The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-10-15
HE SUFFERED NEEDLEssLY
Haunted for Years by An Accusing
GOtscicHcc.

y wcll-known business man from
Texas was in town not long ago on his
WY % New YORK, when a Washington
star reporter met him and had u long
talk with him. Instead of being either
Judge or major he was a doctor, and the
reporter asked him how he happened on
that title.
II used to be physician" was the re-
ply.
What did you quit for. If It's fair
question:"
The gentleman from Texas hesitated
ana the hotel clerk Joined the reporter
IN coaXing him TO tell the story of his
life.
II suppose might as we'll" conceded
the gentleman, and here goes: When
wls - years old | left Kentucky for
a town in Arkansas, and there Il
nunS out my single and continued the
practice of medicine. had such good
luck that l became quite confident of
my aOilfiy, and felt quite able TO tackle
any sort of case that came my way
mad been pract!clng about three years
ana had saved up nearly fifteen hun
dred dollars, when one day Il young fell
low led his fathe into my office. and the
cId gentleman wanted me to remove his
eye, as 1t panied him so he could't stand
II had never had much experience
win eyes, and. of course. I should't
thought / was equal TO anything. and
IL ace began man.ng my prepare, ATOMS
Tor the operation. | understood from
wha' he son said hat the pain from
the bad eye affected the other, and
i u nad been D..ud for ten wears. Tho
family thought the best thing to do was
% remove 1t. In very shor, time I
had my patient under the influence of
ether, and, without calling in my as
sauce Further than the son, | went
10 work and soon had the eye out.
Then, as ! began to put Il in shane |
noticed, TO my horror, hat I had taken
| ous the wrong eye. The thought of
| what | had done startled and fr,rh,
ehed me 50 tina. | al once hurried
| through my wo * and sent the old man
! home In carr,lge
lhen drew out what money I had
In The bank. packed up my belonging G
ana, after settling all my bills quietly.
LOOK night train ana left the town for
MeN.co' Being extremely sensitive. any
way, ne thought of The terrible injury
had inflicted upon this man so wrough:
upon my feelings that | conld not stav
Ill one place and ! wandered about Mex
leo Tor three months. At the Same Time
was afraid that might be identified
ny some pc: and be arrested and car
rleu pack Tor the punishment so rich
~ deserved. After four months
came over to Texas, and, in a remot @
LOWE, opened an Office and changed my
name. | managsd o make a living. and
stayed there for five years. worrying so
over The man that had made blind.
and had perhaps had lsft to die. that /
/ became gray and wr.nkled
II presume ! would have died there
put one Gay ! happened Into San Anto-
MO. and met man | had known In the
Arkansas town. At first | thought of
Trying 10 get away, but concluded that
the t.me had come for me 10 take my
punishment. for | couldn't stand il
a'N longer. and ! went up to him and
asked him If he didn't come from Blank.
vile. and did he know Mr. X and the
doctor who had got out of town so dis
gracefully. | was relieved 20 find that
he didn't know me at all, and he at once
proceeded to tell me that H. disappear
ahce OF the doctor was s ill an unsettled
mystery. and that Mr. Y. was in good
health told him that I had heard that
the doctor had taken out the wrong eve
and that the old man had become stone
hind in consequence He assured me
that the old man had not suffered any
Inconvenience at ALL because ne was
blind, anyway. in both eyes. and had
been for years, and another physician
had finished the job quite satisfactory.
and the PATIENTS general health had
greatly improved.
"You have an idea" concluded the
gentleman from Texas. "how this news
relieved ME. and in my enthusiasm I
gave up the practice of medicine forever.
ana put my money into a manufacture
Ing establishment that has almost made
me rich in the past twenty years. !
never went back 10 the remote Texas
town again, neither did | ever go 10 the
Arkansas town, nor tell my informant
who ! was. AS 1t happened. I was all
right. but the suffering | had endured
was enough TO cause me to put that part
OF my past clear behind me and keep IL
there"