The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-06-16
STORY OF A PHYSICIANS WIFE,

81 have heard Of persons whose hair
was whitened through excessive fear,
but as | never saw myself any one so
affected | am disposed to be credulous on
the subject
The above remark was made to DR..
Maynard as we sat on the piazza of his
pretty villa discussing the different eff
fects Of terror on dissimilar tempera-
mcnts. Without replying to me, the
doctor turned to his wife and said
"lelen, will you please relate to my old
friend the incident within your own ex-
perience? 1t is the most convincing
argument | can advance"
| looked at Mrs. Maynard in surprise.
| had observed that her hair, which was
lux uriant and dressed very becoming ly
was purely colorless, but as she was a
young woman, and also a very pretty
one, surmsed that it was powdered to
heighten the brilliancy of her fine dark
eyes.
The doctor and | had been friends and
fellow students, but after leaving college
we had drilted apart, | to commence
practice in an Eastern city, he to pursue
his profession in a growing town in the
| West. | was now on a visit to him for
the first time since his marriage
Mrs. Maynard, no doubt, reading my
supposition by my look of incredibly,
smiled as she shook down her snowy
tresses over her shoulders, and seating
herself by her husbands side, related
the following episode:
1t is now nearly two Years ago since
my husband was called on, one evening,
t." visit a patient several miles away.
Our domestcs had all gone to Il " wake"
i'll the vicinity, the dead man being Il
relative Of one of our serving women.
| Thus | was left alone. But felt no fear,
| for we had never heard of burglars or
any sort of desperadpes in our quiet vii
| houses. The windows leading out ON the
! piazza were open as now, bnt | secured
| the blinds before my husbands depar-
taye, and locked the outside doors, all
except the front one, which left for the
doctor To lock after going out, SO that if
| should fall asleep before his return he
| could enter without arouSing me. |
| heard the doctors rapid iootstep on the
gravel, quickcned by the urgent tones of
the messenger, who awaited him, and
| after the sharp rattle of carriage wheels
had become but an echo, seated myself
by the parlor astral and soon became alb
Sorhed i'll the book | had been reading
before being disturbed by the summons
| But after a time my interest succumbed
to drowsineSs. and | thought of retiring,
when the clock in the doctors study adj
joining the parlor struck twelve: so |
determined to wait il few minutes more,
feeling that he would be home now very
$ ,cn. | closed my book. donned robe
de chamber. les down my hair and then
returned to my seat to patiently wait
and listen Not the faintest sound dis
turbcd the stiffness of the night Not
a breath Of air stirred the leaf. The 81
lence WAS profound that It became OPP
preSsive. | !nnyed for the sharp click of
the gate latch and the we'll known step
on the gravel walk. did not dare to
break the hush myself by moving or
singing, was so oppressed by the deep
stiffness. The human mir d is strange
torturer of itself. began to conjure up
vivid iancies about ghoStly visitants, i'll
the midst of which occurred to me the
stories | had heard from superstitious
people about the troubled spirits of those
who had died suddenly, like a man whom
my servants had gone to wake" who
had been killed by an accident at the saw
mill. In the midst of these terrifying
reflections | was startled by a steathy
football on the piazza. | listened between
But no, he would not tread like that, the
step was too soft and cautious for any
thing less willy than a cat. AS listened
| again my eyes were fixed on the window
| piiilt' sd" bLc SlSlo lioNt illtl
softly, and then the rays Of the moon
| disclosed a thin, cadaverous face and
| bright, glittering eyes peering at me
| Oh. horror, who was it what was it >
| | felt the cold pcrspiration start at every
PORE | seemed to be frozen in my chair.
! | could not move, | could not cry out;
my tongue seemed glued to the roof Of
| of my mouth, while the deathly white
| face pressed closer, and the great sunken
| eyes wandered i'll their gaze about the
room. In Il few moments the blind closed
the cautious footstep came toward the
door. Merciful heaven | cried, in a
horror stricken tone, as | heard the key
in the lock, "the doctor. in his haste,
must have forgotten to withdraw the
key
"God forgive me"' CIRCULATED DR..
Maynard, interrupting his wife, and look
ing far more excited than she, q" can
never forgive myself for such thought
less act Please proceed, my dear
| heard the front door open, the step
in the hall, and helpless as a statute |
still sat riveted to my chair. The parlor
door was open, and in it stood tall,
thin man, whom | had never beheld be.
fore. He was dressed in long. loose
robe, sort of gabcrdine, and black
velvet skull cap partially concealed a
broad forehead. underneath which CLEAN.
cd black eyes, bright as living Goals. and
placed SO near together that their gaze
was rreteInatural in its directnesS
heavy grizzled eyelids hung over then
like the tangled name of a lion; the nose
was sharp and prominent, and the chin
was ovcrgrown with white hair. which
hung down III locks weird as the ancient
mariners. He politely dotted his cap
bowed, replaced it, and then said i'll
slightly foreign accent:
" Madame, it is not necessary tor MI
to stand on any further ceremony, "a
your husband, DIR. Maynard, (hereupol
he again bowed profoundly has alread,
acquainted you with the nature of M,
business here tonight. | perceive Ii,
added, CHANGING at my neghge robe
" that you were expecting me-"
No. found voice to stammer eth
doctor has said nothing to me about
visitor at this hour of the night"