The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-02-16

eyes remember the story, though l
had almost forgotten it,
Ramsay, Habershoa and myself were
all students together in Philadelphia.
We were in the same classes in college
and jointly occupied the same suite OF
rooms. Furthermore wo were all max
ing speciality of studying the human
brain, and the only point wherein we
materially differed from each other was
that Ramsay knew more than we two
fellows together.
True, Ramsay was, in regard to his
theories and speculations, what many
people would call CRANK then
successful cranks arc esteemed to be
geniuses, and certainly Ramsay was, in
my judgment, quite as near the one as
the other.
We three fellows all fitted in the
same social set, and although both Ram
say and Habcrshon knew good and
beautiful girls by the score, the fates
decreed that they should fall in love
with the same young lady. And yet,
strange enough, they never displayed
bad feeling toward each other nor ever
sought to make the lady's position an
unpleasant one on account Of the rivalry.
1t seemed to me, al onlooker, as though
there was tacit understanding between
them, that no undue influence should be
brought into play but that, knowing
how both loved and admired her, the
object of their admiration and estee m
should be left quietly to choose between
them.
Grace Thorncycroft was a most beau
tiiul and estimable girl and, though I
have been an old bachelor all my days,
l do not wonder that any man should
have sought her for hi, wife.
Ono day Grace, with her father,
mother and brother, wero down to
Atlantic City, where they took sail
boat and went out A sudden squall
overtaking them the frail pleasure boat
was upset and Grace was the only men,
ber OF the party who escaped with her
| life. She was picked up in fainting
condition and teaderly cared for, but
when restored, physically it was found
that her mind was shattered she was
insane. All that wealth, combined with
skill, could do was done for Grace, but
it availed nothing and the physicins
and frieuds at last gave up tho case az
| hopeless. II lbcrshon was himself. al
most crazy with grief and could not
bear to go near the poor girl. As for
Ramsay he shut himself up in his den
"A small, barely furnished room whore
he was il the habit of pursuing his
studies and experiments. There was a
determined expression on the fellows
face and when I looked in on him
| (Which was seldom) he was always busy
with his papers and books-sometimes
engaged in dissecting the brains of dogs
and other animals, and once examining
humaa brain.
He seldom spoke or even so much as
remarked my presence, though once he
said in an excited tone: II shall cure
her, Hartly-it shall be done at any
cost"
So for days and weeks he sat over
that bare pine table gazing at the skull
in front of him-cver aud anon rapidly
pcnciIing diagram, of the human brain
and of the nervous system.
Late one evening l was sitting with
Habershon when there came rap at
the door and r ,msay entered. He was
very quiet, but knowing him as well as
1 did l could tell he had something
beyond the ordinary on his mind.
Boys he said, II think l have
found what have been searching for
| think | can cure Grace l say think,
because. after all, it is only n theory of
mine and may utterly fail, but 1 think
not. Perhaps you say should not
thcorize and experiment on woman
whom, as you know, I love. Well, it
won't do any harm to her and it my
do her all possible good. Tomorrow
morning l shall try to do tn, work"
Then turning moro particularly to
Habershon, he continued: ed. you
and both love Grac, Thorueycroft.
Now, in tho presence of Hartly, here, l
want you to promise me that, whatever
the consequences of my operation, you
will care for Grace as long as she lives,
and, ii necessary, care for me, too"
think neither Haoershon or myself
understood the purport OF thes, words,
when they were spoken, though their
meaning was clear enough later on.
However, Habcrshon gave the request
ed promise and we parted for the
night
The next day, iu the forenoon, RAM
say, in the presence of the two physi-
clans who had been in charge OF Grace,
began his operations was an inter-
ested observer from distant part of |
the room, but Habershon coulI not be |
induced to be present. Ramsay told
the older doctors that il his theory |
proved perfectly successful in practice
he would be able to give his method of /
cure in writing for tho benefit OF the
medical world-at present, he said that
it was utterly impo siblc for him to in
telligently explain his ideas. However,
he guaranteed that the attempt would
be perfectly harmless to the paticrt and
tho doctors stool 10y ready to pre-
vent any undue or dangerous expert
mcnt. For myself, l have rot the least
idea to this day just what the means
,roro p-tstob ~, -. ]