The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-03-03
The Model for q Marble Hand.

M'cI VIC lceIoTdllou Oi LOUIS Inlllppa
to the French throne, many of Napol-
cons soldiers were left in comparative
poverty. One of them, n famous Gen-
wished to marry rich, but who fell in
love with poor young man-an under
secretary or something Of that kind.
She married at her fathers request O
rich Count, but refused at the wedding
ceremony to allow the ring to be placed
upon her loft hand, upon which she
wore ruby, put there by her lover.
Her jealous husband was not long in
finding out what was the matter, and,
intercepting letter in which the ardent
young lover claimed Matilda's hand as
his, he determined upon an awful re-
venge.
One night rs the celebrated surgeon
Lisfrancc was returning from profess
sional visit, he was captured by party
of men, blindfolded and taken to a dis
tant palace. and led through labyrinth
OF passages and rooms, At length his
conductor, stopping, said: Doctor, wo
have arrived; remove your bandage."
Tho doctor, whose fears had given place
to n restless curiosity and vague APP
prchcnsion, obeyed. and found himself
in small chamber furnished with re-
markablc luxury, and half lit by an
alabastcr lamp hung from the ceiling.
The windows were hermctically sealed
as well rs the curtains Of an alcoye at
the end Of the room.
Here the doctor found himself alone
with one of his abductors. He was a
man of imposing height and command
ing air, and his whole exterior of the
most aristocratic stump. His black
eyes CLEANED through the half mask
that covered the upper part of his face.
and nervous agitation shook his color
less lips, and tho thick black beard that
Unframed the lower. Doctor" said
he, in an abrupt, loud voice, prepare
for your work-an amputation.
where is the PATIENT" asked the doc
tor, turning toward the acovc. The
curtains moved slightly, and he heard
stiilcd sigh. Prepare. sir" SAID tho
man convulsivcly. But. sir, l must
see the patient" you will see only
the hand you are to cut off" The dec
tor, folding his arms and looking firmly
mt the other, said: "Sir you brought mo
here by force. If you need my profess
sional assistance shall do my duty
without caring for that or troubling my
self about your secrets; but If you wish
w toiiiiiiiC u Ctiilic you CHI nOJ lOTCC me
to be your accomplice." "Bo content,
sir, replied the other, there is no
crime in this, and leading him to the
alcovc he drew from the curtains a
hand 1T is this you are TO cut Off"
The doctor took the hand in his; his
fingers tremblcd ut the touch. 1t was
lady's hand, small, beautifully nodded
and its pure W tic set off by a mapniti-
cent ruby encirced with diamonds.
but, erred the doctor. "thcro is no
need of amputation; nothing is"
"And /, sir! | say" numbered tho
other. IF you refuse | will do it myself"
and, scizing q hatchct, he drew the hand
toward II small table and seemed about
TO strike. The doctor arrested his arm.
"Do your duty then, doctor" "Oh,
but this is an atrOcious act said the
surgeon. "What is that to YOU? 1t
must be done. | wish it; madam wishes
it also; # necessary she will demand it
herself Come, madam, request the
doctor TO do you this service The
doctor, nonpiuSrd, and almost faintiny
under the torture Of his feelings, heard
from the alcovc, N y huif-cXpiring
voice and an incXrrcSSibc accent of de-
spair and resignation: '.5ir, since YOU
are Il surgeon yes I cntreat vou-lct
it be You and not--Oh, yes; you! you!
in mercy" We'll. doctor" said the
man, you or |.
The resolution OF this man was so
frighttul, the prayer nf the poor lady so
full OF cntrCAiy and despair, that tho
doctor fen that even humanity COM
mandcd OF him compliance with the
appeal OF the victim. lie took his in
strumcntS with II last impiOriny look ut
the unknown, who only pointed to tho
hand, and thcn with sinking heart
began The operation For the first time
in his experience his hand trcmblcd;
but the kmf2 WAS doing its work. There
was cry from the alcovc, and then alr
was silent. Nothing was heard but
the horrid sound of the operation till
the hand and the saw fell together on
the floor.
Lsfrance wore the ruby upon his
watch-chain, where il was seen by the
Young lover on his return to Paris, and
out of it grew n duel that led to the dis
closure Of the infamous crime. The
morning after the young lovers arrival
at the capital nc was presented by q
man in livery with an ebony box.
Opening it he discovered bleeding
hand, Matilda's. and on it paper with
these words: "Sc how the Count of -
keeps his oath. After the duel the
young man feed to Brussels. where the
bleeding hand was transferred TO cam
vas Hart seeing the painting copied
it in marble. .-Lerington (Hy) Letter
to Cincinnati Enquirer.