The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-19

recognition of my presence, she seemed thank.
FIJI TO a degree that greatly excited my curios-
ity.
1t was now towards morning, and proposed
| leaving, promising to return after taking nap.
You will come back?" said the woman. II
would not wish to have other persons meddling:
but, Doctor, you will not neglect my husband.
Money is nothing against him. IF he must
die you must not be away, Doctor but here J"
| She emphasized her words in startling man.
ner. As was leaving she placed money in my
hand. saying: DO not fail, Doctor; it is i'm
portant to me and him." Leaving drops for
| the man to take if he should awake, departed.
promising to return by noon.
was true TO my promise, though had slept
! but little meantime so much did the incidents
of the preceding night haunt me- The woman
met me at the door, and hurriedly informed me
that her husband had awakened three hours
before as if coming ont of terrible Dream in
which he talked incoherently. Il Gained
him. she said, gave him the drops, and he
! INVOKED blessings on you for the relief they
! gave him." Then she added that during the
spasm blood came from his chest into his mouth
! in great quantities, and she brought the vessel
containing it. 1t WAS clear blood, and seemed
! to prove the correctness of my impressions
! that the man had 4 cancer of the stomach far
| advanced, and that he was liable 10 die any
hour from loss Of blood that would result from
the rapidity with which the cancer was eating
| into the vital organs, and thus surely reach
blood vessel with fatal result. As l told her
this she listened with resolution and controlled
| herself
But. Doctor" she exclaimed, with clenchod
hands, "save him for time"
Here she consulted her watch. Save him
for 10 hours at least. Do this for my sake! !"
She ceased. She was greatly moved, but soon
was calm again.
went to the bedside of the patient. He
I -.
ton stood on his handsome face his hands
resting on the outside of the he'd. As we stood
there he opened hi eyes and WIS almost in
stantly awake. He beckoned me TO come near
He spoke:
81 have slept, but am very weak. Can you
make me stronger? There is something eating
my life ont here" laying hand on lis chest.
] administered an invigoraing preparation.
Then he motioned to his wife, and ! stood
aside. She placed her face close Ia his, and
they comversed earnestly III whispers. 1t was
now considerably after noon. He seemed 10
he better-at least, he for the moment
stronger. lie spoke in strong voice:
. think. Doctor, you understand my case.
What is it?"
/ hestated, thinking what Fly reply should
be.
Tell me that" he demanded with earnest
ness.
My answer was: Whatever it is, the medi-
cines do you good. We will know better short
ly."
" But do you not know now ?' he demanded
you must surely know, or the medicines
could not be so accurately chosen. Tell me.
i know ! must die, and soon, perhaps; but
what is it that is killing me?"
At that instant his mouth filled with blood.
He raised himself his elbow, and blood
flowed into bowl. He shuddere1 as he saw
it, and sank back almost exhausted.
There / am easier nav ct me- sIpeDD
We withdrew little distance, and he slept.
Leaving medicines with the wife, left. prom
ising 10 return as soon as possible. Other
patients demanded my attention.
The day was well advanced when returned.
In the room were three men in earnest CONVEX
saton with the patient, who bolstcred up
SO that his body was nearly upright. His face
was suffused with perspiration. Their con-
versation was in low tones. and number of
papers were on the bed. ! comprehended that
he had signed one, and was discussing the
others. The woman came TO me and explained
that it was some very necessary business, and
wished me to withdraw to the adjoining room,
which did. The strangers soon left, and the
wife came in smiling and said that the 10
hours had passed and the crisis" had been
surmounted. j told her that SO far as / could
see the crisis had yet to come. No! she ex-
claimed. The crisis l meant was the 10
hours. when the gentlemen you found here
papers have been signed, and now D She
did not finish the sentence groan from the
patient prevented. We fastened to his bed
side. The pillow was covered with blod, and
he was gasping for breath, while blood flowed
from his mouth. He breathed few times and
was dead.
] turned to his wife, and was amazed at her
calmness. She even smiled and said: at is
over. and be is safe!" ] did not comprehend
all that her words meant, but knew they had
peculiar import. We wiped his face, fresh pill
lows were brought and my patient lay there at
rest. While was arranging the bed cover,
the woman went into the adjoining room.
had no reason for remaining.
Soon the woman returned from the adjoin-
ing room, and placing sum of money in my
hand, said: Il am grateful, and nave no fur
ther need of your presence. You have done
everything physician could. You protracted
his life for hours. They were precious ones
how precious you may never know. Here is
what hope will duly compensate you. Should
you wish to see me further, do so tomorrow"
/ left the house as the lamps were being
lighted on the streets, and wendell my way
homeward almost dazed by the events through
which / had passed, my greatest wonder being
who had been my patient, who was that
woman, and what was their history.
As the Doctor concluded we consulted our
watches. The hour was into the night, and the
train far on its way into North Carolina. Light
ing another cigar, he continued: =" In the course
of the following week the papers contained
accounts Of extraordinary forgeries, followed by
the detection of counterfeit Government bonds
that had been put in circulation. Instantly
connected both in my mind with my patient
the woman and the three mysterious visitors 10
her. Nothing was ever developed to support
this theory, but have scarcely doubt of its
correctness"
While the Doctor smoked his cigar he philos
ophised entertainingly on the experience which
one of his profession is liable to have in the
course of his practice, and before we sought our
sleeping berths had related another quite as
interesting as the one / have reported.
JEFF Davis's Grave.
The President of the Jefferson Davis Monu-
ment Association. Mayor J. T Ellison SAWS