The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-06-01
A DOCTORS ADVENTURE.
Why He Lost BIS Contempt for
6uperstitious People.


II presume that man Of your sixep-
ticai mind and iron nerve has grea,
contempt for people who believe IN
ghosts or In other supernatural ter
rorsT'
II had such a contempt once, but ]
was completely cured Of II years ago. =
.sYou surprise mo May ! ask
whether you healed yourself or EN-
ployed the services Of some other ply.
sician2'
DR. Weymouth caught the humor in
tho remark Of tho young medical stu.
dent who was questioning him, and
laughed.
II was cured by something worse
than physician" he replied.
what was it7a
"A human skull
Your story must be strange ono.
1T Is, but ! will not tell It TO you
unieas ron will solcmnly promise not "a
repeat It.
"Why so much secrecy"
III 4 not necessary TO satisfy your
curiosity now. Ny reason WIN be plain
70 you when my narrative Is ended.
very we'll; promise"
ITO give ron thorough understand
ing Of my singular experience, II Il
necessary for me 70 recall seriea Of
events which preceded the supc-nat-
urAl horror which l shall describe.
when ! began TO practice medicine
IN . small inland city ! became 40
Quainted with q beautiful girl, who 80
charmed me that sought her society
frequently. I have since learned that
she then regarded me with favor, and
no doubt would have conducted q
regular courtship which would have
ended In . happy marriage had Il not
been that entirely unexpected circum-
stances suddenly separated us My
father was stricken with fatal Ill
ness and my presence was required at
his home in Massachusetts until his
death. which took place after had
been with him six months. When re-
turned to the west and resumed my
medical practice I learned TO my great
chagrin that Miss Wilkins, tho girl 70
whom had been 90 attentive, was en-
gagged TO be married to q young lawyer
named Goodwin He had been as rapid
In his love affair a. had been slow In
mine. and then learned the bitter les
son which many other young men who
have been diiatory In courtship have
also learned. that II q prompt and zeal
Gus rival appears, and no Is pretty sure
70 do SO II the girl Is highly attractive,
no will win the prize during an alb
sence OF even . few months on the part
of the dilatory sutton.
.Of course there was nothing for me
70 do except to accept the Inevitable.
bore my disappointmentSa best could
and gave assiduous attention to the du-
ties@sef my profession Meanwhile /.
learned that ] was not the only disap-
pointed sutton. Mr. Callahan, hand
some photographer, had tried to win
tho hand Of Miss Wilkins during my
absence In Massachusetts, bnt he soon
found that Goodwin was preferred to
himself Callahan was a moody and
disagreeable fellow In spite Of his good
looks, and was decidedly glad that he
had been unsuccessful. Knowing what
his disposition was, was surprised to
observe that after Miss Wilkins had be-
como Mrs, Goodwin he cultivated the
husbands acquaintance, and within o
few months became his intimate friend.
often saw them together. and used TO
wonder whether Callahan was sincere
In his friendship. Several years passed
away and brought about interesting
changes Goodwin, who was pleasant
fellow, but was not q man to heed the
claims Of morality when they strongly
confiicted with his inclinations, fell al
easy Victim to the wiles Of fair adj
venturesa He kept his infatuation
we'll concealed from his wife, however,
and she was entirely unsuspicious un-
I'll she finally discovered his nnfaith-
fulness In most singular manner. One
night, while Mr.. Goodwin was absent on
long journey, his house was entered
By . burglar who went to the
library and broke open desk In
which Mr. Goodwin kept private
papers and letters, and which was
never left by the owner unlocked. In
the morning Mira Goodwin found the
contents OF the desk scattered on the
hoor, and among them package OF
love letters from the adventures. The
cat was now out OF the bag, and the
wronged wife instituted proceedings for
divorce. which was granted Soon
after she had accomplished her object,
the community was startled by the
news that Callahan had been arrested
on the charge Of having committed the
burglary. At the trial, during which
the courtroom was crowded, on &C.
count OF the high social standing Of the
prisoner. his guilt was skillfully
proved by chain Of circumstantial
evidence Il was shown that the
photographer after breaking into the
house had committed but one offenso.
he had opened the desk ana scattered
the papers that he had found In Ii, but
he had stolen nothing. Tho mystery
was great until the prisoner confessed
that he had entered the house Tor the
sole purpose Of furnishing Mrs. Goodwin
with evidence that her husband was