Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-11-09
THE DOCTORS STORY.

1t was Christmas Eve, and dreary night 1t
was, dismal enough, with drifting sleet and
snow to drive away all thoughts of pleasure,
except to those who were comfortably gather
ed around their own fresdes. l was just
closing my otfice-shutterS, and preparing to
leave for home, when there came Il loud ring
ing at the bell, and a man rushed in, who sta
ted, in almost unintelligiblela language, from the
breathless state that he was in, that man
had nearly murdered himself at the Chester
House, and that l was wanted Immediately.
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 physician had been called, 80 l
could have spent my bachelor 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. I was shown
Immediately to the room of the wounded man
and found him lying on the bed just breathing,
and such sight as would make mans blood
run cold The landlord said he was stran-
ger, who had been stopping at the house but
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 inside, and
noon 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 occu-
pant lying on the floor in such state as made
them start back with horror. He had tried to
cut his throat, but his hand was so unsteady
that he had only succeeded in horribly mutila-
ting 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 a
ghastly spectacle. Finding that he still lived,
they placed him on the bed, and sent for me
and when l arrived he was just breathing.
Had it not been the congealing of the blood
on the wound, the man could never have lived
half the time he did, and it was very evident
from the faint and irregular beating OF his
pulse that he could not possibly last longer
than a few hours. | sewed up and bandaged
the wound, and gave him strong stimulant,
and in short time he began to show signs OF
returning consciousness. AS soon as his sell
ses returned he called me to his bedside, and
in feeble voice asked me if | thought he
would live. l 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 l feared
had done wrong in speaking so plainly, he
seemed pleased and told me to sit down by his
bedside, as he had long story to tell me, and
if he could but live and have strength to finish
it, it would relieve his mind of a burden that
had borne down upon him for many weary
year, and he could he happy. Sending all from
the room, sat down beside him to listen to
the story of his life, for such it proved to be,
and will now repeat it, only in my own IAN
guage, and supplying one or two facts with
regard to the personal appearance and social
standing that came out after 1t was known
| who he was.
| His name he said was Boyden-John Boy.
demand he was born in Boston. His father
was wealthy ship-builder, also owning sever.
al ships, trading between this port and several
cities in Europe, daily adding to his large for.
tune, to which John was the only heir. AT
eighteen he entered college, and his handsome
| face, fine form, and plenty of money always
at command, made him a pet of the class. AT
twenty-five he started with party of wealthy
young men for Europe. Everything that
money could buy was theirs they travelled in
! the most expensive manner, and had the best
of everything. At Baden they visited, as al
do the gambling rooms, and here it was that
! Boyden acquired that taste forplay that ruined
| him.
Every day and night found him at the ia
bles. and always fortunate. But the princely
way in which he lived, fairly throwing away
money, did not leave him much on hand, whel
one of his friends induced him to leave Baden
and both of them continued their travels
They remained in Europe two years, and, re
turning to America, Boyden was taken into
partnership with his father, and settled dowr
as a business man. The highest society wa'
open to him, and no entertainment, however
elegant and fashionable, WAS complete without
the presence of the rich and handsome Johl
Boyden.
A year passed in this way, when the ole
fever of travel and excitement came over him
and as one of their ships was then about tt
sail for Cuba he resolved to go in her. Th'
business acquaintance of the firm with some
of the largest houses of Cuba gave him suiil
cient introduction to its best society 1t wa
at grand fete at the house of one of the bes
! families that Boyden met young Cuban lady
with whom he became desperately in love
| The attachment was mutual, and though HI