The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-02-07
acknowledgement.
Story of a Physicians Wife.

| am disposed to be incredulous on the
subject"
The above remark was made to DR..
Maynard Ns we sat on the piazza OF his
pretty villa, discussing the different ef.
tects OF terror on dissimilar temper
amciAs, Without replying to me, the
Doctor turned to his wife and said :
Helen, will you please relate to my old
friend the incident within your own cx-
pcrlence? 1t is the most convincing ar
gument | can advance
| looked at Mrs. Maynard in surprise.
! had observed that her hair, which was
luxuriant and dressed very becomingly,
was purely colorless; hui, as she was
i young woman, and also very pretty
one, surmised that it was powdered to
hcightcn the brilliancy Of her fine dark
eyes.
The Doctor and / had been fellow
students, but, after leaving college, we
had dritted apatt--l to commence prac.
lice in an Eastern city, he to pursue his
profession in growing town in the West.
| was now on visit to him 10: the first
time since his marriage.
Mrs. Maynard, no doubt reading my
Imposition by my look OF incredibly,
smiled as she shook her snowy tresses
over her shoulders, and, seating herself
by her husbands side, related the follow.
ing episode:
at is nearly two years ago since my
husband was called one evening to visit
patient several miles away. Our do.
mestics had all gone to wake in the
vicinity, the dead man being u relative
Of one Of our serving women. Thus
was left alone. But | felt no lear, for we
never had heard of burglars or any sort
Of desperadoes in our quiet village, then
consisting of few scattering houses. The
windows leading out on the piazza were
open rs now, but secured the blinds be-
lore my husbands departure, and locked
ihcoutsiie doors, all except the front one,
which left Tor the Doctor to lock after
going out, so that, if should fall asleep
before his return, he could enter without
arouslng me. heard the Doctors rapid
footsteps on the gravel, quickened by the
urgent tones OF the messenger who await.
ed him; and, after the sharp rattle OF
carriage wheels had become but On echo,
seated myself by the parlor astral, and
soon became absorbed in the book | had
been reading before being disturbed. by
thcsummons. But after n time my in.
lercst suCCumbed to drowsiness, and |
thought Of retiring, when the clock in
the Doctors study adjoining the parlor
struck II, so determined to wait n few
moments more, feeling that he would be
home now very soon. ! closed my book,
ionned 4 robe.dc.chNmbre, let down my
hair, and then returned to my seat to
patiently wait and listen: Not the faint
est sound disturbed the Stiffness Of the
night. Not breath OF air stirred the
leaf. The silence was so profound that
itbccame oppressive. l longed for the
.harp click Of the gate.latch and the we'll
known step on the gravel walk. | did
not dare to break the hush myself by
moving or singing, | was so oppressed
with the deep stiffness. The human
mind Is strange torturer otitself. / be-
gan to conjure up vivid fancics about
rhostly visitants, in the midst OF which
occurred to me the stories had heard
from supcrstitious people about the
troubled spirits of those who had died
'lddenly, like the man whom my ser
wants had gone to wake who had been
Killed by an accident at the saw mill. In
the midst Of these terrifying reflections l
vas startled by stcHthly football on the
piazza. | listened between fear and hope.
1t might be the Doctor. But no, he would
not tread like that; the step was too soft
and cautious for anything less willy than
2cat, As | listened again, my eyes were
liked on the window-blind. ! saw the
Hats move slowly and softly, and then the
rays OF the moon disclosed thin, cada'
vrrous face, and bright, glittcring eyes,
leering at me. Ohorros! who was II? OF
shat was ii? | felt the cold Precipitation
';1rt at every pore. | seemed 10 be fro
zen in my chair. ! could not novel
could not cry out; my tongue seemed
glued to my mouth, while the deathly'
white face pressed closer, and the great
pnken eyes wandered in their gaze about
tie room. In u few moments the blind
closed noiselessIy as it had been opened
and the cautious footsteps came toward
the door. "Alerciful Heaven" | cried
ina horror.strickcn whisper, as | heard
the key turn in the lock, the Doctor, in
9s haste, must have forgotten to with
draw the key.''
God forgive me!7 calculated Dr.
Maynard, inIerrupting his wife, and look
ing far more excited than she. al car
never forgive myselifor such thought
'c'' act Please proceed my dear
81 heard the front door open, the stcI
IN the ball, and helpless as u statue sa
rIveted to my chair. The parlor-dooI
was open, and in it stood tall, thin man
whom never behcld before. lie wa
dressed IN long loose robe,-a sort o
saberdinc, and n black velvet scull-cal
partially concealed, broad forehead
under which cleaned black eyes, brigb
as living Goals, and placed so near to
Sclher that their gaze was preternatura
IN its dircctncss; heavy gri1lled eyebrow
hung over them like the tangled man
oil a lion; the nose was sharp and promi
nent, aud the chin was ovcrgrown will
"HNS "''I winch HuIle uOWH III IOCkh u
wierd rs the Ancient Mariners. lie pc
litcly dotted his cap, bowed, replaced i,
and then said, in a slightly foreign &C
cent.
"Madamc, it is not necessary for mo I
stand on any further ceremony, as Won
husband, DR.. Maynard [herCupon h
again bowed profoundly has alrcad
acquainted youwith the nature Of my bus
ness here tonight. lperceivc,' he adde,
giancing at my negligc robe, that 70
were expecting me- ~
"No, | found voice to stammer: TT
Doctor has said nothing to me about
visitor at this hour Of the night
"AhI he wished 10 spare you, i
doubt, a disgracetul apprehension he r
turned, advancing, and taking seat o
the sofa opposite me, where for few nj
mcnts he sat and eyed me from head I
loot, with strange glittering light /
nls eyes that mysteriously impressed M
1Io9 have remarkably fine physiqu