The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-06-28
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BY MARC RET BLoVNT.

among us-a demonstration OF anato-
rny, who was on the most friendly
terms with many Of his class. He was
n dark, silent, unhappy looking man,
who seemed to have most singular
and unaccountable repugnance for all
the details of the profession he had
chosen. He would SILVER If by chance
he touched the skeleton in the lecture
hall; he would turn pale over opera
tions, and often faint in the dissecting-
room, scalpel in hand. No one could
imagine why he had chosen to study
medicine. We often discussed the
question among ourselves; and one
night when he entered the hall soon
after we had been exhausting conject-
ures, an inquisitive student asked him
point-blank the very question we all
'onged to hear answered.
"Dr. Lee, why do you dislike these
things SOP"
He was smoking; but he laid down
his cigar, looking very pale, yet SEEM
ing willing to answer.
II will tell you why" he observed.
Long after l had mastered the sci
once of anatomy, received an invita-
lion one evening to attend a private
meeting at the rooms of a classmate
"a meeting where fine subject
would be dissected by the students
alone. l went gladly. The corpse lay
face downward on the floor, and they
we're trying to lift it on the frame
had placed in readiness. assisted
them; and, as did so, fancied / felt
a slight pulsation of the heart be-
meath my hand. But when we laid 1t
on the board, I saw only a cold, pale
face and a stiff and rigid form. 1t
was the face of a man some thirty-five
years Of age-dark and cold and proud
Tven the heavy hand of death could
not erase the naughty curl of the lip
or the settled frown upon the brow.
His hair was long and dark, but slight
ly sprinkled with gray; so were the
thick mustache and beard. His eyes
we're half-unclosed, and through the
long lashes l could see that they had
been black as night. The careless
though rigid attitude in which he lay
1.-The strong hand clenched, as If in
some spasm after death, and those
large eyes half revealed, filled me with
o nameless terror. 1t seemed as If,
though dead, he yet had the power to
watch and understand our motions. l
rad never seen a corpse that gave me
such a feeling before. Upon his breast
and face was the stain of blood. l
pointed it out to my companions.
Buried alive, most probably said
one of them, carelessly, as he handled
the scalpel. He must have struggled
hard, for he is a powerful fellow
"Look at his hand said another,
lifting it from the bench. 1T is
clenched so that the ring cut into the
palm below. Buried alive! 1t is as
tonishing how people can be so care
less now, when they have not even
ignorance for an excuse. There Is
something in this face that unnerves.
Mr.. -, can you not close those eyes?
'Nonsense! let the eyes alone-he
can see the better that we do every
thing right exclaimed the third. Are
you all turning towards over dead
body? Give me the sponge. Who be-
gins?'
HE sponged the blood away. I
stood near, still looking at the face of
the corpse. The sponge, by some
strange chance, had been filled with
ammonia instead of water. The oper-
ator flung it carelessly upon the board
close to the face of the corpse. In an
instant, as the subtle vapor found its
way upward, I saw quick shudder
pass through the limbs. The operator
started away in terror.
"'Good heaven! he is aliven he eX-
claimed, in a low, hoarse tone.
II bent over him. bathed his pale
face with water, and poured a cordial
between his shut teeth. Life came
back, but slowly and painfully.
HE was quiet in my arms for few
moments; then, with desperate eff
fort he lifted his head and took in the
whole scene at a glance. The lighted
skull-the shining instruments, and
the careless faces beyond-the love of
life taught him what they all meant
He was too weak to speak; but ne
groaned, and looked up in my face
with those eyes-and they were brim-
full of horror and despair.
"'You will live!' l whispered. Drink
this-it will revive you
81 snatched a bottle from the shelf
beside me, and held it to his lips. l
thought it was a cordial-it was
deadly poison!
HE drank, and fell back-dead this
time beyond all hope of revival. But,
as he died. he gasped out, You have
murdered me, and to the day of your
own death l will haunt you'll"
There was long pause.
Gentlemen" said DR.. Lee, solemnly,
che has kept his word. Heaven is my
witness that would not have harmed
him intentionally-but l killed him!
and night after night he comes to me.
/ can hear him speak, and those dread
full eyes look into mine wherever |
NAV go Nv hitter repentance ayailS