Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-09-19
A STARTLING ADVENTURE.

I was medical student in Paris at
the time the strange and startling ad-
venture happened which l am about to
record. Tired with long lectures and
hard study, l was out one evening for a
walk in the fresh air. 1t was pleasant
night in mid winter, and the cold, brac-
ing air, rs it touched my feverish brow,
caused grateful sensation.
Passing through rather lonely street
near the river, was surprised at meeting
a young and pretty girl-at least she so
appeared in the dim light of a rather
distant street lamp-who carried in her
hand some three or four bouquets, which
she offered for sale.
"Will monsieur have bouquet" 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, l
could not help adding, as fixed my
eyes upon hers, "And so, think, is
their fair owner"
"Monsieur will purchase and assist
me3" she said.
"Do you, then, really need assistance,
mademoiselleW
"Why else should be here at this
hour of the night, monsieur?"
sAndswhy here at alll" quickly re-
turned I. "This street is little frequent
ed, and is about the last in the world l
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 netained.
"What is your price?" said l.
stFiye francs?"
ga large sum-"
"Monsieur will remember it isawinter,
and flowers are not plentiful"
"To aid you will purchase, returned
], handing her the requisite silver coin (;
''for, though love flowers, l would
otherwise hardly indulge in the luxury
tonight at such an expense"
She thanked me, and seemed about to
pass on, but hesitated, looked mp at me
and said:
"Could monsieur direct me to the
house of good physician, who would
turn out tonight and sec patient for a
small recompense?"
"Any friend of yoursill9"
s'NIy mother." with deep, sigh and
downcast look.
"Where does she reside"
"Only short distance from here"
s'What is the matter with her2"
L., h.<,h fnr -
s'When was she taken2"
"Shc came down last night, and has
not left her bed SINCE"
"Why did you not send for doctor
once3"
"Wo hoped she wouldsget better soon,
and it is so expensive for.poo people to
employ physician"
81 am myself a 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.
"Oh, how shall thank monsieur"
she exclaimed, with claspcd hands, and
an upward, grateful look. ''Pray, fol-
low me, MOuSleuT le DOCteuT.
She turned at once and moved off at a
rapid pace down the street toward the
River Seine in the direction l was walk
ing when we met.
In less than five minutes we had en-
tered wretchcd quarter, among narrow
streets, old, tottering buildings, and
squalid looking inhabitants, some of
whom seemed to glare at us as wepassed
along.
''Is it much furthera" inquired I, be-
ginning to feel uneasy.
"only step, monsieur. 1t is just
here"
Almost Immediately she turned into a
covered passage, which led in back
among habitations that 1 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 door into
total darkness.
"Your hand, Monsieur le Docteur, y
she said, at the same time taking it and
leading me forward.
was tempted to draw back and re-
fuse to go any further, though mechani-
eally followed her.
We now went through long, narrow
] passage, in total darkness, and, after two