The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-09-20

wondered what had been Its last ana
upon one end of it were case OF in
struments and bottle labeled " ether"
both expectant A significant scuf-
fling of feet dissipated most of these inn
pressions, and they were quite put to
flight by the appearance OF the doctor,
superintending the movements of two
coolies who carried flaccid bundle
which they laid upon the table as Spoon
er directed. The bundle was dirty and
wretched, vet the room and the table
and the instruments seemed to be salts
fed now they had got it. The doctor
laid out the instruments to his mind,
and unwound the bandages from the
sufferers leg.
There" said he, tipping the ether
bottle upon sponge, and dividing the
remark between Drumway and himself,
&c no time to be lost here, l take it. ,"
The meaning odor of the ether bottle
filled the room.
What-what are you going to do ?''
asked the patient in stupid, half-fright-
ened tone, and trying to keep the doctor
in sight"
:. To save your life-I think.
mo no p" exclaimed thes man, ii
the sponge was placed over his mouth
and nostrils. Not that I'd rather
Hold him - said Spooner, with
quiet earnestness. 81 He's astonishing
ly strong yet. +" a'-> as>s 5 s
The man writhed powerfully, uttered
broken sentence. moaned out some 10
articulate words, became quiet and fell
into that mysterious state OF waiting
which seemed to belong to everything
in the apartment
Now, Drumway, quick ~ said the
doctor. " Hold the sponge so, and keep
it there until l tell you to remove it.
What's the matter Not going to be
faint, are you P"
"No, oh no. It's the ether, perhaps.
You may depend upon me Pm quite
myself"
At the weak, muff1ed sound of the
patients voice, Drumway had turned
very white, and glanced quickly from
the wound, upon which his attention
had been fixed, to the mans ghastly,
unshaven face He did not look particu-
larly reliable as he took the sponge, and
Spooner's countenance became shade
more serious.
The surgeon worked busily. The in
struments ratified and there was graf
ing sound like that sometimes heard in
butchers shops. .
The two Drumways were more dis
tinct than ever. This one held the
sponge with tolerable steadiness, and
watched the doctors work in sort of
awful fascination that one flew over
sea and time. The old Drumway saw a
church with carriages, and the strip OF
carpet before it heard the " Wedding
March " peal from the organ, and felt
the old despair. He saw the curious
ones bending forward, smelt the fra
GRANGE of orange-howers- strangely
mixed with a sickening fume of ether
and saw her pass down the aisle with
what nightmare was here How
could this filthy, manned, half-drunken
wretch have been the hero of that day ?
And where was she Dead, or broken
hearted ? What miserable history had
this miserable end ?
The room was very still. Drumway
heard faint rattle under the sponge,
and Spooner looked suddenly at the pa
TENTS face. The mans jaw had drop
ped.
Z" The devil - from the doctor.
Good God " from Drumway.
Odd; was it not, that they should
have meant so nearly the same thing.
{" Take away the sponge take away
the sponge!" exclaimed Spooner.
He shook the body roughly, struck
the chest and cast water in the face.
He worked hard and the perspiration
came out in beads upon his forehead,
but the patient, tired, perhaps, of wait
ing so long-had left upon the table
only " subject" j"
Every unfortunate said Spooner,
in tone of disappointment. 8" wish
ed had looked moment sooner. But
there One is never sure. This life
is a very curious thing, very curious
thing. y W. S. Richardson.