Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-04-15
The Model for a Marble Hand.

cons soldiers were left IN comparative
poverty. One Of them. famous Gen.
eral. had beautiful daughter whom be
wished to marry rich. but who fell in
love with q poor young man-an under
secretary or something of that kind.
She married at her fathers request
rich Count but refused at the wedding
ceremony to allow the ring to be placed
upon her left 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, be determined upon an awful re-
vengc
One night as the celebrated surgeon
Lisfrance 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, we
have arrived; remove your bandage." I"
The doctor, whose fears had given place
to restless curiosity and a vague ap-
prehension, obeyed. and found himself
in small chamber furnished with re-
markable luxury, and half lit by an
alabaster lamp hung from the ceiling
The windows were Theoretically sealed
as well as the curtains of an alcove at
the end of the room. ,t.l 14-- 9t
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 stamp. 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 the thick black beard that
Unframed the lower. Doctor" said
he, in an abrupt, loud voice, prepare
for your work-an amputation. "
"Where is the patientpn asked the doc
tor, turning toward the alcove. The
curtains moved slightly, and he heard a
stifed sigh. Prepare, SIR" said Nthe
man convulsively. "But, sir, I must
see the patient" "You will see only
the hand you are to cut off" The doc
tor, folding his arms and looking firmly
at the other, said: "Sir you brought me
here by force. If you need my profes.
sional assistance / shall do my duty
without caring for that or troubling my
self about your secrets; but if you wish
to commit crime you can not force me
to be your accomplice. Voc "Be content,
SIR" replied the other, ''there is nc
crime in this,n and leading him to the
alcove he drew from the curtains q
hand. ut is this you are to cut of. u
The doctor took the hand in his; his
fingers trembled at the touch. 1t was a
lady's hand, small, beautifully Nmolded
and its pure white set off by magnifi-
cent ruby encircled with diamonds
"But," cried the doctor, ''there is no
need of amputation;t nothing is
"And 1, sir! I say" thundered the
other, IF you refuse | will do itmyself, v
and, seizing hatchet, he drew the hand
toward small table and seemed abou
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 youp L
must be done. I wish it; madam wishes
it also;,if necessary she will Sdemand il
/ herself. Come, madam, Arequest thu
I doctor to do you this service Th,
doctor, nonplused, and almost faintins
under the torture of his feelings, hear(
from the alcove, in half-expirins
voice and an inexpressible accent of de
spair and resignation: "Sir, since yol
are a surgeon-yesI entreat youle
it be you and not Oh, yes; you! You
in mercyr' "Well, DOCTOR" said th,
man, ''you or |. j"
The resolution of this man was 81
frightful, the prayer of the poor lady 81
full of entreaty and despair, that th,
| doctor felt that even humanity com
manded iof him compliance with. th,
appeal of the victim. He took his in
struments with a last imploring look a
the unknown, who only pointed to the
hand, and then with a sinking hear
began the operation. ,yFor-the first time
in his experience his hand trembled
but the knife was doing its work. Their.
was cry from the alcove, and then al
was silent. {. Nothing was heard bu
Cne nOrrlu SOUND OF tne operation I'LL
the hand andthe saw fell together or
the floor. : t'">'
Lisfrance wore the ruby upon his
watch-chain, where it was seen by thu
young lover on his retuyn to Paris, ant
out Of it grew, a duel that led to the dis
closure Of the infamous crime.3 The
morning after the young lovers arriva
at the capital he was presented by 4
man in livery with an ebony box
Opening it he discovered a bleeding
hand, Matilda's, and on it paper will
these words: 'See how the Count of ---
keeps his OATH After the duel tn,
young man feed to Brussels, where thu
bleeding hand was transferred to can
vas. Hart seeing the painting copiet
it in marble. Lexington (Ky.) Lettei
to Cincinnati Enquirer. -