Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-11-15
The Sturp Te1er.
STORY OF A PHYSICIANS WIFE.


whitened through excessive fear, but, as
never saw myself any one so afflicted, am
disposed to be incredulous on the subject"
% The above remark was made to DR.. May.
nard as we sat on the piazza of his pretty
villa, discussing the different effects of terror
on dissimilar temperaments. Without reply.
ing to me the doctor turned to his wife and
said: "Helen, will you please relate to my
friend the incident within your own expe-
rience2 It is the most convincing argument
lean advance" -. ...
Il looked at Mrs. Maynard in surprise. |
had observed that her hair, which was luxu'
RANT and dressed very becomingly, was pure
" colorless +; but, as she was young woman,
and also very pretty one, surmised it was
powdered to heighten the brilliancy of her
fine dark eyes.
The doctor and had been fellow'students,
but, after leaving college, we had drifted
apart to commence practice in an eastern
CITY, he to pursue his profession in a growing
town in the west was on visit to him for
the first time since his marriage.
Mrs. Maynard, no doubt reading my suppo'
sition by my look of incredulity, smiled as
she shook her snowy tresses over her should
ers, and seated herself by her husbands side,
related the following episode:
ut is nearly two years ago since my hus-
band was called upon one evening to visit a
patient several miles away. Our domestics
had all gone to wake in the vicinity, the
dead man being relative Of one of our serv-
ing women. Thus was left alone, but felt
no fear, for we never had heard of burglars
or any sort of fdesperadoes in our quiet village,
then consisting of few scattering houses.
The windows leading out on the piazza were
open as now, but secured the blinds before
nv husbands departure, and locked the out
side doors, all except the front one, which l
left for the doctor to lock after going out, 80
that, if I should fall asleep before his return,
he could enter without arousing me. heard
the doctors rapid footsteps on the gravel,
quickened by the urgent tones of the messen-
ger who awaited him; and, after the sharp
rattle of carriage-wheels had become but an
echo, seated myself at the parlor astral, and
soon became absorbed in book had been
reading before being disturbed by the sum.
mons. But after time my interest succumbed
to drowsiness, and thought of retiring, when
the clock in the doctors study adjoining the
parlor struck IL, 80 determined to wait few
moments more, feeling that he would be home
now very soon. I closed my book, donned q
robe-de.chambre, let down my hair, and then
returned to my seat to patiently wait and lis.
ten. Not the faintest sound disturbed the
stiffness of the night. Not a breath of air
stirred the leaf
The silence was 80 profound that it became
oppressive. I longed for the sharp click of
the gate latch and the we'll known step on
the gravel-walk. I did not dare to break
the hush by moving or singing, was 30 op.
pressed with the deep stiffness. The human
mind is a strange torturer Of itself. [ began
to coniure up vivid fancies about ghostly Wis
itants, in the midst of which occurred to me
the stories I had heard from superstitious
people about the troubled spirits of those who
had died suddenly, like the man whom my
servants had gone to wake" who had been
killed by an accident in saw.mill. In the
midst of these terrifying reflections / was
startled by q stealthy 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 cautious for any
thing less willy than cat. As | listened
again, my eyes were fixed on the window.
blind. saw the Stats move slowly, and then
the rays of the moon disclosed thin, cadav-
erous face, and bright, glittering eyes, peer
ing at me. 0 horror! what was it? | felt
the cold perspiration start at every pore. |
could not cry out; my tongue seemed glued
to the roof of my mouth, while the deathly
white face pressed close, and the great sunk
en- eyes wandered in their gaze about the
room. In few moments the blind closed as
uoselessly as it had been opened, and the
cautious footsteps came towards the door,
"Merciful Heavenr' I cried, in a horror
stricken whisper, as heard the key turn in
the lock, "the Doctor in his haste, must have
forgotten to withdraw the key"
"God forgive me!' calculated DR.. Mayn.
ard, iaterrupting his wife, and looking fal
more excited than she II can never forgive
myself for such thoughtless act. Please
proceed, my dear"
II heard the front door open, the step in
the hall, and helpless as statue sat riveted
to my chair. The parlor door was open, and
in it stood tall, thin man, whom never be-
held before He was dressed in very loose
robe-a sort of gaberdine, aud black vel
vet skull-cap partially concealed broad
forehead, under which cleaned black eyes
bright as living Goals and placed so near to
gether that their gaze was almost preternatu
raj in its directness i; heavy grizzled eyebrow
hung over them like the tangled name of 8
lion the nose was sharp and prominent, and
the chin was overgrown with white hair
which hung down in locks as wierd as thu