Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-07-04


him that ho must submit to have his eyes
bandagcd, as the person in whose pres
ence they wero about to conduct him was
a lady of rank, whose name and place OF
abode it was imperativcly necessary to
conceal. As he pulled the bandago out
of his pocket and proceeded very adrolt-
ly to adjust it to the doctors eyes BIS
companion took occasion to remark that
ho and the other gentleman were fully
armed, and should the doctor, ut this OIL
at any other stage of the proceedings,
offer the slightest resistance to any re-
quest which was proffiered to him, he
would be Immediately stabbed to death
Upon this admonition DIR. 4Eneas Mac
bride determined, like the canny Scot he
was, to hold his tongue and see-when he
was permitted to use his eyesight again -
what camc of it.
1t seemed to him that the carriage wns
continual turning and was being driver
through a variety Of streets, possibly Will
the view to prevent his forming any accu
rate idea as to the part of the city tc
which he was being conducted. The
coach at length stopped. and the dooi
was opened for him. His two compan'
ions took him each under one arm, assist
cd him to alight and conducted him up q
narrow staircase into room, where, aftel
a moments pause, the bandage was re-
moved from his. He found himself in q
small drawing-room, or boudoir, dimly
lighted by wax tapers and richly furnish
ed, although sheets and pieces of tapes
try had been thrown over some of the
chairs or placed in front of the picture
frames, as though for the purpose OF pre-
venting stranger from too closely iden'
tifying the contents of the room. There
was flask of wine on the table and one
of the gentlemen filled large bumper OF
Venetian glass and offered it to DR.. Mac
bride.
81 want no wine,' he said coolly ''it
may be poison for aught [ know"
The gentleman who had offered him the
wine, and who was very tall and clad in a
suit of dark blue paduasoy, richly laced
with gold, for all reply, put the goblet to
his lips and tossed off the contents at a
draught. Then his companion, who was
shorter and stouter-neither had removed
his mask-and who wore green doublet
and coat laced with silver, filled another
glass with wine and offered it to the doc
tor, saying "You had better drink it, Re-
member what L told you in the carriage.
We allow no trifling i'll this house and,
besides, you have need to nerve yourself
for what you have to do!'
II don't like Dutch courage y replied
DIR. Macbride, land am not used to dram
drinking to nerve me for my work. How.
ever, as l have not the slightest wish to
have my throat cut, and you appear to be
prepared to cut it"--both gentlemen nod
ded their heads signifcantly-"at a mo.
I'm ONT 10
wish them to CO. / will drink And now, -
he resumed, after a very moderate pota-
| tion "what is it that you require me to
do ?"
''To perform a surgical operation.
"When?"
"This instant"
"Where 2"
you shall see.
AS the taller of the two masked men
made this reply, he took the doctor by
er person lifted heavy velvet curtain
passed into vast bed-chamber Here
even the ceiling and the Counterpart of a
room, had been shrouded in white sheet
rather there was half-reclining, in large
chair covered with crimson velvet, Il
young lady-she could be scarcely more
than nineteen-exceeding beautiful, and
with golden hair that rippled over her
| shoulders. Her hands We're tightly clasp
ed, and she was deathly pale. She was
clad in long, loosely flowing undress
robe of some white, silky material and
| L., l.
| feet were bare.
you see this woman-this most guilty
and unhappy woman ?" SAID in harsh
voice the taller of the two gentlemen.
'Sho has disgraced the noble family to
which she belongs, and it is necessary
that she should be deprived of life. Here
is case of lancets, and you will instant
ly proceed to bleed her to DEATH
''She is prepared to submit to her fate, -
added the shorter gentleman in green and
silver, ''and you will make the greatest
possible expedition l need scarcely say
that you will be amply recompensed for
your pains.
81 will do no such horrible and unman-
ly thing cried DIR. Encas Macbride
"Do you think that l. physician, Whose
bounden duty is to do everything that he
possibly can to save human life-be it
that of the newborn infant or of the do
tard of 9O-would consent to put to a
cruel death poor lady who should be
enjoying all the happiness that earth can
give? DO your butchery work yourself ;
I'll have no hand in it"
at is precisely" replied the latter gen
tleman, because we are DESTROYS that
this indispensable work should not be
done in butcherly manner that we have
brought you here You are known to be
the skilfulest surgeon in Rome, and you
will perform the operation at once by
opening the veins in her ankles if you
refuse, l swear that l and my bro" he
checked himself before he could pro-
nounce the word "brother" com
panion will fall on you with our poniards
and hack you to death"
do their bidding" said, in low faint
voice the young lady in the armchair.
"Do I hear aright?" said the doctor.
"You do!' resumed the lady. "Do
their bidding, or you will incur fate as
dreadful as my own."
DIR. Eneas Macbride appeared to hest
tate for moment ; then he said, 81 will
do your will, and may heaven forgive me
for yielding to you! But l must have
vessel, large vessel of warm water.
''That shall be at once procured, re-
piled the taller of the masked men, leay-
ing the room. You will remember that
DIR. Hneas Macbride was also tall of stat
ure. He bent over the reclining lady and
whispered something to her.
81 have told her." he said. drawing
himself up to his full height, "that /
will not hurt her much"
Presently two female attendants each
closely masked entered the room. carry
ing between them large silver tub fnll
OF warm water. This vessel thew placed
before the young lady who, without
word, immersed her feet in the water.