The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-08-01

about to conduct him was lady OF
rank. whose name and place of abode
1t was impcratively necessary to con-
ceaL As he pulled the bandage out OF
his pocket and proceeded very adroitly
to adjust it to the Doctors eyes, his
companion took occasion to remark
that he and the other gentleman were
fully armed; and should the doctor, at
this or any other stage of the proceed
ings, offer the slightest resistance to
any request which was proffcrcd to him
he would be Immediately stabbed to
death. Upon this admonition, DR..
Eneas Macbride resolved, like the can
ny Scot he was. to hold his tongue and
see-when he was permitted to use his
eyesight again-what came of it.
IL seemed to him that the carriage
was continually turning and was driven
through a great variety of streets, pos
sibly with view to prevent his FORM
ing any accurate idea as to the part of
the city to which he was being conduct
ed. The coach at length stopped, and
the door was opened for him. His two
companions took him each under one
arm, assisted him up q narrow stair
way into room, where, after q mo-
ment's pause, the bandage was remov-
ed from his eyes. He found himself in
small drawing room, or boudoir,
dimly lighted by wax tapers, and rich
ly furnished, although sheets and pieces
of tapestry had been thrown over some
Of the chairs or placed in front of some
OF the picture frames, as though for the
purpose Of preventing stranger from
too closely identifying the contents of
the room. There was flask of wine
on the table, and one of the gentlemen
filed large bumper of Venetian glass
and offered it to DR.. Macbride.
II want no wine," he said coolly; sit
may be poison for aught know"
The gentleman who had offered him
the wine, and who was very tall, and
clad in q suit of dark blue paduasoy,
richly laced with gold, for all reply put
the goblet to his lips and tossed off the
contents at draught. Then his COM
panion, who was shorter and stouter-
neither had removed his mask-and
who wore green doublet and coat
laced with silver. filed another glass
with wine and offered it to the doctor,
saying: .'You had better drink it Re-
member what told you in the car
riage. We allow no trifling in this
house; and besides, you have need to
nerve yourself for what you have to
do"
II don't like Dutch courage" re-
piled DR.. Macbride, land am not used
to dram drinking to nerve mo for my
work. However, as have not the
slightest wish to have my throat cut,
and you appear to be prepared to cut
it" : both gentlemen nodded their
heads signifcantly-''at q moments
notice, if things do not 60 as you wish
them to COL will drink. And now" he
resumed after very moderate potation.
''what Is it that you want me to dop"
ITO perform surgical operation.
"Whenp"
''This Instant
"WhereP"
''You shall see"
AS the taller of the two masked men
made this reply he took the doctor by
the arm and led him forward. The
shorter person lifted heavy velvet
curtain yelling an open portal, and the
three passed into vast bed-chamber.
Here everything in the way of furnit-
ure, and even the ceiling and the
curtains and the Counterpart of huge
four-post bed in the center of the room,
had been shrouded in white sheeting.
At the foot of the bed there sat, or
rather there was half reclining in
large chair covered with crimson vel
vet, young lady-she could be
scarcely more than nineteen-e2ceed-
ingly beautiful, and with golden hair
that rippled over her shoulders. Her
hands were tightly clasped, and she
was deathly pale. She was clad in
long, loosely-flowing undress robe of
some white, silky material, and DR..
Macbride could see that her little feet
were bare. 4
.'You see this woman-this most
guilty and unhappy womanP" said in
harsh voice the taller of the two gentle
men. "She has disgraced the noble
family to which she belongs, and it is
necessary that she should be deprived
of life. Here is the case of lancets,
and you will instantly 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. 1
need scarcely say that you will be
amply recompensed for your peins."
II will do no such horrible and un-
manly thing" said DR.. Eneas Mac
bride. '.Do you think that l. ply
stefan, whose duty is to do everything
that he possibly can to save human
life-be it that of the newborn infant
or of the dotard of 90-would consent
to put to cruel death poor lady who
should be enjoying all the happiness
that earth can givep Do your butchery
work yourself; I'll have no hand in
it."
.'It is precisely" replied the latter
gentleman, because we are DESTROYS
that this Indispensable work should
not be done in u butcherly manner
that we have brought you here. You
are known to be the skillfulest surgeon
in Rome, and you will perform the
operation at once by opening the veins
in her ankles; if you refuse, swear
that and my bro''-he checked him
self before he could wholly pronounce