Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-09-05
A STARTLING ADVENTURE.

I was a medical student i'm Paris at
the time the strange and startling adj
venture happened which am about to
record. Tired with long lectures and
hard study, I was out one evening for a
walk in the fresh air. It was a pleasant
night in mid-winter, and the cold, brac-
ing air, as it touched my feverish brow,
caused a grateful sensation.
Passing through a rather lonely street
near the river, l was surprised at meeting
young and pretty girl-at least she so
appeared in the dim light of rather
distant street lamp-who carried in her
hand some three or four bouquets, which
she offered for sale.
''Will monsieur have bouquet2" she
asked, in a sweet, musical tone, holding
out to me well-arranged collection OF
beautiful flowers.
"They are very pretty said I, taking
them in my hand; and then, somehow, I
could not help adding, as fixed my
eyes upon hers, ''And so, think, is
their fair owner"
"Monsleur will purchase and assist
uC! SIG SdIu.
"Do you, then, really need assistance,
mademoiselle?"
"Why else should be here at this
hour of the night, MONSIEUR"
"And why here at ala" quickly re-
turned I. "This street is little frequent
ed, and is about the last in the world I
should have selected for disposing of a
luxury most suited to wealth and fash
ion."
She sighed and reached out her hand
for the bouquet, which | still retained.
"What is your price?' said I.
GIVE francs|
GA large sum-"
"Monsieur will remember it is winter,
and flowers are not plentiful"
"To aid you I will purchase, returned
T, handing her the requisite silver coin;
''for, though love flowers, would
otherwise hardly indulge in the luxury
tonight at such an expense"
She thanked me, and seemed about to
pass on, but hesitated, looked up at me
and said:
could monsieur direct me to the
house of a good physician, who would
turn out tonight and see patient for q
small recompense?"
''Any friend of yours ill.,"
"My mother!" with deep sigh and
downcast look.
"Where does she reside?"
"Only short distance from here"
'sWhat is the matter with her?'
"She has high fever, for one thing"
S'When was she taken?"
"She came down last night, and has
not left her bed since"
"Why did you not send for doctor
once2'
"We hoped she would get better soon,
and 1t is so expensive for poor people to
employ a physician"
81 am myself medical student, with
considerable experience among the sick
of the hospitals, and if you are disposed
to trust the case to me, am at your SER
vice without Charge" rejoined, already
feeling deeply interested in the fair girl.
ooh, how shall l thank monsieur?"
she exclaimed, with clasped hands, and
an upward, grateful look. ''Pray, fol-
low me, Monsieur lie Docteur."
She turned at once and moved off at
rapid pace down the street toward the
River Seine in the direction I was walk
ing when we met.
In less than five minutes we had en-
tered wretchcd quarter, among narrow
streets, old, lettering buildings, and
squalid looking inhabitants, some of
whom seemed to glare at US as we passed
along.
''Is it much further?" inquired I, be-
ginning to feel uneasy.
"Only step, monsieur. It is just
here"
Almost Immediately she turned into a
covered passage, which led in back
among habitations that I should never
have voluntarily visited in the broad
light of day. A distant lamp just served
to make the gloom visible, till she sud-
denly stopped and opened a door into
total darkness.
"Your hand, Monsieur lie Docteur, :"
she said, at the same time taking it and
leading me forward.
was tempted to draw back and re-
fuse to goany further, though I mecRani-
Cally followed her. -
We now went through long. narrow
passage, in total darkness, and, afte, two