The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-03-05

telG READY 10 IalQL Oh GQe QOOr. a 1eoDle
voice came from the alcove, and said, in
a tone OF unutterable despair and resig-
nation:
"Sipce you are surgeon, sir-yes, I
entreat you-let it be yourself--and do
not let-oh, you-for mercy's sake!'
Come, doctor" said the unknown
"either you or l."
So fierce and terrible was the aspect
of the stranger, and so implacsble and
relentless his determination-the prayer
of the poor lady so poignant and des.
pairing, that the doctor felt impelled
by humanity itself to obey the ON
mand.
He took his implements, implored
with last look the heartless stranger,
who merely replied by pointing signifi-
cantly to the axe. With a broken spirit,
and a cold perspiration bathing his
noble brow, the doctor recalled all his
energy and presence of mind. Twice
his arm trembled, and be paused. At
length the blood spouted forth a shrek
burst from the alcove, and to that cry
of agony succeeded dead silence.
The stranger stood by, apparently
unmoved. Nothing was heard but the
noise of the horrible work. Soon the
hand and the Instrument fell together.
The doctor, livid and exhausted, gazed
upon the stranger with haggard eyes.
The latter stopped, picked up the sever
ed hand, and drawing the ruby ring
from off one of the fingers, presented it
to the doctor.
"Take it, DOCTOR" said be "it is
souvenir no one will claim it from
you" He then added, in low voice,
" It is over |"
Immediately the other two masked
men came in, and, bandaging his eyes
again, led him away. The same carriage
that had brought him there set him
down again at his own door. Doctor
Lisfranc snatched the bandage from his
eyes in time to see the carriage rolling
away and disappearing in the darkness.
It was five o'clock in the morning.
It was III vain that day after day the
doctor exhausted every means he could
imagine for penetrating the mystery of
this terrible adventure. Had it not
been for the ring (indisputable proof of
the reality of his recollections), he
would have thought himself prey to
an hallucipation.
Hoping, however, that the ruby ring
would sooner or later lead to some reve.
lation of this mysterious affair, he was
in the habit of wearing it suspended to
bis watch chain.
About two months after the events
inst recorded, DR.. Lisfranc received an
invitation to ball given by the Count
ess de P, in her magnificent man
sion in the Rue de Varennes, Paris.
He accordingly went.
All the fashionable elite of the French
nobility, as we'll as the most illustrious
personages of German diplomacy, throng-
ed the saloons, which we're radiant with
light and beauty.
A young man, with pale face and
eye, had been, during the
evening, the object of particular re-
mark by many of the guests. He walk
ed, from time to tine, through the suite
Of apartments, with an anxious look, and
then, with sorrowful demeanor, sepa.
rated from the crowd.
It 80 happened that this young man
found himself, for an instant, opposite
10 Doctor Lisfranc. His eyes mechani-
cally falling upon the doctor, soon as
sumed an earnest stare, and then glitter
ed with a fearful expression on the ring
that shone on his chain. With sudden
and rapid movement, the young man
passed group that separated him from
The doctor, and, walking directly ap to
him, elbowed him rudely and intention
ally. The doctor politely demonstrated;
but, instead of answering, the young
man struck him repeatly in the face.
It may easily be conceived what *
and CONSERVATION this scene
produced.
The next day was appointed for
and the company soon after
in confusion.
The young Matilda de-(the names
are too illustrious and too we'll kIown
for us to point them out, even by ini-
tials), the young Matilda de - was
the daughter of one of the most illus.
trious soldiers of the empire. Her
father had acquired an elevated place,
great elcry end a high rank in the
army; but lie was one of the few gener-
ais whom the emperor had not enriched.
Matilda de- had, therefore, no for
tune to bestow upon the ono who should
clll her his.
Napoleon de was the grandson of
the noble Duchess de- The duch-
ess had a great name, an empty title,
but no fortune.
Notwithstanding this, the duchess and
The general, long bound together by the
ties of friendship, had mutually agreed
10 unite their two ,'hildren in marriage.
OF this determination, however, they
soon repented. While Matilda and Ma
ooleon gave themselves up to the sweet
charm of their mutual affection, the
lnchess and the general, alarmed for
the interests OF their children, and
little also for their own, played scene
Of high comedy.
"If my daughter" said the general,
'' marries that poor fellow, Napoleon,
alieu to luxury and pleasure.
eff my son" soliloquized the duchess,
" should wed a girl and not fortune,
how could we ever restore the luster OF
tie noble house of -"
The general, therefore, sought to wean
Matilda from her lover; and the duchess
exerted herself to divert Napoleon from
of Matilda. But neither could
succeed. Napoleon and Matilda loved
too sincerely, too devotedly. to fall an
easy prey to the snares spread out to
entrap their youth and inexperience.
Unable to disunite them, the general
and the duchess insisted upon the de-
parture OF Napoleon, and on his absent
ing himself for while from Paris. They
told him that the smallness of their for
tune required it. It was indispensable
for him to acquire a position in the
world. The minister had just offered to
provide him with place as secretary of
some foreign embassy. Should he re-
fuse to go he would shut himself out