The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-09
HER REVENGE.

men in the professions?'' said rich Mrs.
Van Brssom three times in succession at
a certain afternoon tea while she looked at
Miss Greenleaf, aged As. Then she observed
that no doubt the new doctor, like many
another deserving person, had been cruelty
disappointed and despairec of another
chance. So the tea ended and the coterie
kissed and disbanded.
1t was late in December that DR.. Pru-
dence Wickham moved into one of the fash
ionable side streets hard by Gramercy
park. 1t was snowing-snowing so furi-
ously that faces We're indistinguishable at
short range. First came a furniture van,
and when it had been emptied handsome
cab dashed down the cobbled pavement
and deposited a tall, digni6ed woman,
with short, stout attendant, on the side
walk. They hurriedly entered the house,
the door slamming behind them. Then
the van and cab vanished and night and a
bowling blizzard set in.
If the people of the street were mystifled
that evening, they were in the very thral-
dom of anxiety the next morning when the
sun, rising majestically, cast its cold,
slanting rays on the FURNISHED sign here
tOfOre mentioned
Then the days went by and the solicitous
neighbors watched and waited. But no
body called DIR. Wickham out. Christmas
came and went and the brass sign con-
tinued to glow under the daily labors of
the stout servant But the doctor did not
venture from her solitude.
And New Years eve was come again,
and the people of the neighborhood were
wild with excitement, for the ringing of
the chimes in the church tower was
event that annually rejuvenated everybody.
Thither on this bitter night, as the hands
of the old clock assembled to the hour of 10,
acres of fur cloaks and blue noses, and the
frozen snow crunched with metallic ring
beneath myriad of gum shoes. At last
the great bells in the tower pealed out and
told that another year had been born. And
simultaneously the blare of trumpets,
arising from the crowd, almost shut out
their music.
Suddenly cry went up-a cry that some
one had swooned. The horns ceased, the
bells rang on, and everybody gathered
around the PROSTATE form of young Willie
Van Bussom, who lay upon the snow
white and hstless.
SIS there a medical man in the crowdY'
eyes. Will you kindly allow me to get
hold of his pulse?' answered strong faced
woman she edged her way through the
ranks. 1t was DR.. Prudence Wickham.
"Ah, the cold has told on him and his
body is fast becoming rigid" she said
or he will not survive ten minutes
Strong arms gladly obeyed and Willie
Van Bussom was borne away and deposit
ed on a lounge in the physicians office.
Then the crowd withdrew, the doors
closed, and between her clinched teeth Dr.
Prudence Wickham, alone with her victim,
muttered:
cat lastl At lastp'
For a time she surveyed the motionless
form before her in glad triumph. Then
walking to her surgical case she took out
an assortment of knives and saws. De-
posting them upon a small table near her
PATIENTS head, she took q strong cord from
a wall closet and bound him hand and foot
to the sofa. This accomplished, she held a
vial of ammonia water to his nose and
shook him violently.
whats trumps?'' he asked as he yawned
and opened his eyes in bewi1dered way.
BE quiet, my poor fellow, - answered
DR.. Wickham in assuring though profess
siona1 tones. Then she drew the table
with the instruments into palmer view
and locked the door of the room.
"But where am IY'' he pleaded.
ooh, never mind. You must go to sleep
now so that 1 may begin the operation -
And thereupon DR.. Wickham proceeded to
saturate sponge with chloroform.
''What are you going to do to me?'' he
again demanded, now thoroughly awake
and excited.
''Why, don't you know that am about
to amputate both your legsf I'm awfully
sorry, butt
"Amputate my legsI''
eyes. So prepare for the ordeal" And
she set the chloroform down and took up
the biggest saw on the table
Willie Van Bussom wriggled and
thrashed and plunged, but to no avail.
The cord held him prisoner. When he had
finally exhausted all his strength, DR..
Wickham leaned over him, and with
pair of scissors proceeded to divest him of
the lower portions of his trousers.
won't you have some pityS Can't we
fix it up by arbitration? don't wish to
lose my legs" And his sobs were loud and
pathetic.
To DR.. Wickham's mature mind it was
plain that the time for action had arrived.
So, arresting her scissors, she looked into
his face and said:
''What would you do to save themP"
"What would 1 not do?" he answered.
81 shall inherit great wealth. 1t shall be
yours -
They looked at one another for a time.
Then DR.. Wickham broke the silence
eff that is all, then off they come" And
she reached for the saw once more.
HHold Hold I will, moreover, agree'-
the words clogged in his throat-''I will
agree to marry you
There, that is sufficient answered
DIR. Wickham. And then cutting the thong
that held his right hand she babe him
write his proposal down on paper.
With trembling hand he did so, and it
ran as follows:
MY DEAREST DR.. WICKHAM-You have saved
my life. and in my gratitude for your services
offer you my hand in wedlock. Your slave,
WILLIAM VAN BUssoN.
The first sun that arose on the newborn
year found them standing before minis
ter The occasion, strange enough, was
also their birthday. She was AZ and no
was 20.
The groom s mother refused to be recon
ciled at first. But when Miss Greenleaf
sent her profuse congratulations she re-
1n1ltad for