nerve was in
perceptible trenor.
"'The mechanism of the heart is like
WATCH" he resumed +; If it goes too fast,
the great blood vessel that supplies the
force must be stopped like the lever of a
watch, and the works must be cleaned
and repaired aud regulated. It may in.
tercst you to know that was at the post.
mortem examination held over the re.
mains Of the beautiful Louise of Prussia.
Had been consulted before death
would have saved her by taking out her
heart and'removing the polyhi between
which it was wedged like as if in q wise !:
but l was called too late. The king and
I had little difference-he was a Ger.
man, am French. I trust that is sui.
ficient explanation
HE now bent over me, his long white
beard brushed my face. I raised my
eyes beseechingly, trying to think Of some
way to save myself. %, sir, give me an
anesthe.ic, that l may not feel the pain,
I pleaded.
"'Inaeed, indeed, madame, I would
comply with your wish were you not the
vito Of q physician of a skillful surgeon.
I wish you to note with what ease l per.
form this difficult operation, so that
you may tell your husband Of the great
savant whose services he secured, fortu.
nately in season.
"As he said this he made the final test
of his knife on his thumb. How precious
were the moments now! They were fee
ing all too fast, and yet an eternity seem.
ed compressed in every one. I never
tainted in my life and never felt less
like swooning than now. as summoned
all my presence Of mind to delay the fear.
full moment, fervantly praying in the
meantime for my husbands return.
"tDoctor,' said I, with assumed com.
posture, Il have the utmost confidence in
your skill. would not trust my life to
another but doctor, you have forgotten
to bring napkin to staunch tho blood.
II you will have the goodness to ascend
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