St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1881-04-23

close To the WINDOW DING, ana the
great sunken eyes wandered in their
gaze about the room. In a few mo-
ments the blind closed noiselessly.
rs it had been opened, ami the can
tious footsteps came trwarls the
door. NJ .rcifu! h,avens!' I cried
in a horror-stricken whisper, rs !
head the key turn in the lock. the
doctor in his haste must have Tor
gotten to remove Ire key
"God forgive me" ejaculated DIR.
Maynard interrnpting his wife, aud
looking far more excited than she,
Il can never forgive myself for such
II thoushtless act. Please proceed,
my dear"
Il heard the front door open, the
step i'll the hall, and helpless as Il
statue / sat riyeted to my chair.
The parlur door was open, and i'll it
stood a tall. thin man whom | had
never belield before. He was dress
Ell i'll n Very loose robe-a sort o. II
garberdine and n black velvet skull
cap partially concealed broad fore
head. under which cleaned bright
eyes, bright as living Goals, aud
placed SD near together that t.:eir
gaze was almost supernatural in its
,lirectness; heavy. grizzl,d eyebrows
hung over them like the tangled
name of ion; the nose was sharp
and prominent, and the chin was
orergrown with white hair. which
hung down in locks as weird rs the
ancient ma.iner's.' He politely
doffe,l his car, bowed, replaced it
md then suiu with slightly, for
eign accent:
Madam. it is not necessary for
me to stand on further ceremony,
as your husband, Dr.. Maynard,
(hereupon lie apnin bowed pro-
foaml.yj has already acquainted
You with the nature Of my business
here tonight. l perceive" he add
ed. e'ancing at my nrglige robe, that
tou "eie eApfCtlbS iHc
NO" / fund time To stammer,
"the doctor has said nothing To me
about risito- at this hour of the
night"
'Ah, he wished to sprre you. no
doubt. a disagreeable apprehen-
sion.' he replied, advancing and
taking seat opposite me, on the
sofa. where for q few moments he
eyed me from heal to foot. with II
strange, glittering light in his eyes.
that mysteriously impressed me.
"You have remarkably fine
physique. Ma,lam," he observed,
quietly, "one that might deceive
:he most practical physician. Do
yon suffer much pain?'
Unable to speak, I shook my
head. A terrible suspicion was
creeping over me. / was alone,
miles from any aid or rescue, with
Il madman."
All" he continued. refectively,
''your husband may hare mistaken
u tumor for cancer. Allow me to
feel your pulse" he SAID, rising and
bending over me.
Il Thought il best to humor him,
remembering that it was unwise for
Il h, lpless woman TO oppose the as
yet harmless freak of /, lunatic. He
took out his watch, shook his head
gravely, laid my hand down gently,
then went to the study, where. on
the table. vas an open else of varl-
Gus kinds Of surgical instruments.
do not be alarmed, Madame,
he said to inc. as / was about to
rise a.id flee, aud i'll another instant
he was by my side, with the case IN
his possession.
''lnvoluntarily I raised my hand
and cried:
Spare mel Oh, spare me, I be-
seech you'll"
"Aladame." ho said, sternly.
claspins my wrist with his sinewy
fingers, with u grip of steel, YOU
behave like child. have no time
to parl.y. I have received a letter
from the Emperor of the French,
stating that he is suffering from al
lilac ai,scess, and is very desirous
of my attendance. / must start for
Europe immediately after operating
Oh your breast" :" And before l
could make the slightest resistance,
lie had me i'll his arms, aud was
carrying me Into the study. where
there was long table covered with
green ba ze. On this he laid me.
and holding me down with one
hand, with the strength of a aianiac.
he brought forth, from some hid
den recess in his gown, several
Al al ,l. IL ha