The St. Johns herald., 1900-10-13

negligee robe, "that you were expect ing me-"
 "No," found voice to stammer;
 "the doctor has said nothing to me
 about 8 visitor at this hour of the night" l
 "Ah! he wished to spare you, no doubt, a disagreeable apprehension"
 he returned. advancing and taking 6
 seat on the sofa opposite me. where for
 few moments he sat and eyed me from
 head to foot with strange. giittering light in hi. eyes that mysteriously inn
 pressed me. You have remarkably line physique. madam" he observed,
 quietly; sone that might deceive the eyes of the most skilled and practiced
 phySician. Do you suffer much pain"
 Unable to speak. shook my head. A terrible suspicion was creeping over me. Twas alore, miles away from aid or rescue, with mailman.
 "Af." he continued, rehectively,
 your husband may have mistaken . tumor for a cancer. Allow me to feel your pulse," he said, rising and bend ing over me..s
 I thought it best to humor him. re- membering it was unwise for help less woman to oppose the as yet harm less freak of a funatic. He took out his watch, shook his head grayely, laid my hand down gently, and then went to- ward the study. where on the table was
 an open case ofsurgical Instruments.
 Involuntsrily I raised my head and cried: Spare me! Oh, spare me, l be- Eech you!"
 Madam" he said, sternly, clasping my wrist with his long, sinewy fingers with grip of steel. you behave like 8 chiId.7J have no time to barley, for have received letter from the emper- or of the French, stating that he is de- Airous of my attendance. must start for Europe immediately after perform ing the operation on your breast" and, before I could make the slightest re- sistance, he had me in his arms, and was carrying me into the study, where was a long surgical table. covered with green baize. On this he laid me. and holding me down with one hand, with the strength of a maniac. he brought forth several long leather straps, which bore evidence of having recently been cut, with which he secured me to the table with the skill of m expert. It was but the work of moment to un- loose my robe and bare my bosom. Then. after carefully examining my left breast. he said:
 Madam, your husband has made mistake. I find no necessity for my intended operation"
 At this gave a long-drawn sigh of relief, and prepared to rise.
 "But," he continued, 'I have made the discovery that your heart is as large as that of an OK! I will remove it, so that you can see for yourself, reduce it to it's natural size by g curious process of my own unknown to medical science, and of which I am sole discoverer, then re- place it again."
 He began to 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 anaesthetic, that I may not feel the pain" pleaded.
 "Indeed, indeed, madam, I would comply with your wish were you not the wife of physician-of skillful surgeon. wish you to note with what ease perform this difficult operation, DO that you may tell your husband of the great savapt whose services he se- cured, fortunately in season."
 As he said this be made the final test of the knife on his thumb. How pre- cious were the moments now! They were feeting all too fast, and yet an eternity seemed Compressed in every one I never fainted in my life, and never felt less like swooning than now, ss I summoned all my presence of mind to delay the fearful moment. fervently praying in the meantime for my hus- bands return.
 Doctor" said I. with assumed com posture, "I have the utmost confidence n your skill: would not trust my life to another; but, doctor. you have for gotten to bring napkin to stanch the blood. If you will have the goodness 10 ascend 10 my sleeping chamber, at the right of the hall, you will find you need for that purpose h the bureau"
 "Ah. madam,' he said, shaking his head sagaciously, "I never draw blood turing surgical operation; that is another one of my secrets unknown to ! he faculty"
 Then. placing his hand on my bosom, be added, with horrible espieglerie:
 "I'll scarcely mark that skin winter than snow, and smooth as monumental .labaster."
 70 God!" I cried, as I felt the cold i steel touch my breast; but with the 1 tame breath came deliverance.
 Quick as thought heavy wooden was thrown over the head | and person of the madman, and bound tightly around him. As quickly was released, and the thongs that bound me soon held the maniac. My husband ] 1eld me in his arms He had noiseless- ] y approached. and. taking in the hor- 'or of my situation at glance, had, by he only means at hand, secured the mailman. who was the very patient he lad been summoned to attend, but who had escaped the vigilance of his keeper soon after the departure of the who had now returned with 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 'eputation. Your husband is envious 'f my great skill as surgeon. Adieu!"
 afterward learned that the man was