The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-08
Strange Tales of a Doctor

I don't believe thai ] ever saw your hus-
eanse5,nn eand smile; ! have been struck by the
| am not surprised. You cannot fall
to notice his melancholy We'll, he is
not really sad ! used 10 think so at
first, first: but after we were. engaged. and
the things he said that he had con-
tented even cheerful mind, II is his
smile which upsets me; l cannot love
hear 1t again it will drive me mad
But you cannot expect your husband
is your duty 10 be severe with Yourself,
and not TO allow such trivial matters to
influence you"
! ''You would not say so II you under
reflected moment "WnI you take a
message from me TO my husband" she
queried.
What does the message relate to-" /
asked.
Just what I have been telling" she
answered Il cannot lot matters remain
as they are. Dick must know how that
aWful smile affects me: and cannot tell
Will listen to- things from you that they
would not tolerate from ordinary pcr-
son Won't you help me:"
looked so beseechingly. so young and ter
rified, that could not help yielding. ard
promised to do as she requested. When
rail-. thinking over the strange interview
! had Just had with the girl. My candid
impression was that she herself was i'll.
and that II would only be fair to Far
quharSon to warn him with regard to her
condition. Just then the man himself
made his appearance.
''If you are looking for Mrs. Farquhar-
son. said, 'she has just gone below.
! l trust you will not consider II too great
a liberty on my part If l tell you that l
THINK your wife's nervous system needs
attention badly. She came TO ms Il little
while ago and confessed that she
frightened. II Is an odd case. all nerves,
/ suppose but she informed me that She
could not stand your smile-what is the
matter? You don't seem well.
The man had turned very pale, "My
SMILE" he gasIsed. 81 never knew that
she had seen me smile: I had guarded
against it: No wonder she is upset
1T is plain case OF nerves." l re-
oeated. but he shook his head.
There Is nothing the matter with her,
he said. EShe only failed TO endure what
no woman could stand. | see. Halifax,
that l must give you my confidence. |
had no right to marry that girl: but !
was tempted. for ] loved her. This is
my just punishment. tell you, doctor.
mine Come over here, under this light.
My wife has explained TO you that she
breads my smile. The best way TO show
why she breads 1t. is to illustrate 1T,
Some people wonder at my gravity. but
for you I will lift the curtain"
Suddenly his whole face underwent a
complete revolution. The mouth stretched
wide, and literally seemed to open from
to ear. showing his glittering white
teeth. The short hair on the forehead
was brought down and reached the eye
brows. At the same time by some eN
traordinary convulsion OF muscle. the low
er eyeids were inverted. and the eye
visible but the whites. In this horrible
contortion. which partook OF the idiot
and monkey in its extreme horror, the
real Farquharson seemed to have van
ished. Uttering groan as his features
recovered their normal cast, the man
turned aside and covered his face. A
cold horror seized me. l had looked
upon what might have been the face OF
a flend.
For heavens sake" I said catching
him by the arm. what is the meaning
OF this?"
81 have illustrated my smie.' he said.
THAT Is the only way in which l can
smile. Now listen to my laugh. Steady