New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-02-24
The Model for a Marble Hand.


The Model for a Marble Hand.
Lexington (Ky.) Letter to the Cincinnati
Enquirer.
After the restoration OF Louis
Philippe to the French throne, many
OF Napoleon's soldiers were left in
comparativepoverty. Once them: a
famous General, had beautiful
daughter, whom he wished to marry
rich, but who fell in love with a poor
young man-an under-secretary or
something Of that kind. She married
at her fathers request a rich Count,
but refused at the wedding ceremony
to allow the ring to beplaced upon hey
left hand, upon which she wore q ruby,
put there by her lover. Her Jealous
husband was not long in finding out
what was the matter, and interceptins
a letter in which the ardent young
lover claimed Matilda's hand as his.
he determined upon an awful revenge.
One night as the celebrated surgeon
Llsfrance was returning from a pro.
fessional visit, he was captured by a
party Of men, blindfolded and taken
to a distant palace, and led through q
labyrinth Of passages and rooms. At
| length his conductor, stopping, said:
| doctor, we have arrived; remove
| your bandage." The doctor, whose
fears had given place to a restless Gu
rloslty and vague apprehension,
obeyed, and found himself in a small
| chamber furnished with remarkable
luxury, and half lit by an alabaster
lamp hungfrom the ceiling. The win.
! dows were Theoretically sealed as well
as the curtains OF an alcove at the end
OF the room.
Here the doctor found himself alone
with one Of his abductors. He was
man of imposing height and command
ing air, and his whole exterior of the
most aristccr atic stamp His black
eyes cleaned through the half mask
that covered the upper part OF his face,
and a nervous agitation shook his
colorless lips, and the thick black
beard that Unframed the lower. "Doc-
tor" said he, in an abrupt, loud
voice, prepare for your work
an amputation." "Where is the pa.
tient?" asked the doctor, turning to-
ward the alcove. The curtains moved
slightly, and he heard a stifed sigh.
sPrepare, sir" said the man convrl.
sively. "But, sir, I must see tie
patient" "You will see only the hand
you are to cut Off" The doctor, told.
Ing his arms and looking firmly at the
other, said: "Sir you brought me-
here by force. Ii you need my pro.
fessional assistance shall do my duty
without caring for that or troubling
myself about your secrets; but if you
wish to commit a crime you can not
force me to be your accomplice." "Be
content, sir, replied the other, "thera
is no crime in this" and leading him
to the alcove he drew from the cur.
tains hand. cit is this you are to
cut off, The doctor. took the hand
in his; his fingers trembled at the
touch: It was Iady's hand, small,
beautifully nodded and its pure white
set off by a magnificent ruby encircled
with diamonds. "But, cried the doc
tor, "there is no need Of amputation;
nothing is" "And I, sir saw
thundered the other, 'sif you refuse ]
will do it myself, land, selling a hatchet,
he drew the hand toward a small table
and seemed about to strike. The doc,
tor arrested his arm. edo your duty
then, DOCTOR" "Oh, but this is all
strocious act" said the surgeon.
sWhat is that to you? It must be
done. l wish it; madam wishes
it also; if necessary she will
demand it herself. Come, Madam, re
quest the doctor to do you this ser,
vice." The doctor, nonpluscd, and
almost fainting under the torture OF
his feelings, heard from the alcove, in
half-expiring voice and an inexpres.
slble accent ofdespair and resignation:
"Sir, since you are q surgeon-yes-
entreat you-let it be you and not
Oh, yes; you! you! in mercy" "Well
doctor" said the man, @you Or l."
The resolution of this man was so
frightful, the prayer of the poor lady
SO full OF entreaty and despair, that
the doctor felt that even humanity
commanded OF him compliance with
the appeal Of the victim. He took his
instrument with last imploring look
ut the unknown, who only pointed to
the hand, and then with sinking
heart began the operation. For the
first time in his experience his hand
trembled; but the knife was doing it's
work. There was a cry from the
alcove, and then all was silent. Moth
ing was heard but the horl.id sound OF
the operation till the hand and the
saw fell together on the floor.
Lisfrance wore the ruby upon his
watchchain, where it was seen by the
young lover on his return to Paris,
and out OF it grew duel that led to
! the disclosure OF the infamous crime
The morning after the young lovers
arrival at the capital he was present.
ed by a man in livery with an ebony
box. Opening it hediscoyered q bleed
ing hand, Matilda's, and on it a pa
per with these words: '.See how th,
/ (nunfnss IF -. lrnane hie ootb j., Af+o,