The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-03-05
The Severed Hand.
A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.

than twenty years since, DR.. Lis
franc, a celebrated surgeon Of Paris,
was returning to his house at eleven
O'Clock at night. He had reached the
door, and had raised the knocker, about
to give warning to the maid in attend
ance OF his arrival, when vigorous arm
stopped his own half way. and at the
same time three masked figures sur.
rounded the astonished doctor. The
street was deserted, the doctor had nc
arms by him, and, wisely judging resist
ance would prove unayailing, he sought
to escape from the hands of the banditti
by the sacrifice of his purse, when the
man who held his arm addressed him
very politely, saying:
sI believe you are DR.. Lisfranc?"
"You seem to be acquainted with my
person" replied the doctor. "Take,
then, my purse and watch trouble me
no longer, but get you gone to more
honest work"
"Sir," said the man, haughtily, "we
are no thieves, but only come to ask from
you favor"
"You have chosen q strange way and
an unusual hour for such i purpose, "
said the doctor. mistrustfully.
"Eveiy hour is good for 80 clever g
surgeon as yourself to perform an opera
tion."
"Eh?" said the doctor, who, little
reassured, stood examining his three
clients more closely, and perceived that
they were dressed more like gentlemen
going to ball than like highway rob-
bers.
"We request, doctor, that you follow
us Immediately"
"Permlt me, at least, to warn by lady
of my absence"
"No: there is no need for it. You
have your implements With you; that
will do. You must submit, no wever, to
having your eyes bandaged.
"But, SIR
"Come, come, by George" said ore
of the men, eff you have so many
words about it we shall never proceed. !"
He then sounded shrill whistle, and a
carriage coming from narrow street in
the ne:ghborhood made it's appearance.
The men led the doctor to it, helped
him up, and then got in after him. The
horses gaDoped away at a rapid pace.
DR.. Lisfranc did not even think Of
offering resistance, which must prove
useless, but submitted with good
grace to the mysterious violence exer-
cised upon his person.
For two hours time not a word was
exchanged between him and his travel
ing companions, who spoke among
themselves in language he could not
understand.
Atlength the carriage rolled beneath
portico-the noise of an opening gate
was heard creaking on its hinges-the
carriage stopped.
The door was opened and the ster
let down.
"Well?" inquired an anxious voice.
"He is here" replied one of the men
in the carriage, and, taking the doctor
by the hand, assisted him to alight.
They then caused him to ascend several
steps.
BY the cold air that struck upon his
face the doctor perceived that he was or
the steps Of an outer portico. A door
was opened and the doctor fancied they
made him cross a large hall; he was
then led through cutie Of apartments,
covered with soft carpeting. At last
the doctors guide paused and said {:
eve have reached our destination,
doctor; remove your bandage."
The doctor, whose terror had changed
to an uneasy curiosity and o vague ap-
prehension, obeyed the strangers voice
and found himself in small room,
lu1uriously furnished, and but half lit
by an alabaster lamp which hung in the
middle of the room. The window cur
tains we're closely shut, as we'll as those
OF the alcove, which occupied the further
end of the apartment. In this room the
doctor found himself alone with one Of
the three individuals vino had made him
an unwilling captive.
The stranger was tall and of imposing
mien. He was dressed with truly
aristocratic precision; his black eyes
glittered through the half mask that
covered his upper features, while nerv-
Gus twitch agitated his uncovered lips
and the thick beard that surrounded the
lower part of his face.
"Doctor," said the stranger; in dry
and broken voice, "prepare your i'm
plements: you have to perform "a am
putation."
"Where is the patient ?" inquired
Lisfranc. Saying which he turned to-
warl the alcove, and moved step for
ward. The curtains waved gently, and
o stihed sigh was heard coming from
that direction.
"Prepare for the operation, sir" re
peated the stranger, convulsively.
"But,' 'said the doctor, "it is import
ant that should see the patient"
"You can see only the hand which
you are required to cut off,"
The doctor then crossed his arms, and,
looking earnestly at his interlocutor, re-
piled:
"Sir, there has been violence used in
bringing me here; if it be true, how
ever, that some one stands in need OF
my services, without looking into your
secrets-unmindful of the way I have
been brought here-I shall willingly do
my duty as a surgeon. But if you
have meditated a crime, you may have
obliged me to follow you, but you cannot
force me to be your accomplice."
"Be easy, sir" replied the stranger,
bitterly; "there is no crime in all
this" And tlking the doctor by the
arm be walked up to the alcove then
pointing to hapd that came from he
hind the cnrtains, he ali: flu. .o
the hand you are to cut off,"
The doctor took within his own the
extended hand; he felt its delicate
fingers shudder at the contact. 1t was q
woman's hand, small and beautifully
shaped, on which ruby ring made its
Wilderness appear still more remarkable.
"Nothing here" exclaimed the doc.
tor; "no, nothing demands an amputa'
tiop."
"And I tell you," cried the stranger,
with a laundering voice, "that, if The
surgeon refuses, I shall fulfill his office
myself" and selling an axe that lay al
the foot of the bed, he laid the hand or
the night table and prepared to sever it.
The doctor held him back.
"Then do it YOURSELF" said the man
"But this is an atrocious deed /
cried poor Lisfranc.
"That is nothing to you. It must be
done I will it so. The lady wishes il
likewise if she must ask it of you her
self, she will do it. Come, madame, re
quest Che doctor to do you the favor"
Poor Lisfranc, pale and trembling