Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-11-10
COULD RAISE THE DEAD.

one Knew his uduc luulCdlCu an 1eAAAoh
origin; but, from his accent in speaking,
one would have supposed him to be
while his long beard, grave ex-
preston, and majestic hearing seemed
of the Orient. Certain man
uscripts, indeed. declare him to have
been a native of Gascony; but the
of the manuscripts has not
been proved.
Whatever might be his nationality,
however, the doctor had no sooner ar
rived in Florence than he caused to be
announced, with a grand flourish of
trumpets, cornets and drum, that on
Tuesday, the 1st of May, at precisely g
o'clock in the morning, he would repair
to the city's cemetery and there restore
to life five persons of his own choosing.
At last the excitement grew so intense
that the podestat, or chief magistrate
of Florence resolved to send for DR..
Attrapeccini and demand an eXplana
ton. A man who was able to restore
five dead persons to life could have no
difficulty in guessing what was passing
in the mind of a podestat, and accord
ingly, the magistrate was just about to
strike his gong to summon an usher,
when the doctor himself was announced.
"You come Just in time, DOCTOR" said
the magistratel 81 was about to send
for you"
II knew it my lord and wished to an
ticipate your ORDERS" was the reply
uttered in calm tone that filled the
pedestal with amazement.
He recovered himself, however, and
was going to interrogate the new conner,
when the latter exclaimed:
81 understand, my lord, that some of
your people here have doubts of my
science and even of my honesty-in fact,
that am suspected of coming to Flor
ence for the purpose of making dupes. "
something of that kind has been in
timated," replied the magistrate.
"They say, moreover" continued DIR.
Attrapeccini, "that intend to decamp
a day or two before the first of May"
"That also has been said,' assented
the podestat.
You can understand" said the
stranger, slowly, "that L owe it to my
self to put an end to these reports. l
have come to request of you that a
guard of 10, 20, 80 or more men be sta
toned round my house, so as to make
it impossible for me to leave Florence
before releasing from their tombs five
persons, as have promised. You can
not say that my request is an unreason-
able one, since you had determined be-
fore seeing me to have me watched"
"Your request is granted" he said.
Il shall have your house guarded night
and day by twenty men, until the time
comes for you to fulfill your promise; or
until you change your mind, and ac-
knowledge you were not in earnest. 1t
would, perhaps, be wiser for you to
leave the city at once; believe me, it is
not safe to put whole town in commo-
ton. 1 know the Florentines, and l
believe them to be capable of falling
upon you in fury, perhaps of hanging
you, when they find they have been
mocked at and tricked. The least seri-
GUS mishap that could befall you would
be a sojourn of several months in prison
while you waited for the public indigna-
tion to subside."
81 should deserve even more severe
treatment if 1 failed to carry out my
programme" said the doctor.
The doctors interview with the mag
istrate was soon known all over Florence,
and the news of it served to increase
the popular interest and confidence in
the stranger.
A week before the first of May, man
about 40 years old, and dressed COM
pletely in black, entered the doctors
study. He was the Senator Arozzo, eel
'ebrated for the violent grief he had dis
played on the death of his wife six
months before.
"Signor Attrapeccini," said he, briskly,
II do not wish to waste words. Although
what you promise is generally considered
impossible, 1 admit that it may be pos
sible, and l have come here to beg you
to leave my wife at rest in the cemetery.
"Whatl" exclaimed the man of science,
with laugh; and the widower repeated
his own words earnestly.
II beg you," he cried, 81 am about to
marry again-the banns will be pub
lished next month. You would not like
to put a man in such predicament,
would your"
AS he spoke he placed purse full Of
gold on the table.
'Set your mind at rest" said the
doctor, land continue the preparation
for your wedeing."
The next day he received visit from
Philippini, the most famous physician
of Florence, and, indeed, of all Tuscany;
out of every hundred Florentines at least
eighty were at one time or another in
his care.
Learned and honored brother" said
he to Attrapeccini, 81 trust that you
would not do me the injury of bringing
back to the light of day any of the un-
fortunate people who have chanced to
pass away while in my hands"
"Certainly not" replied the other
"just give me the names of the persons
| you mean"
"That would be very difficult mat
ter" said Philippini; "would it not be
more simple for you to exclude from
your ceremony all my former patients?'
and with these words he laid ON the
table heap of gold coins.
at shall certainly be as you wish, my
dear brother" said the foreign physician
The door had hardly closed upoI
Philippini when it was opened again tc
admit two brothers named Gavazza
The Duke Pierre Gavazza and his
brother, the Marques Paul, had risen
partly by their own merits and partly
by good luck. to the first rank in the
Italian nobility; but their journey hat
been long and difficult, as their fathe
had been a miller. 1t was the mile
whom they did not wish to see restored
to life.
DR.. Attrapeccini was shocked, ant