Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-08-24
4 STRANGE OFFER.

L Spcang rom my easy CLdII, III my
establishment, and turned to see who it
was that, like Poe's raven, had uttered
lie terrible words.
''Will you buy my body, sir?"
The question was repeated the sec
ond time before [ had sufficiently re-
Ivered myse}f-before | was convinc-
ed that it was no ill-omened bird, but
one Of human semblanCe at least. Yet
the request was SO utterly unusual, so
much ut varian &c with all precOnceived
notions of barter and sale, that all |
could do was to push chair toward
the intruder and stand IN silent Won
derment.
In few moments the selfcommand
which [ had learned during hospital
practice came to my aid, and [ saw
that my visitor was a wOman-glrl, IA
Their, for she could not have been more
than 10 or 20 at the utmost; and that
if it had not been for the extreme pal
Tor of the face, pinched-up look about
the mouth, and tie sad, sunken eyes,
she who have pOssessed-far more than
is ordinarily the case-the rare git OF
beauty.
The Pickering light of the fire flashed
upon the soft brown hair, giving 1t a
more golden glory, and, dissolvlng the
snoWflakes that had lodged there, made
them glitter like liquid pearls. This
much, and that the dress and shawl
were Of the cheapest material, and but
a poor defense against the bowling
storm and pitiless cold, and the strange
request darted with lightning rapidity
through my brain.
Draw nearer the fire." l said. you
are numbed. Warm yourself, and
81 have no time-must not stay, j"
she answered, with sigh, though she
dropped heavily into char, and
brushed away the snowdrops from her
face with her thin hands.
Without waiting for further remon-
STRANGE, | fastened TO get some reVlV-
ing medicine, of which l saw she stood
SO much in need, and with gentle force
held it to her lips.
81 cannot cannot !" she gasped,
half pushing it away.
" You must" | insisted. Remem-
Der, | am surgeon, that this Is pre-,
scription-that your life may depend
on it"
'sLife 0 God how long and sad.
VIII it save my life a.? VIII 1t give me
strength ?"
That certainly is the object l have
in urging you to take it. What else
should it be?"
+" Give it me-"
And she swallowed it without muir
mur save che of thankfulness.
/ wheeled her chair up nearer to the
fire, stirring the Goals to more bril-
liant glow hoping that the potion
would quiet her excitement, wake the
chilled blood to a warmer and swifter
flow, and that sleep would follow.
And, for a moment [ fancied [ was
right. The little hands dropped nerv-
Ously into her lap; the softly-veiled
lids dropped over the deep blue eyes;
the head fell forward upon the breast.
But, alas it was only a momentary
delusiOn. In another instant she sprang
to her feet again, pressing her hands
to her temples, as if to still their
throbbings, and looked. wildly around.
ooh, Heaven" she exclaimed. "I
here amid warmth and comfort-and-
and"
Convulsi7e sobs checked her further
utterance.
sit down and tell me the reason oil
your being here" [ almost command
ed rs / placed her in the chair.
':Ah [ remember all now. Remem-
Der Is there no such word as forget
fitness? Yes, remember all. cam e
here-to-tO-"
sBe calm. l understand that you
are in need, and came for assistance
II 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"
Was | talking to a sane woman or q
maniac? the latter was certainly my
thought, bnt / could discern nothing
in the clear blue eyes OF the wander
ing5 of insanity.
Great heavens" I exclaimed, laying
my fingers upon her pulse, with the
expectation of finding it bounding
with race-horse activity, but on the
contrary, finding it more calm than
my own. "Great Heavens! you cannot
be in earnestm
Il am in earnest-God alone knows
how much am in earnest! It was my
last resort. Will you buy it? VIII you
give me some money for it?,
And she reached out her hand toward
me as a miser would have done when he
heard the sound of jingling gold.
"How can | purchase it? You are yet
alive"
''But l will soon die, and then-then
you can claim it. For the love OF
Heaven, give me a little-just little
money!" And the hitherto dry eyes
were flooded with tears.
"Why do you wish to sell it? You
cannot but understand that it is an un-
heard-of proceeding. Our profession
never purchase bodies" chow | shud.
dered as | gazed into her face, while ]
was forcing myself calmly to utter
these words) "before death, no matter
what we may do after"
81 know i'll know it. but I must
have money, and there are no other
means left to me to getit. | must have
it-instantly."
And she would have risen again, but
yesolutely held her down.
f'For what purpose do you wish it?'
''To purchase food, fire, medicine"
"For YOURSELF
"Ah, no. Had that been the case,
would never have come hither. would
nave laid down in the gutter and died
Sod knows how willingly. But tell me.
Yhe continued almost fercely, Evil