The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-02-09

E&9 cnalr IN my aSIOnlSn-
ment, and turned to see who it was
that, like Poe's raven, had uttered
the terrible words.
"Will you buy my body, sir?'
The question was repeated foI
the second time before l had suffi-
ciently recovered myself-before
was convinced that it was no i'll
omened bird, but one of human
semblance at least. Yet the request
was so utterly unusual, so much at
variance with all precsnceiVed no
tions of barter and sale, that all ]
could do was to push a chair to-
ward the intruder and stand in
silent wonderment.
In a few moments the selfcom
mand l had learned during hospital
practice came to my aid, and and l
saw that my visitor was a woman
girl, rather, for she could not have
been more than 10 or 20 at the ut
most; and that if it had not been
for the extreme pallor of the face,
the pinched up look about the
mouth, and the sad, sunken eyes,
she would have possessed far more
than is ordinarily the case-the rare
gift Of beauty.
The Pickering light of the fire
flashed upon the soft brown hair,
giving it more golden glory, and,
dissolving the snowfakes that had
lodged there, made them glitter like
liquid pearls. This much, and that
the dress and shawl we're of the
cheapest material, and but a poor
defense against the bowling storm
and pitiless cold, and the strange re-
quest darted with lightning rapid
ity through my brain.
aDraw near the fire." said
"You are numbed. Warm yourself,
an"
81 have no time-must not stay"
she answered with a sigh, though
she dropped heavily into a chair,
and brushed away the snowdrops
from her face with her thin hands.
Without waiting for further re-
I fastened to get some
medicine, of which she
stood so much in need, and with
gentle force, held it to her lips.
"I cannot-I cannotr' she gasped.
half pushing it away.
"You must" / insisted. aRe-
member, L am a surgeon; that this
is a prescription; that your life may
depend on it,
-"Life! o God! how long and sad.
viii it save my life9 Will it give
me strengthY'
gThat certainly is the object l
have in urging you to take it. What
else should it bs?'
"Give it to me-"
And she swallowed it without a
mul muir, save one of thankfulness.
wheeled her chair up nearer to
the fire, stirring the Goals to more
brilliant glow, hoping that the po
ton would quiet her excitement,
wake the chilled blood to a warmer
and swifter flow, and sleep would
follow. And for moment fancied
1 was right. The little hands drop
ped nernously into her lap; the soft
ly yelled lids dropped over the deep
blue eyes; the head fell forward up
on the breast. But, alasl it was
only a momentary delusion. In an
other instant she sprang to her feet
again, pressed her hands upon her
temples as if to still their throb-
bings, and looked wildly around,
"Oh, heavensr' she exclaimed; Il
here amid warmth and comfort
and-and-"
COnvulsive sobs checked any
further utterapce.
"Sit down and tell me the reason
of your being here" 1 almost com
as placed her in the chair.
'' All! remember all now. Re
Is there no such thing as
Yes, remember all
| came here Toto"
'Be calm. understand that you
are in need, ,and came for assistance"
81 came," she replied, and looked
upon me with such utter despair,
and spoke so calmly, that it made
my blood run cold, 81 came, doctor,
to sell you my body" .N8 "A
Was 1 talking to a sane woman or
a maniac? the latter was certainly
my thought, but 1 could detect
in the clear eyes of the
of insanity.
"Sell her body! She spoke of it
as an every day transaction.
"Great heavens" l exclaimed, lay
ing my finger upon her pulse, with
the expectation of finding it bound
ing with race-horse rapidity, but on
the contrary, finding it moro calm
than my own.
"Great heavens you cannot be in
earnestY'
81 am in earnest-God alone
knows how much in earnestl 1t
was my last resort. Will you buy
itP VIII you give me some money
for it?'
And she reached out her hand to
ward me as a miser would have done
when he heard the sound of jingling
gold.
slow can 1 purchase it2 You
are yet alive"
"But / will soon die, and then
and then you can claim it. For the
love OF heaven, give me little, just
a little money" And the hitherto
dry eyes were flooded with tears.
"Why do you wish to sell it2-
You cannot but understand that it
is an unheard-of proceeding. Our
profession never purchase bodies"
(how L shuddered as 1 gazed into
her face, while 1 was forcing myself
to calmly utter these words, )"before
death, no matter what we may do
after"
al know it, know it. but 1 must
have money, and there is no other
means left me to get it. l must
have it now-instantlyl"
"For what purpose do you wish
it?"
ITO purchase food, fire,medicine"
"For yourself2'
"Ah, no. Had that been the case
1 would never have come hither. /
would have lain down in the gutter