The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-08-16

ai95 harQ,f interrupting his wife. and
looking fat more excited than she. "I
can never forgive myself FOR such a
dear"
heard the front door open, the step
in the hall, and helpless as statue sat
riyeted to my chair. The parlor door
was open, aud in il stood a tall, thin
man, whom / had never behoi1 Dc:o.c.
lie was dressed in long. loose robe,
sort of gaberdine. and black velvet
skull cap partially concealed broad
forehead, underneath which cleaned
black eyes, bright as living coals, and
| placed 80 near together that their gaze
grizzled eyelids hung over them like the
sharp and prominent, and the chin was
oyergrown with white hair, which hung
down in locks weird us the ancient
mariners.
He politely doffed his cap, bowed, re-
placed il, and then said, in o slightly
foreign accent:
Madame, it is not necessary for Inc to
stand on any further ceremony, as your
husband, DIR. Maynard, (hereupon he
again bowed profoundly has already
acquainted you with the nature OF my
business here tonight. PERCEIVE" he
added, glancing at my negligent robe,
that yon were expecting me-"
No." l found voice to stammcr, "the
doctor has said nothing to me about
visitor at this hour Of the night"
An, he wished To spare you, no doubt,
- disagrccablc apprehension" he re-
turned, advancing and taking seat on
'llc sofa opposite me, where for Il few
moments lie sat and eyed me kecnly
from head TO foot with strange glitter
ing light in his eyes that mysteriously
impressed me. you have u remarkable
fine physique, madame" lie observed
quietly zone that might deceive the
eye OF the most skilled and practical
physician. Do you suffer much pain 2"
Unable To speak, I shook my head.
a terrible suspicion was creeping over
me. was nlone-milcs, perhaps away
from uid or rescue-with madnlnn.
"Ah," he continued, "your husband
may haze mistaken tumor for cancer.
Allow me to feel your pulse, he said ris-
ing and bending over me-"
III thought II best to humor him, re-
mcnbering it was unwise for helpless
woman to oppose the, US yet, harmless
freak of "a lunatic. He took out his
watch, shook his head gravely, laid my
hand down gently, then went towards
the study. where, on the table, was an
open case of surgical instruments.
DO not bc alarmed, madame" he
sai1, turning toOe ~ was about to rise
and flee, and in another Instant no was
by my side with the case in his posses
sion.
Spare me Oh, spare me, besecch /"
| "Mn1au " t., aotJ otorpt,, <,I,.x;,,-
my wrists with his long siliewy fingers
with a grip Of steel "y0u behave like a
child. have no time to parley, for
have received e letter from tho Emperor
of the French stating that he il suffering
from an lilac abscess, and is desirous OF
my attendance. | must start for Europe
immediately after performing the opera
ton on your Breast" and before I could
make the slightest resistance he had me
IN his arms, and was carrying inc into
the study, where there was long table
with green baize. On this he laid me,
ana holding me down with one hand
with the strength of u maniac, he brought
forth from some hidden recess in his
gown several leather strings, with which
| he secured me to the table with the skill
of an expert. 1t 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
mistake. l find no necessity for my in
tended operation"
~ this Z gave "a long -.irawn sigh of
relief, and prepared to rise.
But" he continued, II have dis.
covered that your heart Is as large as that
OF an ox7 / will remove 1t so that YOU
may SEQ for yourself, reduce it to it's nat
| ural size by n curiona process of my own,
unknown 20 the medical science. and of
whicf am tne sole discoverer, and then
replace 1t again."
He now began TO examine the edge of
the cruel knife, on which / closed my
eyes, while every nerve was in percent.
BILE tremOr.
"The mechanism Of the heart Is like n
watch" he resumed; "if it goes too fast
the great blood vessel that supplies the
force must be stopped like the lever of
watch, and the works must be cleaned
and repaired aud regulated. 1t may in
terest yot to know that was present at |
the post-mortem examination held over
the remains of the beautiful Louise of |
Prussia. Had | been consulted before |
death would have saved her by taking
out her heart and removing the polypi
between which it was wedged like as If |
in vice; but was called too late. The |
King and | had little differencc-he |
was a German, l am French. i trust |
that is sufficient explanation"
He now bent over me, his long white
beard brushing my face. raised my
eyes beseeShingly. trying to think OF
somo way to ss5ve myself:
"OE, sir. give me an anesthetic that I !
may not feel the paiayn pleaded,
Indeed. indeed, lsadame, I would !
comply with your wish were you not the
wife of physician--oS o skilful surgeon.
J wish you to note with what ease l per-
fuYpi this difficult operatiGs so that you
may tell your husband of the great sayant
whose services he secured, fonSrnasely in
season."
As ha saiA shis he made final seae of }
his knife on his thumb. How moTgsnts
we're fleeing al! :oo ::.s., Us: and yet eternity
seemed compressed to every one. I
n8veg tainted in my life, and never fels
less like srfooning than now, ns / sum.
moHeA alt aly presence Of mind ca delay
Che feaffS mo d ontss fer ipsasing in
Che SuetigisAs for hys' Hnlbands ;fetjrn.
. "Docs5fp Said J. With assumed COM
posure, ~ have the utmost confidence in
yonrSslsin. / tses.ad not trust my life 10
another; but Doesey, you have forgotten
to brirg Q napkiR 10 sta9nch the blood,
ii 5-9f &i:is siS:e tho goOdasEs to ascend
to my sleeping chamber IS the right of
che hall, 3. will hnd evey3 ding you I
need for the purpose in the buEeaas.