The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-04-04

gers OD DIS H1Rnt nauo, Wa1Cn must nave been very painful, he was unhurt. He presented his card, which bore a society name of irreproachable standing--let me call it Van Wyck-as that is wholly un- like what 1t read, and, aifer glancing at my own pasteboaTd, introduced me to his wife with the most ceremoniouS form ality.
 "As the injured arm had by this time begun 10 give Mrs. Van Wyck much pain, did not delay the amputation ; the lady would not hear of an anesthetic, and she let no sound escape her lips during the operation, which you may be certain made as speedy as possible. lu- deed never saw an amputation endured with so much fortitude and resolution by any other person, either man or woman. Not only was the pain borne without a sound, but Mrs. Van Wyck submitted to the inevitable without the slightest mani festation of that horror of mutilation which is common to us all, and which l expected the more from one so beauti- fully formed, who would feel so keenly the humiliation of permanent and ever conspicuous loss of symmetry.
 When the stump was bandaged, and Mrs. Van Wyck made as comfortable as possible on a wide lounge, where faint breeze laden with the scent of roses stole into the room, dressed Mir. Van Weeks fingers and bandaged his head. The small square table which had served for the operation still stood in the room |; there mad been little effusion of blood and all traces of the amputation had been removed, save that the hand still lay there covered by napkin.
 "'You are to be congratulated, Mir Van Wyck,' said 1, 'upon the possession of a wife whose fortitude and setf-posses- sion would put a Spartan to shame
 |" Mir. Van Wyck eyed me for a mo- ment as if he rather resented the famili- arity of my comment, and then he said slowly, in his suited, halting way, q think, sir, a-that is-doctor-a-Ward- law, that never, during the eighteen years of our married life, has Mrs. Van Wyck -a-once failed to a-grace the situa- ton by-a-doing the correct thing, sir '
 " After what have seen to-day it would be impossible for me to doubt your statement MT. Van Wyck.' ~e
 "Mrs. Van Wyck's eyes turned toward the napkin upon the square table, and then sought my own. There was a look in them l did not understand.
 "s Do you wish your rings now, Mrs. Van Wyck p asked.
 |" No-not now, please doctor,' said Mrs. Van Wyck with more feeling than she had displayed at any previous time. wish you would take the thing away she continued. Do, please. I cannot endure the sight of it. It turns me faint she said with slight smile, and without a trace of pallor. You can bring me the rings at your next call, said she, gaz- ing 6xedly into my face, which 1 vas conscious showed surprise. Do what you choose with the hand,' she added, only never let me see or hear of it again. Bury it, or something, whatever you like. But take it away,-take it away nO7O, please
 gathered the hand up in the nap kin, and as l left the room Mrs. Van Wyck sank back on the pillows murmur- ing, o what an escape have hadl What an escape have had
 placed the hand in closet in the room which our hostess assigned me, and then assisted Mir. Van Wyck to remove the traces of the accident from his person. His own man had suffered a severe wrench of the right arm and a broken nose. Mrs. Van Weeks maid had es- capped unhurt and was flaming my beau tiful patient, when, having made myself presentable, l again entered Mrs. Van Wyck's apartment. My patients sudden agitation over the hand had wholly passed she was as serene and beautiful as when first saw her. She rested so comfortably in the evening that myself retired about I2, and slept soundly. In the morning my first care was to remove the rings. Finding the hand entirely un- injured resolved to keep it, and make preparation for it, as it had been so wholly at my disposal.
 "l was admitted early to the bedside of my p Atient, who was suffering very lit- tie, and declared she had slept delight. fully gave her the three rings-the | gold hoop, the solitaire, and the keeper.
 "'Thank you,' said Mrs. Van Wyck, again fixing her frank, beautiful gray eyes steadily on mine. am indeed fortu- nate, Doctor Wardlaw. 10 have met in such an emergency friend upon whose skill and discretion can so thoroughly rely
 was not aware that-a-anyone | had called Doctor-a-that is Doctor Wardlaw's discretion in question, my love- said Mir. Van Wyck.
 An, but discretion on the part of the physician has more than skill to do with the welfare of the patient. It was so kind of you, doctor, to take that thing | away promptly as you did last evening. could not endure it in the roem.' fully understood the deep thrill of confid. ing entreaty which Mrs. Van Wyck con- trived to throw into these words.
 "'You have your wedding ring again said l, 'unharmed and untarnished. | Whatever may have been said of my professional skill, my discretion has never, to my knowledge, been questioned.'
 "' am so thankful-so grateful r said 1 Mrs. Van Wyck.
 "'Why, what could happen to your wedding ring, my love2 said MT. Van Wyck. Pure gold can never-a-tar- nishl'
 asYou dear old bov., said Mrs. Van