The St. Johns herald., 1900-07-28

Unable 10 speak, shock my head. 4
 terrible suspicion was creeping over
 me. was a!ore, miles away from aid
 or rescue. with a nadman.
 An" he con tinued. re1ectively, your husband may have mistaken .
 tumor for cancer. Allow me to feel
 your pulse" he said, rising and bend
 ing over ne.
 ] thought if best to humor him, re-
 membering it was unwise for help less woman 10 oppose the as yet harm
 less freak of lunatic. He took out his
 watch. shock his head gravely. laid my
 hand down gently, and then went to-
 ward the study. where on the table was
 an open case of surgical instruments.
 InvoIuniaIily l raised my head and
 cried: spare me! Oh, spare me, l be-
 sech you!"
 Madam" he said, sternly, clasping
 my wrist with his long, sfGewy fingers with grip Of steel. you behave like child. have no time to barley, for have received letter from the eInper- or of the French, stating that he is de- sirons of my attendance. must start fer Europs immediately after perform ing the operation on your hreast.' and, before | could make the slightest re- sistance he had me in has arms. and was carrying me into the study. where was long surgical table. covered with green taize. On this he laid me, and hc,ding me down with one hand. with the strength of a maniac he brought forth severallcng leather straps. which bore erijsnce Of having recently been clst. with which he secured re to the table with the skill Of an expert. It Sas bu; the work of moment to un- loose my robe and bare my bosom. Then. after carefully examining my left breast. be said:
 Madam. your husband has made a mistake. ! find no necessity for my intended operation"
 At this gave iong-drawn sigh of relief. and prepared to rise.
 But" lie continued. ''I have made the discovery that your heart is as large as that of an OK! will remove it. so that you can see for yourself. reduce it to it's natura. size by curious process of my own unknown to medical science, and Of which l am sole discoverer, then re- place if again."
 He began 10 examine the edge of the cruel knife. on which closed my eyes, while every nerve was in perceptible tremor.
 He now bent over me, his long. white beard brushing my face. I opened my eyes beseeching.y. trying to think of some way to save myself. "Oh. sir. give me an anaPsthetic. that may not feel the pain" pleaded
 Indeed. indeed. madam. would comply with your wish were you not the wife of physicisn-cf a skillful surgeon. wish you to note with what ease perform this difficult operation. so that you nay tell your husband of the great savant whose services he se- cured. fortunately in season"
 As he said this he made the final test of the kni.s on his thumb. How pre- cious were the moments now! They were flee:ing all too fast. and yet an eternity seemed compressed in every one. l never fainted m ny fife. and | never felt less like swooning than now. ls summ~nrd all my presence of mind | to delay the fearfu, moment. ferventIy | praying in the meantime for my hus- bands return.
 "Doctor" said l. with assumed con:- ,osure. 'i hare the utmost confidence n your skill; would not trust my life C another. hut, doctor. you have for rotten tc bring 2 napkin ta stanch the | blood. vou will have the goodness O ascend o my sleeping chamber, at he rieit of the hall. you will find you need for that purpose n the bureau"
 "Ah. r,afam," he said. shaking his lead sagaciously. 'I never draw blood turing a surgical operation: that is ino.her cne of my secrets unknown to ke faeul'v."
 Ther rlacing his hand on my bosom, le added. w;,b horrible esp;eglerie:
 "I'll scarcely mark that skin whiter shan snow. and smooth as monumental llabaster'
 70 Cod!" I cried. as I felt the cold teel touch my breast; but with the anne breath came deliverance.
 Quick as thought Q heavy woolen ,iano-cover was thrown over the head md nerson of the madman. and bound tightly around him. As quickly was
 released, and the thongs that bound ne soon held he maniac My husband Ield re - lis arms. He had nofseless- 7 ar"~oached. and, taking in the hor- CT Of my situation ct a glance. had. by he on,v means at hand. secured the nadman. who was the very patient he ad been summoned to attend. but 'ho had escaped the vigilance of his eeper soon after the departure of the lesSerger. who had now returned 'ith the doctor in pursuit of him. As he poor wretch was being hurried way. he turned to me and said: Madam. this is plot to rob me of my rnutation. Your husband is enviouS f ny 0~~a' skill as a surgeon. Adieu." afterward learned that the man was nee an eminent surgeon in Europe. ut much learning had made him mad. Then he bound me to the table. my air was black as a raven: when I left :. it was as you see it now-white as Ill-biown cotton. San Francisco rgonaut.
 WATCHES THE SNOWSHEDs.