The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-11-08

only one who could assist me intelli-
gently, she was always assigned to my
cases. She accompanied me, with
other minor attendants, In answer to
message which had the rather unusual
factor of a personal request from the
patient, who l was told. was a widely
known stage celebrity. Another
strange stipulation was that should
have no consultation or opportunity
for diagnosis, previous to the opera
tion. No surgeon would welcome
situation of that kind but | was told
that the diagnosis was unmistakable.
I obeyed the conditions, entered the
operating room. stepped to the side oil
the subject, and prepared to operate,
where life depended on the outcome.
The patient was concealed by the
operating blanket, except for the
space where the incision was to be
made. The most casual glance told
that my subject was young female
and that the lines of her body were
entrancingly perfect. The ward sur
geon was prepared to tell me precise
ly of what my task consisted. This
required but few words and | picked
up an instrument to commence my
work AS the point touched the It's
sue to be cut through, strange emo
tons rose within me. 1t was as
though the knife had established an
electric connection. My hand, never
before anything but accurate, trembled
In a manner pitiably amateur and, at
juncture where courage was abso-
lutely essential, my heart seemed to
shrivel. Appalled, at this new weak
ness, | strove to overcome It, con-
tinuing the operation with logged res
olution. l was within the abdominal
cavity, operating in part by touch
guided by innumerable explorations In
the same region. The outcome was
inevitable. My hand for the moment
had been robbed Of its usual cunning.
The briefest deviation carried me into
the wrong tissue and the fate OF my
patient was at that instant sealed.
| had many times conquered in COM
petition with the grim reaper, and had
sometimes met defeat. The case at
hand however, was the first wherein
any weakness or incapacity OF mine
had been a factor. The situation al
most overwhelmed me. My part In
the tragedy being finished, turned
to go when Janet, my favorite nurse,
with new look of unutterable sad
ness In her eyes, pushed me gently
back toward the operating table. Raj
sing the hand of the patient she plac-
ed 1t with the utmost grace and gen.
tleness in mine, at the same time
drawing aside the covering from the
face. 1t was Charmette! The hand
held weakly pressed mine, using a
system of signals | supposed known
only to Janet and myself expressing
"Jtem." 1t amounted to q message
from another world for 1t had but nm
ished when the tragedy was complete.
/ subsequently learned that Charm
cite and Janet were sisters. From
the latter, Through sympathetic In
terpreter, / afterwards knew that
Charmette always treasured an inde-
Unable fondness for me. When she
became aware that her life was In
peril she had herself decided that !
must attempt the rescue. Her tden-
tity was kept from me to avoid the
nerve strain known to be imposed
upon a surgeon who operates on any
one dear to him, This precaution
had been set at nnught by some subtle
influence, contributing to a fatal re-
suit where a stranger might have been
successful.
My youthful infatuation for Charm
cite had been dulled but not obliter-
ated by the seven years that had In
tervened. The knowledge that she,
who had seemed SO unfeeling, had
really treasured my memory and had
appealed at the last to me In her emer-
gency, made. of course, a deep I'M
preston, heightened and made solemn
by the thought that l had failed to
measure up to the trust she had im-
posed. 1t was days before dared
operate again and months before |
was really master of myself. When
did regain my poise 1t was not long
before found the incident had rebuilt
the structure of my early affection but
had directed 1t now to Charinette' 8
sister, Janet. The dart, which had
struck down every other man she had
met, had at last reached me, Pride
at first asked me to conceal the real
fact from myself, which. however, l
did but imperfectly Fear OF ridicule
caused me to hide the emotion from
others and in this, think, was for
the time, completely successful.r
A few days later, toward the close
of a particularly stressful period In
the operating room, came request
for my services from lady OF rank,
widely reputed for her beauty and at
tainments. | was told that the fea-
lures had been injured and l was APP
pealed to to heal them without q scar.
The note, .purporting to be In the
of the lady herself, was
shown me- From a casual glance
now recall that the signature looked
like Lunata. 1 gave little heed, any
way, fully intending to refuse. There
was no question but what the request
amounted to imposition, es was
wearied beyond endurance by my hos
pital duties. had opened my mouth
for negative answer when my eyes
met Janets. / noted from her glance
that she had been assigned to the case
and gently besought my company
With my newborn affection promptly
forgot my fatigue and nodded assent
Half an hour later, with Janet and
an0fhnr M I antarad tho aIQVa-