The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-06-23
A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

a N M1S1EnkVU0 OASAE1 EAnANCGs
am physician, and among my pa
tients number the wife of deceased
army officer. The generals wife was q
case of nervous debility. She had, so to
speak, q genius for nervousness; her
body, like her soul, vibrated at touch,
like delicate stringed instrument un-
der skillful masters hand. She was
an excellent wife, and she adored Sec
ond husband, whom she married soon
after tie death of the general, whose
title the world continued to give her.
She worshipped tho last husband, but
unfortunately, the unworthy scamp
much younger than his wife-in no way
deserved the self sacrificing tenderness
and the loving solicitude with which she
treated him. Whenever and whenever
an inducement offered he stole away
from an elegant home, and spent
the night as well as his wife's mon
ey in dissipation.
The wifes sorrow and despair were
boundless, all the more as the frivolous
youth, who had every reason to avoid an
open rupture, knew how to preserve ap-
pearances with an inexhaustible store of
indisputable evasions and excuses. He
lied and cheated with the thorough and
untiring attention of a man to whom
fraud and artifce yielded income of
many thousands. Thus she wss unable
TO get any proof of his infdelity. Never
theiess, her unerring instinct told her
that her husband deceived her and was
unfaithful, a thought that entirely un-
settled her highly nervous organiza-
tion.
Moreover, she put his different state.
ments together and discovered little
contradictions-defc Then the
poor woman shed some bitter tears and
sobbed in heart-breaking fashion, and
became SO miserable that she was not
ashamed, under the circumstances, to
consult mer, her family physician and
trusted adviser. At first strove to calm
her in the usual way, by lying.
But, alasl soon saw these innocent
expedients were not sufficient. So the
generals wife often sat for hours in my
study, crying and wrlnging her hands
with incessant grief. One day she sat
on the sofa, her head buried in her
hands, groaning and moaning in agony
of soul. Without design, beyond trying
to soothe her, I smoothed her forehead
several times with my hand, and saw, to
my great surprise, the sobbing woman
become quiet, involuntarily let hei
hands fall to her side, draw regular
breaths, and soon fall into profound
sleep.
My astonishment merg I'd into Joy, fol
the poor woman with her grief had be
come little troublesome. Therefore
or cred my servant 10 roll the sofa or
which she lay into the next room. After
while awakened her by blowing into
her face, and told her that she had slept
"Ah," she answered that has done 9
world of good. feel, indeed, doctor
that you are right. Probably have
been fool to suspect my good hus
band"
She gratefully pressed my hand and
departed, hopefully smiling.
About q month afterward the coupe oil
the generals wife stopped again before
my door, and the poor wife sat with
weeping eyes in my study. Renewed
groans, renewed tears. told her to &c
to the little room. I made the same
passes lightly over her brow as on the
former occasion, and she slept again in 8
moment. Again she awoke in caimel
state, and hastened to her husband
She repeated the call quite frequently.
One day the generals wife came tc
me unusually agitated, and confessed
with tears that her husband had moi
come home the previous night. Ny
Office hours were nearly over; my wait
ing room was thronged. gently led
her into the little room, put her to sleep
as usual, locked the door and went back
to my studies. My servant brought ar
urgent dispatch. A Brazilian prince
was dangerously i'll; difficult surgical
operation must be performed, and they
honored me with a request that should
perform it. The steamship would leave
Bordeaux next morning. To catch the
night train must start at once. ex
cused myself to my patients. I quickly
packed al the necessary instruments and
+. books, bought ticket and soon left
Paris far behind.
The train was late; the steamer was
waiting for us. ] was scarcely on deck
before the signal for departure was
sounded and we were moving. went
at once to my cabin, unpacked my sci
entihc works and lost myself in reading.
thought of The great honor fallen to
my share, and alternated between hope
aud fear as to the success of the opera
ton. Wearied with the days excite
menu W6nV I'd sIe0p duu u1u uOb 6Haht
till morning. went on deck. The cap
tain approached me-.
1--WE seem to have come good way
csptainp'
'Four hundred miles" was his an
swer"
"And where do you intend to stop OF
the way2"
'Nowhere. We go directly to Rio d.
Janeiro. A thirty six days voyage liel
before u.s." A steamer went much slowel
In those days than now.
"Thirty.six daysr' I cried, mechanic
ally. "No trifie that, csptain; lont
time-a very, very long time, indeed"
I looked thoughtfnlly at the play o
the waves A dark present:ment sud
denly troubled me. It seemed to me o
if 1 had forgotten something.
But what could / have forgotten
What-what had slipped my mind
Suddenly I groaned aloud. Like light.
ming it had flashed through my mind
The generals wifel I had forgotten tn
oauaral,s wifa-khe generals wife in