, 1877-02-03
STORY OF A PHYSICIANS WIFE.

TT have 1icart1 OF persons wllosc lafr was
whitcncd through excessive fcnr, but, as never
saw myself any 0ne 80 affected, ain disposed
to lie incrclulo1is on the subject"
The aboya remark was made to Dr.. Maynard
as wu sat on the piazza Ut his pretty villa, dis
cussing the different effects OF terror on dis
similar tcniperaments. Without replying to
nc, tho Doctor turned to his vito and said:
"Hc!cn, will you please rclatc 10 my old
friend the Incident within your own experienced
1t is tho most convincing argument can ad-
vance,"
Hooked at HRS. Maynard in surprfsc. ] had
observed that her hair, which was lnxuriant
md dressed very bccomlngly, Voc purely col
orlcss; but, as she was young woman, and
also very pretty one, surtnIscd that It vas
powdered to teightcn tho brlliiancy Of her fino
dirk eyes.
The Doctor and l Ind been feilow-students,
hut, aftcr leaving college, VIC lind drftcd apart,
Il 10 commence practice In mn Eastern city, he
to puSsue lis profession In q growing town In
the West. I WAS noH on rtstt to him for tho
lrat tno since bis marriage.
Mrs. Maynard, no doubt rcallng mY suppo-
sttIon by my look Of incredulity, nnilcd as slte
shook her snowy trcsscs over her shoulders,
nutl. seating herself by her husbands side. re.
lated the following episode:
vt Is nearly two ycars ago sinco 1nY husband
was called On one evening to Visit d patient aev-
cral mltcs away. Our domcsslcs hid alt gonc to
.wate' in the Vicinity, the dead man being
rclatlye of one OF our serving. g.women. Thus
was left alone. But felt no fcnr, for wo never
had heard Of burClars or any dort Of iespc-
,atlocs IN our quiet village, then consisting Of
few scattering houses. Tho windows leading out
on tho piazza were open ns nov, but l secured
tue blLnta before my husbands departure, and
locked the outside doors, alt except tho front
ono, which ! left for tho Doctor tulock after go
Ing out, SO that II should tall asleep beforefts
return, he could enter without atotsfng inc I
l'carl tho Doctor's rapl footsteps on tho gravel.
gutckcpcd by tho urgent tones ot The i1esscrl-
gcr who awaited him; and, inter tho sharp rat
lie OF tarrlagc.wtcofs hnd beeolno hut an echo,
! seated myself ~ tho parlor astral, and soon
became aosorpea snf h to ok ~ ''au oeen feasl
But after q time my lntercat sucru1n6cl tu dFnw-
eincss, and thought Of retiring, when tho clock
in tho poctor's staay adjoining tue rarlor struck
80 fcelIne III o woul Be- oo @ ge1y
soo,l. closed my book, tlonncd tobc-lc-chatn-
hrc, let tinwn my llatr, and then returned TO my
seat to patiently wnlt and listen. Not the faint
Not breath Of aIr stirred tic Loaf. Tho sllctco
wns 70 profound that 1t became oppressive.
lonRe1 for the sharp click Of tho gatc..ateh anl
tho wcll-tnown stcp on thu grayel.Wulk. I did
not dare to hrcak the hush myaclf by moving Or
ness. Tho human mind u strnnge torturcr
Of itself began to con1tro up vivid faMclcs
about ghostfy vtstanes, 1T tho tnt1st OF which
rcrstttlous people about Tho troubled apr,ts Of
thoee who had l!cl suddenly, like the tlan
whom my servants had gone to '"nkc,' who had
been killed BY, IN Incident at the saw-nlill: III
startled by stcailhy football On Tho piaxza, /
listened t,ctwcc1, fear md hope. tlnI9ht bo tho
Doctor. Rut no, lug would not tread like that;
the step was too soft and caut1ous fur ANYTHING
eyes wera tlxctl nn the wln.low-blInl. saw
mrs Of Tho moon disclosed thin, cadaycro,is
fsse, aud bright, glitte1InE syes. pecrnK qt ":
tho cold PRECIPITATION start At ayery pore. |
seemed To be fsu1en In my cl,alv. I could not
novel could not eFy outi my tongue secmeA
glued to the root OF my mouth, while the DEATH
Gu eyes wandered In. their gaze about the room.
In . few moments the blind closed noltelessly
as It had been opencd. md ihc cautious footsteps
came .uward tho door; "slsrctfut Heaycn!"!
tho key turn In the lock, the Do.tor, in Ills
Ky; ~, ,..,,.. ,,,.,, .,..,,,.,.,, =. ,,....,
tnterrupt!ng h!A wife, and looking far ,nors *.
cited than xhe. eau never forgive nyscif
dear.n
II heard the front door open, tho step IN tie
hall, and hclplcss a. statue sat rYctca to my
CHAIR. Tbs Darlor-loor ~as open. and In It
ntood tall, thin man, whom never bctcid be-
fore. It1 Mas dressed! III u long loose ro1e,-a
sort Of gabcsdine, and = black velvet aku'l-eap
whlrl, cleaned black eyes, bright as living
cUals, and placed SO ncar togetheF TINT thefr
gaze was pfeternatural in It's dlrcctness; heayy
grizxled eyebrows hung over them l!ks tho tan
gied lnsna nf = lion; the nose was sharp and
prominent, and the chin WAS 0yeFgruwn with
white bair, whirh hung down In locks q wcini
as tile Ancient Mariners. lie politely dotled
hts cup. bowed, Replaced 1t, aud thcn Rald, Ut 4
sltShtly foreign accent:
Madame, It Il not Necessary foFmc to stand
on any fuFthsr ceremony, a. your husband, Or.
has already acquainted YOU With tho nature ii
my business here to night. perceive, he a1tcd,
glaneinH Ut mY negi'gs robc' that you were e1-
q. No. | found volce to stama,er THE Doc
tor has said nothing u .ue about visitor 1t this
hour oi The night
"'Ahl 4e Wished to spare you, no doubt, a
dlsagrceaole apprehension be returned, i'd
vancing, aud taking i seat on the sofa opposite
lne from head to feot With strauea giitserlng
light ~ ais eyes that mysteriou.!y itnpsessc1
me. sfou Lave remarkably luo physique,
Siala,ne,' be observed, quietly; tunc tAxt
might deceive the eye OF tie iuost skfl!ed aill
practical plyscian. Do you suffer uiugl pain!'
- tEabte tu speak, shook nY head. 4 ter.
rible suspicion WIS creeping uver ule. ! WAS
R]one, m!lcs away Goul Id or rescue, with
ualuIan
nIIt.It 10 nn,ts,.,.l x,a,,.tI.nt. t,.u,~