New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-03-28
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

A Jealous Husband Has the Hand
of His Wife Cut Off and Sent to
| Her Lover.
From London Exchange.
At the restoration CT Louis Phil
lippe to the French throne many
OF Napoleon's soldiers were left in
comparative poverty. One of then,a
| famous general, had beautiful daugh
ter whom he wished to marry rich,
but who fell in love with poor young
man-an under secretary or some
thing of that kind. She married, at
her fathers request, a rich count, but
refused at the wedding ceremony to
allow the ring to be placed upon her
eft 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 lnterceptlng
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,
Llsfranc, was returning from 8
| professional visit, he was captured by
a party OF men, blindfolded and TAX
en- to distant palace, and led
through a labyrinth of passages. and
| rooms. At last he found himself in a
small chamber furnished with remark
able luxury, and half-lit by an alabas-
ter lamp hung from the ceiling.
The windows were dramatically sealed
as we'll as the curtains OF an alcove at
the end OF the room.
Doctor" said the man with whom
| he now found himself alone, in an alb
| rupt, loud voice, prepare for your
| work-an amputation.
Where is the patient?" asked the
doctor, turning toward the alcove.
The curtains mo we'd slightly, and he
heard q, stitled sigh.
prepare, sir" said the man, con-
vulslvely.
"But, sir, I must see the patient"
'You will see only the hand you are
to cut off"
The doctor, folding his arms and
looking firmly at the other said:
'Slr, you brought me here by force.
| II you need my professional assistance
shall do my duty without caring for
or troubling myself about your Sec
fets, but if you wish to commit a
crime you cannot force me to be your
| accomplish"
"Be content, sir" replied the other;
"there is no crime ir this" and lead
TO No IL Il, C., IL,
curtain hand. sit is this you are
! to cut off,
The doctor took the hand in his;
his fingers trembled at the touch. It
was lady's hand-small, beautifully
modelled, and its pure white set off by
a magnificent ruby enclrced with
diamonds
"But,' cried the doctor, 'there is
no need OF amputatior; there is
and I, sir! | say" thundered the
other, "if you refuse will do it my
self" and, Selling a hatchet, he drew
the hand toward a small table and
seemed about to strike. The doctor
arrested his arm. "Do your duty,
then DOCTOR"
30, but this is an atrocious act,
said the surgeon.
''What is that to you? 1t must be
done. wish it; madam wishes it al
! SO. If necessary she will demand it
herself. Come, madam; request the
doctor to do you this service"
| The doctor, nonplussed and almost
tainting under the torture of his feel
ings, heard from the alcove in a half
expiring voice and an inexpresslble
accent OF despair and resignation:
"Sir, since you are a surgeon-yes
i entereat you-let it be you,-and
notch. yes, you! you'll in mercyn'
"Well, DOCTOR" said the man, "you
or I?'
The resolution OF this man was so
| frightful, and the prayer Of the poor
lady so full OF entreaty and despair,
| that the doctor felt that even hu.
mainly commanded othim compliance
with the appeal Of the victim. He
took his instruments with a. last I'M
| ploring look at the unknown, who
| only pointed to the hand, and with a.
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.
| Nothing was heard but the horrid
sound OF the operation till the hand
and the saw fell together on the floor.
Lisfranc wore the ruby on his
watch chain, where it was seen by the
young lover on his return to Paris,
and out OF it grew duel that led to
disclosure OF the infamous crime.
The morning after the lovers arrival
t at the capital he was presented by a
man in livery with an ebony box.
| Opening it he discovered a bleeding
hand-Matilda's s. and on it a paper
with these words: "See how the
countess Of keeps her OATH"