The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-02-15
STORY OF A PHYSICIANS WIFE.

~ 7lTl
"I have heard Of persons whose hair
was whitened through excessive fear, but,
as never saw myself any one so affected,
am disposed to be incredulous on the
subject.n
The above remark was made to Dr.
Maynard as we sat on the piazza of his
pretty villa, discussing the different effects
of terror on dissimilar temperaments.
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 experiences II is the
most convincing argument | can ad-
vance,
looked at Mrs. Maynard in surprise.
had observed that her hair, which was
luxuriant and dressed very bocomingly,
was purely colOrless; but, as she was q
young woman, and also a very pretty one,
| surmised that 1t was powdered to
heighten the brllliancy of her fine dark
eyes.
The doctor and had been fellow stu.
dents, but, after leaving college, we had
drifted apart to commence practice in
an Eastern city, he to ptrsue his profes.
sion in growing town in the West, /
was now on visit to him for the first
time since his marriage.
Mrs. Maynard, no doubt reading my
supposition by my look Of incredulity,
smiled rs she shook her snowy tresses
over her shoulders, and, seating herself
by her husbands side, related the follow
ting episode:
ut is nearly two years ago since my
husband was called on one evening to
visit q patient several miles away. Our
domestics had all gone to wake IN the
vicinity, the dead man being a relative of
one of our serving women. Thus I was
left alone. But felt no fear, for we
never had heard a a of burglars or any sert Of
sisting of few scattering houses. The
windows leading out on the piazza were
open as now, but l secured the blinds be-
| fore my husbands departure, and locked
the outside doors, all except the front one,
which l left for the doctor to lock after
going out, so that, if should fall asleep
before his return, he could enter without
arousing me. I heard the Doctors rapid
footsteps on the gravel, quickened by the
urgent tones of the messenger who awaited
him; and after the sharp rattle of car
riage- wheels had become but an echo,
seated myself by the parlor astral, and
soon became absorbed in the book had
been reading before being disturbed by
the summons. But after time my In
terest succumbed to drowsiness, and I
thought of retiring, when the clock in the
doctors study adjoining the parlor struck
twe.ve, 80 determined TO wait few mo-
ments more, feeling that he would be
home now very soon. / closed my book,
donned fobe-ds-chanslre, let down my
hair, and then returned to my scat to pa
Itiently wait and listen. Not the faintest
sound disturbed the stiffness Of the night.
Not breath of air stirred the
leaf. The siience was so profound
that it became oppressive. / longed for
the sharp click Of the gate latch and the
well known step on the gravel-walk. I did
not dare to break the hush myself by
moving or singing. I was so oppressed
with the deep Stiffness. The human mind
| is a strange torturer of itself. / began to
conjure up vivid .fancies about ghostly
visitants, lin the midst of which occurred
to me the stories had heard from super.
stitious 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 acci-
| dent at the saw-mill In the midst Of
these terrifying reflections was startled
by stealthy football on the piazza. /
| listened between fear and hope. It might
be the doctor. But no, he could not tread
| like that; the step was too soft and eau
tious for anything less willy than cat.
As listened again, my eyes were fixed
Ion the window blind. saw the stats
| move slowly and softly, and then the
rays Of the moon disclosed thin, cadav-
erous face, and bright, glittering eyes,
peering at me. o horror! who was it
or what was it? II felt the cold perspira-
tion start at every pore, seemed to be
! frozen in my chair. / could not movel
could not cry out; my tongue seemed
glued to the roof Of my mouth, while the
| deathly-white face pressed closer, and the
great sunken eyes wandered in their gaze
about the room. In q few moments the
blind closed noiselessiy as it had been
opened, and the cautious footsteps came
toward the door. Merciful Haven't !
cried in horror- stricken whisper, - ]
heard the key turn in the lock, the Doc
| tor, In his haste, must have forgotten tc
withdraw the key"
God forgive mel'' calculated Dr..
Maynard, inter1upting his vile, and look
| ing far more excited than she. car
nevor forgive myself for such 3 thought.
less act. Please proceed, my dear.
II heard the front door open, the step
In the hall, and helpless ~ = statue ] sd
! riyeted to my chair. Theparlor- door was
topen, and tn II stood 3 tall, thin man
whom I never behelda before He w
/ dressed in . long loose 1obe- sort d
/ gaberdine, and : hlack velvet skull- l-caF
/ partially concealed { bro1d forehead, un.
| der which cleaned bls6k eyes; bright 4