The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-07-14

eAAN - AJ buhluGSa mere G0~NABnL y
perceive" he added, glancing at my
negligee robe, that you were expect
ing me-
"No," / found voice to stammer;
''the doctor has said nothing to me
about a visitor at this hour of the
night"
"Ahl he wished to spare you, no
doubt, a disagreeubls apprehension"
he returned, advancing and taking a
seat on the sofa opposite me, where for
a few moments he sat and eyed me from
head to foot with a strange, glittering
light in his eyes hat mysteriously inn
pressed me. "You have a remarkably
fine physique, madam" he observed,
quietly; "one hat might deceive the
eyes of the most skilled and practiced
physician. Do you suffer much pain?"
Unable to speak, 1 shook my head. A
terrible suspicion was creeping over
me. Twas alone, miles away from aid
or rescue, with a mailman.
"Ah," he continued, reiective1y,
''your husband may have mistaken a
tumOr for a cancer. Allow me to feel
your pulse he said, rising and bend
ing over me-.
l thought it best t. humor him, re-
Numbering it was unwise for a help
less woman to oppose the as yet harm
less freak of a ~lunatic. BE took out his
watch, shook his head gravely, laid my
hand down gently, and then went to-
ward the study, where on the table wal
an open case of surgical instruments.
InvOluntarily l raised my head and
cried: "Spare me! Oh, spare me, 1 be-
sech you'll"
Madam" he said, sternly, Clasping
my wrist with his long, sinewy fingers
with a grip of steel, "you behave like q
child. 1 have no time to parley, for l
have received a letter from the emper-
or of the French, stating that he is de-
| Sirius of my attendance. 1 must start
for Europe Immediately after perform
ing the operation on your breast" and,
before 1 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 severallong leather straps, which
bore evidence of having recently been
cut, with which he secured me to the
table with the skill of an expert. It
was but the work of a moment to I'M
loose my robe and bare my bosom.
Then, after carefully examining my
left breast. he said:
Madam, your husband has made a
mistake. I find no necessity for my
intended operation"
At this 1 gave a lOng-drawn sigh Of
relief, and prepared to rise.
But" he continued, 81 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, reduces it to it's
natural size by a curious process of my
own unknown to medical science, and
of which I am sole d~iscoYereF, then re-
place it again."
He began to examine the edge of the
cruel knife, on which 1 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 beseechingly, trying to think OF
some way to save myself. ooh, sir; give
me an anaesthetic, that may not feel
the pain" I pleaded
Indeed, indeed, madam, / would
comply with your wish were you not
the wife Of a physician-of a skillful
surgeon. I wish you to note with what
ease I perform this difficult operation,
so that you may tell your husband OF
the great savant whose services he Sc
cured, fortunately in season"
As he said this he made the final test
Of the knife on his thumb. How pl e.
cious were the moments now! They
were ieeting all too fast, and yet an
eternity seemed compressed in every
one I never tainted in my life, and I
never felt less like swOoning than now.
as 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 conf
posture, 81 have the utmost confidence
in your skill; I would not trust my life
to another; but, doctor, you have for
gotten to bring a napkin to stanch the
blood. If you will have the goodness
to ascend to my sleeping chamber, at
the right of the hall, you win find
everything you need for that purpose
in the bureau"
"Ah, madam" he said, shaking his
head sagaciously, 81 never draw blood
during a surgical operation; that is
another n of my secrets unknown to
the faculty"
Then, placing his hand on my bosom,
he added, with horrible espieglerie;
"rH scarcely mark that skin whittier
than snow, and smooth as monumental
~alabaster."
20 Godl" I cried, as / felt the cold
steel touch my breast; but with the
same breath came deliverance.
Quick as thought a heavy wooden
piano-cover was thrown over the head
and person of the mailman, and bound
tightly around him. AS quickly was
I released, and the thongs that bound
me soon held the maniac. Ny husband
held me in his arms. he had noiseless-
ly approached, and, taking in the hor-
ror of nv situation at a glance had. nv