Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-04-01

accomplice."
"Be easy, sir" replied the stranger,
bitterly: ''there is no crime in all this. y
And taking the doctor by the arm he
walked up to the alcove; then pointing
TO hand that came from behind the cur
tains, he said; That is the hand YOU are
to cut Oft. -
The doctor took within his own the ex-
tended hand; he felt its delicate fingers
shudder at the contact 1t was a wo-
mans hand. small and beautifully shaped,
on which a ruby ring made its whlteness
appear still more remarkable.
Nothing here exclaimed the doctor;
mo, nothing that demands an amPuta-
tion."
And tell you, cried the stranger
with a laundering voice, that if the sur
gcon refuses. shall fulfill his Office my
self" and seizing an AK that lay at the
foot of the bed, he laid the hand on the
night table and prepared to sever it.
The doctor held him back.
Then do it yourself, said the man.
Tut this is an atrocious deed cried
poor Lisfranc.
THAT is nothing to YOU. 1t must be
done; will it 50. The lady wishes 1t
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. \ feeble
voice came from the alcove, and said, in
tone Of unutterable despair and resig-
nation:
"Since YOU are a surgeon, sir-yes, |
entrcat you-let it be yourself-and do
not let-oh, you-for mercys sake
Come doctor" said the unknown;
"either YOU or l.
So fierce and terrible was the aspect Of
the stranger, and so implacable and re-
len,lcss in his dctermination-the prayer
of the poor lady so poignant and despair
ing. that the doctor felt impelled by hu-
manitv itself to obey the command.
He took his implements, implorcd with
a last look the heartlcss stranger, who
merely replied by pointing significantly
20 the Ak. With a broken spirit, and a
cold pcrspiration bathing his noble brow,
the doctor recalled all his energy and
presence of mind. Twice his arm trem-
bled. and he paused At length the
blood spouted forth; shrek burst from
the alcove. and to that cry Of agony sue
ccedcd dead silence.
The stranger stood, apparently un-
moved. Nothing was heard but the
noise of the horrible work. Soon the
hand and the instrument fell together.
The doctor. hyid and exhausted, gazed
upon the stranger with haggard eyes.
The latter stopped, picked up the severed
hand. and drawing the ruby ring from off
one of the fingers, presented 1t to the
doctor.
Take it, doctor" said he; "it's 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 il, and, bandaging his eyes
again. led him away. The same carriage
that had brought him there set him down
again at his own door DR.. Lisiranc
snatched the bandagc 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 1t not been
for the ring ,indisputable proof Of the
reality of MS recoNcctionS), he would
have thought himself prey to hallu-
cination.
Hoping. however, that the ruby ring
would sooner or later lead to some rcye-
lation of this mysterious affair, he was IN
the habit Of wearing it suspended TO his
watch chain.
About two months after the events
lust recorded, DR.. Iisfranc received an
invitation to a ball given by the Countess
de p. in her magnificent mansion IN
the Rue de Narennes, Paris.
He accordingly went.
All the fashionable elite of the French
nobility, as well as the most illustrious
personages of German diplomacy, throng-
ed the saloons, which were radiant with
light and beauty.
A young man, with a pale face and
melancholy eve, had been, during the
evening, the object of particular remark
by many of the guests. He walked from
time to time, through the suite of apart
ments, with an anxious look, and then,
with a sorrowful demeanor, separated
from the crowd.
1t so happened that this young man
found himself, for an instant, opposite
to Doctor Lisfranc. His eyes mechan-
ically falling upon the doctor, soon as
sumed an earnest stare, and then glittered
with fearful expression on the ring that
shone on his chain. With a sudden and
rapid movement, the young man passed
group that separated him from the doc
tor, and, walking directly up to him, ell
bowed him rudely and Intentionally. The
doctor politely demonstrated; but, instead
of answering, the young man struck him
repeatedly in the face.
1t may easily be conceived what ex-
citement and CONSERVATION this scene
produced.
The next day was appointed for a
| ,...1.;,.. a,1 Tho cornpauv soon after dis