Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-08-16

uu occloent at the saw mill. In the midst
of these terrifying reflections I wns startled
by stcalthy footfal! on the piazza. listened
between fear and hope. 1t might be tho
doctor. But no, he would not tread like
that; the step was too soft and cautious for
anything less willy than cat. AS I listened
again, my eyes were fixed on tho widow
blind. saw the Stats movo slowly and
softly, and the rays of full moon disclosed
THU, cadaVerous face, and bright glitter.
Ing eyes pecring >ut me. Oh, horror! who
was il? What was it? l felt the cold
pcrsplration start at every pore. l seemed
frozen in my chair. could not move, l
could not cry cut, my tongue sccmcd glued
to the root of my mouth, while the deuthly
white face pressed closer, aud the great
sunkcn eyes wandered 10 their gaze about
the room. In a few moments tho blind
closed as noiselessly as it had opened, and
the cautious footstop come toward the door.
'Nlcrciful heaven! cried, 10 horror
stricken whisper, aud I heard the key turn
in tho lock, the doctor, in lis hasto, must
have forgotten to withdraw tho key
"God forgive mc!" cjaculutcd DR.. May
nard, interrup'ing his wife, aud looking far
more excited than she. II can never for
give myself for such thoughtloss act
Please proceed, my dear"
81 heard tho front door omen, the step in
the hall, aud help plcss as statue l sat rivitcd
to my chair. The parlor door was omen.
and in it stood tall, thin man, whom |
had never bchcld before. lie was dressed
in long, loose robe, sort of gabardine,
ond black velvet skull cap partially con
cealcd a broad forehead, underneath whicl,
cleaned black eyes. bright as living Goals,
and placed so near together that their gaze
was pretcrpatural in its dircctncss; heavy
grlzzlcd eyelds hung over them like the
tuusleo mane of a lion; the nose was sharp
and prominent, and the chin was ovcrcrown
with white hair, which hung down in locks
weird as the ancient mariners"
lie politely dofled his cap, bowed. re-
placed it, anC then said, in slightly foreign
uccent:
"Mladamc, it is not necessary for me to
stand on any further ceremony, as your
husband, DIR. Maynard, (hcrcupon he again
bowed profoundly has already acquainted
you with tho nnture Of my business here to
night. | perccive;" he added, glancing nt
my negligent robe, "that you were expect
iug me-
IN o. found voice to stammer, "thc
doctor has said nothing to mc about visitor
at thia hour of tho night"
"Ah, he wished to spare you, no doubt.
dsagrcouble apprehension" he returned
advancing and taking a seat on tho sofa
opposite me, where for few moments he
sat and eyed me kccnIy from head to foot
with strange glilteriug light in his eyes
that mysterously impressed me. "You
have remarkably fine physique, madame"
he observed quietly; 'one that might
deceive the eye of tie most skilled and
practical physician. Dv you suffer much
paiu?"
Unable to speak, shook my head. A
terrible suspicion WAS creeping over me- I
was aone-miles, perhaps away from aid or
rescue ue-with q msdmun.
"Ah," he continued, "your husband NAV
have mistaken a tumor for cancer Allow
me to feel your pulse," he said rising and
bending over me-"
thought it best to humor him, rcmem
ber'og it was uowise for helpless woman
to oppose the, as yet harmless freak of
iunatio' lie took out his watch, shook his
head gravcly, laid my hand down gently.
then went towards the study, where, on the
'ao'e, was ali open case Of surgical instru-
ments
"i'o not be alarmed, madame" he said,
turning to mo as | wos about to rise and
fioo, and in another instant he was by nv
side with the case in his possession.
invountarily I raised my hand and
cried:
"Spare nc! Oh, spare me, bcscech7"
"Madam," he said sternly, clasping my
wrists with his long sinewy fingers with a
grip of steel, ''you behave like child. l
have no timo to parsey, for have received
a letter from the Emperor of the French
stating that he 10 suffering from. an lilac
abscess and is desirous of my attendance.
unjust start for Europe Immediately after
performing the operation on your breast"
and bofore | could make tho slightest re-
sistance he had mo ia his arms and was
earring mo into the study, where there was
q long table with green baize. On this he
laid me, and holding mo down with ono
hand with the strength Of maniac, he
brought forth from Romo hidden recess in
his gown oeveral leather strings, with which
no secured mo to the table With tho skill of
on expert. 1t was but tho work of mo-
mcnt to unloose my robe and baro my bosom.
Then, after carefully examining my left
breast, he said:
"Madame," your husband has mado a
mistake. | find no necessity for my in
tended operation"
At this gave long g.drawn sigh of ro-
lief, and prepared to rise.
"But," he cortiuued, bave discovered
that your heart is as large as that of on OK?
| will remove it SO that you may 500 for
yourself, reduce it to its natural size bv O.
nurinns ntocnaa hf NV o,un ,iuk na.ua "a IL