The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-09-21
A STRANGE STORY.

1t was in the autumn of the year 1882
that surgeon in Boulogne of the name
Etienne Lefebvre received a letter, not
bearing any signature, requesting him to
repair on the following day to country
house which was situated ON the road
leading TO Calais, and to bring along
such Instruments as would be required
for performing an operation.
Next morning, sure enough, on the
stroke of nine, a carriage drove up to
his door. The doctor made no hesita-
tioD, but at once took his seat in the car
riage. As he was getting in he inquired
of the coachman where he was to be
taken to; but the man appeared not to
know or did not choose to tell but, as
he spoke in English, Leiebvre said to
himself, $50 it is an Englishman to
whom | am summoned" and he accord
ingy prepared himself for an exhibition
of eccentricity on the part of one OF that
nation which even now is 50 little under
stood by continentals. At length the
carriage stopped, and the doctor hastened
into the house.
He was received at the entrance by a
fine looking young man of about twenty
five years of age, who requested him to
walk into large aud handsome room on
the first floor. His accent showed him
to be an Englishman, and he said:
Monsieur Lefebvre, pray be seated.
have entire confidence in you; only
listen to me. Here is purse containing
one hundred gIineas, which offer you as
fee for the operation you are asked to
perform, no matter what the result may
be. In case of you refusing compliance
with my request you see this pistol? 1t
is loaded and you are in my power. AS
! hope for salvation, | will blow your
brains out"
"Sir, | am not to be deferred from do
ing what consider proper by any fear
ofyour pistol. But what do you desire ?
What am expected to dol
"You must cut my right leg off,
"With all my heart" answered the
surgeon, thinking that this was a char
acteristic specimen of those mad English
"and your hand, also, il necessary or de
sirable. However, unless | am greatly
mistaken your leg is perfectly sound. |
saw you walk down stairs with the
greatest activity. What can be the mat
ter with your leg?
Nothing; but it most come off,"
"Well, NJ. Letebvre," replied the
Englishman, taking up the pistol, " L
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 bullet, you shall
do through humanity"
How 20, sir %
al intend to shatter my leg with this
pistol, and that, too, before your eyes,"
answered the Englishman. who accord
ingIy seated himself, cooked the pistol,
and then took deliberate aim at his knee
joint.
Leiebvre rushed forward to prevent
him, but the Englishman coolly ex-
claimed:
"Do not come near if You do, fire.
Now coolly answer me this question:
DO you wish to prolong my suffering
needlessly ?"
"Sir, you are mad" answered the doc
tor in despair but have your own
way-I am ready to do az you wish"
Everything was ready for the opera
ton. Az soon as the doctor took up his
Instruments, the Englishman lighted his
cigar, and declared he would smoke until
the operation was conclued. He kept
his word. The iieless leg rested upon
the floor, but the Englishman still smok-
ed on. The operation had been per-
formed in most mastery manner, and,
thanks to DR.. Lefcbvre's skill and atten.
ton, the patient soon became perfectly
recovered, although, of course, he had
10 be supplied with wooden leg. He
Ie--;;vd,d the surgeon, whom he had
. .. "'"" led to esteem mere and more every
""Ve ythanked him with tears in his eyes
for the great obligation under which he
had laid him, and in short time started
for England.
About two months after his patients
departure the surgeon received the fol
lowing letter from England:
Enclosed you will receive token of
my bOundless gratitude-a bill Of ex.
change on my banker in Paris for
$500 francs. You have rendered me
the happiest of men by Kidding me
OF limb which was an obstacle in
the way of my happiness. Learn then
the reason OF what you termed my mad
ness. You assured me that there could
he no iustifiable motive for so singular a
mutilation. offered you wager, and !
think you were right in refusing it. Az
ter my second return from the East Indies,
l became acquainted with Susan Black,
the most accomplished and facinating OF
women. l sought her hand in mar.
riage. Her fortune and family were such
as met with the entire appreciation Of
my parents. As for me, thought only
OF her charms. | was happy enough t
gain her affections-a fact which she did
not attempt to deny; but she at the sam,
time firmly refused to become my wife
In vain did | beseech her to do so; L.
vain did her relations all second NV dc