The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-02-26


piled:
"Sir, there has been violence used in
bringing me here il it be true, how
ever, that some one stands in need of
my services, without looking into your
secrets-unmindful of the way 1 have
been brought here-I shall willingly do
my dnty as surgeon. But il you
have meditated 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; 4" there is no crime in all
this" And taking the doctor by the
arm he walked up to the alcove then
pointing to hand that came from be-
hind the curtains, he said "That is
the hand you are to cut off"
The doctor took within his own the
extended hand he felt it's delicate
fingers shudder at the contact. It was
woman's hand, small and beautifully
shaped, on which a ruby ring made it's
whiteness appear still more remarkable.
"Nothing here" exclaimed the doc
tor emo, nothing demands an amputa-
tiop."
"And tell you," cried the stranger,
with laundering voice, "that, if The
surgeon refuses, L shall fulfill his Office
myself" and seizing an axe that lay at
the foot of the bed, he laid the hand on
the night table aud prepared to sever it.
The doctor held him back.
"Then do it yourself, said the man.
"But this is an atrocious deed I"
cried poor Lisfranc
"Thst is nething to you. It must be
| done / will it so. The lady wishes it
| likewise if she must ask it of you her
self, she will do it. Come, madame, re-
quest the doctor to do you the favor"
Poor Lisfranc, pale and trembling,
| felt ready to faint on the floor. A feeble
voice came from the alcove, and said, in
l tone of unutterable despair and resig-
nation:
"Since you are a surgeon, sir-yes, /
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 30 implacable and
relentless his determination-the prayer
of the poor lady 30 poignant and des-
pairing, that the doctor felt impelled
by humanity itself to obey the ON
mand.
He took his implem ents, implored
with q last look the heartless stranger,
who merely replied by pointing signif-
cantly to the axe. With a broken spirit,
and cold perspiration bathing his
noble brow, the doctor recalled all his
energy and presence of mind. Twice
his arm irembled, and he 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 cit is a
souvenir no one will claim it from
you." He then added, in low voice,
1T is over
Immediately the other two masked
men came in, and, bandaging his eyes
again, led him away. The same carriage
|
down again at his own door. Doctor
Iisfranc snatched the bandage from his
eyes in time to see the carriage rolling
away and disappearing in the darkness.
1t was five o'clock in the morning.
1t was in vain that day after day the
doctor exhausted every means he could
imagine for penetrating the mystery Of
this terrible adventure. Had it moi
been for the ring Gndisputable proof oI
the reality of his recollections), ht
would have thought himself prey tC
an hallucination.
Hoping, however, that the ruby ring
would sooner or later lead to some reve
lation of this mysterious affair, he wal
in the habit of wearing it suspended tC
his watch chain.
About two months after the events
Just recorded, DIR. Lisfranc received al
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 Frenel
nobility, as we'll as the most illustrioui
personages of German diplomacy, throng
ed the saloons, which were radiant Will
light and beauty.
A young man, with a pale face anC
melancholy eye, had been, during thu
!, evening, the object of particular re
/ mark by many of the guests. He walk
ed, from time to time, through the suit
of apartments, with an anxious look, anC
, then, with a sorrowful demeanOr, sepa
! rated from the crowd.
) 1t 80 happened that this young maj
t found himself, for an instant, opposit,
to Doctor Lisfranc His eyes mechani
) cally falling upon the doctor, soon as
. sumed an earnest stare, and then glitter
ed with fearful expression on the rim
? that shone on his chain. With a suddel
: and rapid movement, the young MAJ
= passed a group that separated him iron
the doctor, and, walking directly ap
4 him. AlhoMed him rndelY and intention