Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-11-09
The Doctors Story.

bell, and man rushed In, who stated, In
almost unintelllglble language, from the
breathless state that he was in, that q man
had nearly murdered himself at the Ches
ter House, and that was wanted imme-
diately. Taking my case of instruments
In my hand, / buttoned my coat tight
around me and hurried out into the storm,
inwardly wishing that some other physi-
clan had been called, 80 | could have
spent my batchelor Christmas Eve in
peace.
The remembrance that the poor man was
probably lying at the point OF death soon
drove all such thoughts from my head, and
| hurried on and soon reached the hotel.
was shown Immediately 70 the room of the
wounded man and found him lying on the
bed just breathing, and such q sight as
would make mans blood run cold. The
landlord SAID he was stranger, who had
been stopping at the house but q short
time, and the night before he had come in
intoxicated, and gone TO his room. In the
morning when the girl came to the room
she had found the door locked on the IN
side, and no one answered TO her knock.
In the afternoon his door was tried again,
with no better success, and when evening
came, and there were no signs of any one
moving in his room, they burst open the
door, and found the occupant lying on the
door in such a state as made them start
back with horror. He had tired TO cut his
throat, but his hand was so unsteady that
he had only succeeded ID horribly mutilat-
ing himself
He had fallen on the floor, his head was
in such position that the blood from the
wound IN his neck had flowed over his
face, making CHASTITY spectacle. Finding
that he still lived, they placed him on the
bed, and sent for me and when arrived
he was Just breathing. Had 1t not been
for the congealing of the blood on the
wound, the man could never have lived
half the time he did, and 1t was very evi-
dent from the faint and irregular beating
of his pulse that he could not possibly last
longer than few hours. | sewed up and
bandagtd the wound, and gave him O
strong stimulant, and In short time he
began to show signs of returning con-
sclousness. AS soon as his senses returned
he called me TO his bedside, and In feeble
voice asked me il thought he would live.
told him that there was no knowing, but
he might. though in all human probability,
he could not possibly survive till morning.
Contrary to my expectation, for feared
l had done wrong in speaking so plainly,
he seemed pleased and told me TO sit down
by his bedside, as he had loag story to
tell Inc, and If he could but 1--we and have
strength TO finish il, it would relieve his
mind of a burden that had borne down
upon bim for many weary year, and he
could die happy. Sending all from the
room, sat down beside him TO listen to
the story of his life, for such 1t proved to
be, and | will now repeat it, only In my
own language. and supplying one or two
facts with regard to the personal appear
ance and social standing that came out
after It was known who he was
His name he SAID was Boyden-John
Boyden-and he was born in Boston. His
father was a wealthy ship-builder, also
owning several ships, trading between this
port and several cities IN Europe, daily
adding to his large fortune, to which
John was the only heir. at eighteen he
entered college, aud his handsome face,
fine form, and plenty of money always
at command, made HIM a pet of the
class. Al twenty-five he started with a
party Of wealthy young men for Europe.
Everything that money could buy was
theirs; they travelled in the most expen-
sive manner, and had the best of every
thing. AT Baden they visited, as all do,
the gambling rooms, aud here it was
that Boyden acquired that taste for play
that ruined him,
Every day and night found him at the
tables, and always fortunate. But the
princely way in which he lived, fairly
throwing away money, did not leave him
much on hand, when one of ms friends in.
duced him to leave Baden, and both of
them continued their travels. They re.
mained in Europe two years, and, return.
ing to America, Boyden was taken into
partnership with his father, and settled
down as a business man. The highest
society was open TO HIM, and no enter
tainment, however elegant and fashion
able, was complete without the presence
of the rich and handsome John Boyden.
year passed in this way, when the old
fever of travel and excitement came over
him, and as one Of their ships was then
about TO sail for Cuba, he resolved to go
in her. The business acquaintance of the
tlrm with some of the largest houses of
Cuba gave him sufficient introduction TO
its best society. 1t was at grand fete at
the house Of one of the best families
that Boyden met a young Cuban lady,
with whom he became desperately In love.
The attachment was mutual, and though
he intended to stay in Cuba but q short
time, he fingered along until four months
had passed away, and found him still 10th
TO return to home and business. Having
obtained the consent of her father, it was
decided that he should return home first,
to prepare for her reception and the we'd
ding, and she and her father were to follow
on the next steamer. Everything passed
off as intended, the family were delighted
at their sons choice, and gave both her
and her father hearty welcome. The
wedding took place a short time after
this arrival, and the brides father again
returned to Cuba, though not until Mr..
and Mrs. Boyden, senior, had promised
to visit him at his home. An elegant
mansion had been prepared near the
homestead for the reception of the newly
married couple, who now took possess
sion of 1t.
For long time the attractions of his
new hone kent Boyden away from his
former associates and pleasures; but at
last the old love of gambling came over
him, and he was less frequently at home
evenings and more at his club, One
night, about year after they had been
married, he went as usual to the gamb-
l,Dr roOnoo of tho olph and commenced