The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-10

SO saying, he raised one OF ncr eindiA
white hands, on which there sparkled
very large diamond
| ''Her handr' repeated, in astonish-
ment. ''Her hand! But surely there
is no disease. Allow me-" and pressed
! forward to examine it-that warm, liv-
! ing hand; 1t sent thrill through me as
touched It.
l could discover nothing; the shape.
the skin, the state altogether was per
feet
l said as much, both to her-who
stood quite motionless during my in
vestigation-and to him, who stood
watching me with cold, rather con-
temptuous smile.
''That may be-" was the reply.
Nevertheless, the fact remains the
same; and l shall be obliged to you to
begin the operation"
OF course I at once peremptorily re-
fused, and he heard my speech to the
end with the same contemptuous smile.
"Nevertheless," he then once more
exclaimed, cit must be done. 1t re-
mains for you, madam" he contin-
ued, turning to the Lady, ''to express
your wishes on the subject, and, that
this gentleman may see there is no un-
fair lealing on my part. I will leave
the room while you do So"
Alone with the lady, I was beginning
to assure her that my services were at
her command and to entreat her not to
submit to such barbarity, when she in
terrupted me with wave of her hand.
81 thank you SIR" she said, ''but I
can assure you that you can best serve
me by complying with my earnest wish
to have my hand removed. l have
heard of your skill" she added, with a
smile. Il am sure you will not put me
to unnecessary suffering; and the Soon
er you begin the more you will oblige
me. Your continual refusal will only
force me to apply to one less skillful.
Feel my pulse" she said, extending
her other hand to me; you will find it
quite composed and steady. l am no
child that cannot bear pain. / swear
by all hold most sacred that this hand
must fall tonight, if not by you, by an
other. Now" she said, resuming the
quiet, cold tone, which she had changed
to solemn, imprisoned one while
making her oath-''now. think you
will consent"
And, opening the door, she observed:
1.-THE operation is going to begin" .
She drew a chair to til table, threw
back her long hanging s:seve and calm
ly waited for me to commence.
At her call the gentleman had seen
before reentered the room, followed by
another, in whose features I fancied
traced those of the chasseur
1T will not be necessary to hold me-"
she said to them as they advanced,
apparently with that intention.
They stood silent behind her chair,
while mechanically made my prepar-
ations and approached her.
Then one of the men, suddenly dart
ing forward, pressed the condemned
hand again and again to his lips with
passionate EXPLANATIONS. In another
moment he had resumed all his former
calm, and the lady, who never once
glanced at him. said to me:
Proceed"
At last, after some moments Of this
strange silence, when the beating of
my heart might have been loudly heard,
The lady raised her eyes to mine with
melting look of entreaty.
II implore you!" she said 20! do
not refuse me!'
She joined her hands for a moment in
supplication to me, then again laid the
jeweled one on the table, and then
Yes-and then it was done! Without
cry of pain-without movement
she sat there like some beautiful statue;
even her breathing was scarcely quick
ened.
It was done. Perhaps no operation
had ever given me so much pain before.
It was done; and the faultless, beauti-
full hand, with the jewel still sparkling
on it, lay severed from the wounded
wrist
When her arm had been bound up,
and had given the proper directions
as to the treatment to be observed, she
rose.
"Shall see it Tomorrow" asked.
"It would be essential"
She smiled.
You will probably never see me
again" she replied; but accept my
best thanks for the inestimable service
you have rendered me-"
So saying, she disappeared through
side door.
/ was conveyed back to Paris in the
same mysterious way in which l had
been brought from it, nor could for
years obtain the slightest clew to the
mystery.
Some years afterwards. travelling
with family Of high rank. was in
st. Petersburg. when was witness
of terrible accident, such as one
wonders does not oftener result from
the impetuous. needless style of driving
SO much practiced there. At any rate,
here were an intoxicated musjid driver.
ungovernable horses, an overturned
droslsy. and an insensible form-that
of its master-on the ground.
With the assistance of some Of the
bystanders / raised him: and, on in
quiry. ascertained that he was Count
-. and that his palace was close by.
THAT is his wife's palace" explained
one old man. who seemed well ac-
quainted with him. HE married
Princess Dobrousky, who owns that
palace and half a province in upper
Russia"
He went on muttering and shaking
his head, as we proceeded to the mag
nifcent abode Of the injured man. and.