South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-03-16

tnss YOU oro oxNoCong me. h iN
NO found voice 10 stsmmer.-
The Doctor has said nothing to me
about visitor at this hour orthe night"
"Ah! he wishedt % spare you. no doubt.
a disayreeablc apprehension, !" lie return.
ed. advancing. AM taking a seat on the
sofa opposite me. where for few mo-
ments he sat and eyed me from heal to
foot with strange glittering light in
his eyes that mysterioasly impressed
me. "You have a remarkably fine ply.
sique. malame." he observed quietly,
''ons that might deceive tho most skiil.
ed and practical physician. Do you
suffer much pain?"
unable to speak, shook my head.
A terrible suspicion was creeping over
me. Twas alone. miles away from aid
or rescue. with mailman.
"Ah y he continued redectively, "your
hust andk may have mistaken a tumor
for cancer. Allow me to feel your pulse. :"
he said, rising and bending over me.
Il thought it best to humor him, re-
membcting it was unwise for helpless
woman to oppose the as yet harmless
freak Of lunatic. He took out his
watch. shook his head gravely. laid my
hand down gently, then went toward
the study. where, on the table was an
open case Of surgical instruments.
''lnvoluntarily raised my hand and
cried -
"Sparc me Oh. spare me. i bcscech
you'll
Madame" he said sternly, clasping
my wrist with his long sinewy fingers,
with grip OF steel, .you behave like q
cliiid. have no time to parley, for /
have received letter from the Emperor
OF the French stating that Inc is suffering
from an lilac absooss, and is DESTROYS of
my attendance. | must start for Eu.
rope immediately after performing the
operation upon your breast = and before
l could make the slightest resistance,
he had me in his arms, and was carrying
me into the study, where there was
long table with green baize. On this
he laid me. AMI. holding me down with
one hand with the strength ola maniac,
he brought forth from some hidden re-.
cess in his gown several long leather
straps, with which he secured me to the
table with the skill Of an expert. 1t
was but the work ola moment to unloose
my robe and bare my bosom. Then,
after carefully examining my left breast,
he sail:
Madame, your husband has made a
mistake. find no necessity for my
intended operation"
A. this | gave long drawn sigh Of
relief, and prepared to rise
But" lie continued, have made the
discovery that your heart is as large as
that Of an OK. l viii. remove 1t 50 that
you may see for Yourself, reduce il to
Its natural by curious process of my
own, unknown to the medical science,
and OF which am the sole discoverer,
and then replace it again.
lie then began to examine the edge
Of the cruel knife, on which closed my
eyes. while every nerve was in per-
ceptible tremor.
The mechanism of the heart is like
watch" he resume |: ''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 clean.
ed, and prepared and regulated. 1t may
interest you to know that was present
at the post norton examination held
over the remains of the beautiful Louise
of Prussia. Had | been consulted be-
fore her death would have taken out
her heart. and removing the polypi, be.
tween which it was wedged like as il in
vice; but / was called too late. The
king and | had n little difference, he
was German and am French. l trust
that is sufficient explanation"
vile now bent over me, his long white
beard brushing my face. raised my
eyes beseechingly. trying to think OF
myself. 20, sir give me an anesthetic.
that may not feel the pain ~ plea.
ded.
Indeed. indeed, madame, I would
comply with your wish were you not
the wife of n pbysician--of n skillful
surgeon. / wish you TO note with what
case l perform this operation, so that
you may tell your husband orthe great
savant whose services he secured for
tuEately in season"
"As lie SAID this he made the final
test Of the knife on his thumb. How
precious were the moments now. Ttey
were flying all too fast, aud yet an eter.
nifty seemed compressed in every one
! never tainted in my life, and never
felt less like swoohing than now. rs I
summoned all my presence Of mind TO
delay the fearful moment. fervently
praying in the meantime for my hus.
bands return"
Doctor" said +, with assumed com.
posure, II have the utmost confidence
IN your SKILL would not trust my life
to another; bat. Doctor. you have for.
gotten 10 bring a napkin TO staunch the
blood. IL you will have the goodness
to ascend to my sleeping chamber, at
the right Of the hall, you will find every.
thing you neel for the purpose in the
bureau.
"Ah. madame" he said shaking his
head sagaciously. never draw blood
during a surgical operation; that is an.
other Of my. secrets unknown to the
faculty"