The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-03-03

49, 90 n, iselessly as 1t had been opened,
w ,,a cautions footsteps came toward the
d ano "Mcrcirul heavens" cried in Il hor'
;, ror stricken whisper, as heard tie key turn
in the lock. "ihc Doctor, in his haste must
have forgotten to withdraw the Key
"God forgive me-" CALCULATED Dr. Maynard
inlerrupiing his wife, and looking far more
excited than she. Il can never forgive my
sclt for such a thoughtless act Please pro-
coed, my dear" :.
~ heard the front door open, the step IN
the hall. and helpless as a statue sat riveted
10 nv chair. The parloi door was open, ana
IN il stood a tall, thin man, whom l never be-
held before He was dressed IN very loose
irobe-a sort OF gaberdne, and black velvet
skull can partially concealed the broad lore
head under which cleaned black eyes, bright
as living Goals, and placed so near together
that their eaze was preternatural in its direct
ness; heavy crizzed eyebrows hung over
them like the tangled name of lion; the
nose was prominent, and the chin was over
grown with white hair, which hung down IN
locks as weird as the Ancient Mariners. lie
politely doired his cap, bowed. replaced II,
and then said, in voice with slightly ior-
cigE accent
".Madame, il is not necessary for me to
stand on any further ceremony, as your hus-
band, DIR. Maynard, (hereupon he again bow
ed profoundly has already acquainted you
with the nature of my business here tonight
perceive he added, glancing at my negllge
robe that you were expecting me-
! NO" | found voice to stammer. "lhe
Doctor has said nothing to me about visitor
at this hour of the night"
"'Ah he wished TO spare you, no doubt,
disagreeable apprehension, he returned, ad
vancing and taking a seat on the sofa oppo-
site me, where for q few moments he eyed me
| from head to foot with strange glitering
light in his eyes that mysteriously Impressed
me. You have remarkably fine physique
Madame he observed quietly; one that
might deceive the eye of the most skilled and
practical physician. Do you suffer much
PAM
"Unahlr to speak shook my head. ter
| rible suspicion was creeping over me. was
alone, miles away from any aid or rescue,
with a mailman.
"'Ah,' he continued retlectively, your hus
band may have mistaken tumor for can.
Ger. Allow ME to feel your pulse he SAID,
rising and bending over me.
81 thought it best to humor him, remem'
beTing that It was uDwise for helpless wo
man to oppose the as yet harmless freak OF
unatic He took out his watch, shook his
head gravely, laid my hand down gently,
then went toward the study, where, Oh the
table, was an open case of surgical instru'
men,s.
".Do not be alarmed, Madame he said to
me as was about TO rise and fee, and in an.
other instant he was by my side, with the
case in his possession.
"Involuntarilv | raised my hand and cried
out:
"'Sparc mel Oh, spare me, beseech you!
"Madame,' he said sternly, clasping my
waist with his long, sinewy fingers, with a
grin of steel. you behave like child. have
no time to parey, for have received a letter
from the Emperor of the French stating that
he is suffering from an lilac abscess and is
very DESTROYS of my attendance. l must start
for Europe Immediately after operating upon
your breast and before | 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 balze. On
this he laid me, and holding me down with
one hand with the strength of maniac, he
brought forth from some hidden recess in his
gown several leather straps, with which he
secured me to the table with the skill Of an
expert, it was but the work of moment to
unloose my robe and bare my bosom. Then,
after carefully examining my left breast, he
said:
MADAME. your husband has made mis-
take | find no necessity for my Intended
operation
AT this gave long-drawn sigh of relief
and prepared to rise.
But, he continued, Il have discovered
that your heart is as large as that of an OK!
will remove il so that you may see for your
self reduce it to a natural size by curious
process of my own, unknown 10 the medical
science and Of which am the sole discoverer
and then replace 1t again
"He then began to examine The cruel knife,
on which closed my eyes, while every nerve
was in perccptible ,remor.
1.-The mechanism OF the heart is like that
of a watch he resumed; If ii goes too fast.
the great blood-vessel that supplies the force
must be stopped like the lever of watch
and the works must he cleaned, and repaired
and regulated
at NAV interest you 10 know that | was
present at the post mortem examination held
over the remains OF the beautiful Louise OF
Prussia Had | been consulted before her
death, | would have saved her life by taking
ont her heart a d removing the polypi, be-
tween which it was firmly wedged, like as If
IN a vice; but was called too late. The
King and myself had a little difference; he
was German, | am French. | trust that is u
sufficient explanation.
"He now bent over me, MS long WRite OedIu
brushing my face. Iraised my eyes beseech-
inrly. trying TO think OF some way to save
myself oh, sir, give me an anGsthetlc that
| may not feel the pain pleaded.
"'lndeed, indeed, ma iame, would comply
with your wish were yon not the wife OF a
physician or skilled surgeon. | wish You
note with what ease | perform this difficult
operation, so that you may tell your husband
of the great sayant whose services he secured
fortunately in season.
| AS he said IhIs. he made the final test OF
/ hlS Knite on his thumb. How precious were
the moments nowl They were fleeing all toe
! fast. and vet an eternity seemed compressed
| in every one. never tainted II my lite, and
i | never fc, less like swooninC than now, AS
summoned all my presence of mind To delay
the fearful moment, lervenly praying in Tho
meantime Tor my husband return.
Il "'Dnc,or.' said I, with assumed composure
III have the utmost confidence in your skill