Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-03-29
TERRIBLE VENGEANCE.
a Jealous husband Has the Hand
OF his Wife Cut Off and Sent to
Her Lover.

a Jealous husband Has the Hand
OF His Wife Cut Off and sent to
Her Lover.
From London Exchange.
AT the restoration OF Louis Phil.
iippe TO the French throne many
OF Napoleon's soldiers were left in
comparative poverty. One of them, a
famous general, had beautiful daugh
ter whom he wished to marry rich,
out who Tell in love wit a poor young
man--an under secretary or some-
thing 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
eft hand, upon which she wore a ruby
put there by her lover. Her jealous
husband was not long in finding out
what was the matter. and interceptlng
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,
Lisfranc, was returning from 8
professional visit, he was captured by
a party OF men, blindfolded and tax
en- to a 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 Theoretically sealed
as well 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 stifled sigh.
Prepare, sir" said the man, con.
vulsively.
But, sir, must see the patient"
"1ou will see only the hand you are
to cut off,
The doctor. folding his arms and
looking firmly at the other said:
"Sir, 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
rets, but If you wish to commit q
crime you cannot force me to be your
| accomplice.
BE content, SIR" replied the othert
there is no crime liz this" and lead
ing him to the aleovt he drew from the
curtain a hand. sit is this you are
| to cut off,"
The doctor took the hand in his;
his fingers trembled at the touch. 1t
was lady's hand-small, beautifully
modelled, and its pure white set off by
a magnificent ruby encIrcled with
| diamonds.
"But," cried the doctor, "there is
no need OF amputation; there is"
"And /, sir! say" Numbered the
other, eff you refuse will do it my.
sell" and, seizing hatchet, he drew
| the hand toward small table and
seemed about to strike. The doctor
arrested his arm. 'Do your duty,
then DOCTOR"
40, 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. II necessary she will demand it
herself. Come, madam; request the
doctor to do you this service"
The doctor. nonplussed and almoet
tainting under the torture of his feel
| ings, heard from the alcove in a half
expiring voice and an inexpressible
accent of despair and resignation:
"Sir, since you are surgeon-yes
Il entereat you-let it be you,-and
notch. yes, you! you in mercy''
"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 hui.
mainly commanded othim compliance
| with the appeal of the victim. He
took his instruments with 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 its work; there was cry from
the alcove. and then all was silent.
Nothing was heard but the horrid
sound OF tine 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
q disclosure OF the infamous crime.
The morning after the lovers arrival
at the capital he was presented by "a
man in livery with an ebony box.
Opening it he discovered a bleeding
hand -Matilda's- and on it paper
with these words: "See how the
countess f. keeps her OATH"