Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-10-03

her more red there than else where.


| ther more red there than else where.
"Where ?'
The stranger took pencil from his
pocket and traced on his hand circle as
large as ten-cent bit, with the remark
"Just there.''
The doctor looked. He began to think
that his patient was crazy. "Remain
here,' he said. Gina few days will cure
you" The doctor saw to his astonish-
ment that his strange visitor spoke seri-
onsly. He took off his coat, turned up his
short sleeves, and took bistoury in his
left hand. A second more and the stee
would have made deep incision in the
flesh.
"Stop," cried the doctor, who was afraid
that his patient through unskillfulness
might open some important vein. s'Since
you judge the operation indispensable, so
be it,"
He took the bistoury, and holding in his
left hand the right hand of his patient, he
begged him to turn away his head, some
people not being able to bear the sight of
their own blood.
cit is unnecessary. On the contrary, it
is who will indicate how deep down you
must cut.''
In fact, he watched the operation to the
end with the greatest possible composure,
indicating how far it was to go. The open
hand did not even tremble in the doctors
hand, and when the little piece of round
flesh was cut out he heaved a deep sigh.
like one who experienced feeling of i'm
| mense relief.
1.-THE burning pain has ceased"
ut has quite gone," said the stranger,
with smile. 1.-THE pain has entirely
ceased, as if it had been taken away with
the part cut out. The slight pain occa-
stoned by the bleeding is, as compared with
the other, like refreshing breeze after an
Internal heat. 1t does me really more
good to SCI my blood flow, only let flow; it
| does me so much good"
The stranger looked with delight at the
streaming blood. The doctor was obliged
to insist upon dressing the wound.
While he was binding it up the patients
face changed completely. The expression
of pain passed away; he smiled on the
doctor with look full of good humor,
and there was no longer any contraction
of the features, any look Of despair. He
seemed to have taken new lease of life.
His brow cleared; the color returned o
his face; his whole person underwent
visible transformation.
When his hand was replaced in the sling
he made use Of the one that remained free
to shake the DOCTORS hand warmly, saying
to him with cord1ality: "Accept my most
sincere thanks. You have positively cured
me. The small remuneration that offer
you IS in no wise proportioned to the ser
vice you have rendered me. During the
rest of my life will try by what means I
can discharge my obligation"
The doctor, however, would not consent
to accept the thousand forms placed on
the table. The stranger on his side re-
fused to take them back, and seeing that
the doctor was beginning to grow angry,
he begged that he bestow them on some
hospital, and SO took his leave.
The doctor informed several of his col
leagues of this singular case, and each
formed different opinions on the subject
without, however, any of them being able
to give plausible explanation. Towards
the end of the month DR.. K, received a
letter dated from his patients residence.
he opened it. 1t was closely written, and
he saw by the signature that his patient
had written it with his right hand, from
which he concluded that the pain had not
returned, for if it had he could hardly have
held pen.
The letter ran as follows:
s'MY DEAR DOCTOR: do not wish that
either you or medical science should be
left in doubt as to the mystery of the
strange disease which will soon bring me
J to my graveyard even elsewhere.
81 am about to describe TO you the orr
gin of this terrible malady. 1t broke out
a week ago, and can struggle against it
| no longer. At the present moment I can
only manage to trace these lines by placing
on the sensitive part piece of lighted tin
der, to serve as cataplasm. As long as
the finder burns do not feel the other
pain-and it is as nothing in comparison.
"Six months ago was still very happy
man. I lived, without care, on my in
come. I was on friendly terms with all
the world, and took pleasure in every
| thing that can interest a man of thirty
five. I had married year ago, married
for love, most beautiful young girl, of
cultivated mind and with the best heart in
the world, who had been companion to a
certain countess, my neighbor. My wife
had no fortune, and the love she had for
me was not only gratitude, but also the
genuine affection of child. Six months
passed in such way that the morrow al
ways seemed to be happier than the eve.
If sometimes was obliged to 60 to Pesth
and leave my home for day. my wife had
| not a moments peace. She would come
two miles to meet me. If was belated
| she would stay awake all night waiting
for me, and if by dint of entreaty she was
prevailed upon to go and see her former
mistress, who was still very fond of her.
no power Oh earth could keep her there
! more than half day, and even then her
regrets for my absence put the others out
of temper. Her fondness for me went SO
far as to make her give up dancing. SO as
not to be obliged to put her hand into
strangers. and nothing caused her such
| grave displeasure as the compliments she
was apt to receive. In word, bad for
my wife an innocent child, who had no
! thought but for me, and who could con-