Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-02-12
The Facts in The RatCif Case.


Y. i
| first met Miss Borgier at q tea party
in the town of R., where | was at
tending medical lectures. She was tall
girl, not pretty; her face would have
been insipid but for the peculiar restless
ness of her eyes They were neither
bright nor expressive, yet she kept them
80 constantly IN motion that they seemed
to catch any reflect light from thousand
sources. Whenever, as rarely happened,
she fixed them even for "A few seconds
upon one object. the Fictitious brilliancy
disappeared, and they became duh and
somnolent. lam unable to say what was
the exact color of Miss Borgier's eyes.
After tea | was one of n group of peo-
pie whom our host, the Rev. Mr.. Tinker,
sought to entertain with portfolio of
photographs Of places in the Holy Land.
While cndeavoring to appear interested
in bis descriptions and explanations, all
of which | had heard before, | became
aware that Miss Borgier was honoring
me with steady regard. My gaze en-
countered hers and l found that | could
not, for the life Of me, withdraw my own
eyes from the encounter. Then l had a
singular experience, the phenomena of
which noted with professional accuracy.
felt the slight construction OF the mus
clos of my face, the numbness OF the
nerves that precedes physical stupor in-
duced by narcotic agency. Although |
was obliged to struggle against the
physical sense of drowsiness, my mental
faculties were more than ordinarily
active. Her eyes seemed to torpify my
body while they stimulated my mind,
as opium docs. Entirely conscious Of
my present surroundings and partlcu-
larly alert to the Rev. Mr.. Tmker's mar
rative of the ride from Joppn, | accom-
panied him on that journey, not rs one
who listens TO n travellers tale, but rs one
who himself travels the road. When,
finally, we reached the point where the
Rev. Mr.. Tinker's donkey makes the last
sharp turn around the rock that has been
cutting of the view ahead, and the Rev.
Mr.. Tinker beholds with amazement and
ioy the glorious panorama of Jerusalem
spread out before him, | saw 1t all with
remarkable vividness. | saw Jerusalem
in Miss Borgiers eyes.
| tacitly thanked fortune when her
ewes resumed their habitual dance
around the room, releasing me from what
had become rather humihahng captiv-
itv. Once free from their strange intlu-
ence, | laughed at my weakness.
"Pshaw !" | said to myself "Iou are
fine subject for ayomg woman OF mes
merle talents to practice upon.
"Who is Miss Borgier ~ | demanded
of the Rev. Mr.. Tinker wife, ut the first
"Why, sheis Deacon Borgier's daugh-
ter" replied that good person, with some
surprise.
And who is Deacon Borgier?"
"A most excellent man; one of the pill
lars of my husbands congregation. The
young people laugh at what they call his
torpidity, and say that he has been
walking about town in his sleepfor TWEEN
ty years: but | assure you that there is
not sincerer. more feryent Chris
turned abruptly around, leaving Mrs.
Tinker more astonished than ever, for |
knew that the subject OF my inquiries
was looking at me again. She sat in one
coruer of the room, apart from the rest
of the company. l stralghtway went
and seated myself at her side.
THAT is right, she said Il wished
You to come. Did You enjoy your jour
ney 10 Jerusalem
Yes, thanks 10 you.
Perhaps. But you can repay The
obligation. / am told that You are DIR.
Mack's assistant in surgery at the col.
lege. There is clinic tomorrow
want 70 attend it. F."
"As patient?' inquired.
She laughed. "No. as a spectator.
You must find way to crafty my curl
osity."
texpressed, as politely rs possible my
astonishmcnt NJ so extraordinary fancy
on the part of young lady, and limited
at the scandal which her appearance III
the amphitheatre would create. She inn
mediately offered to disguise herself IL
male attire. | explained that the nature
of the relations between the medical col.
lege and the patients who consented Il
submit to surgical treatment before the
class were such that it would be dis.
honorable thing for me toconnlve II II,