Year: 1867

evening together" said my wife. And
but what's that, Irving 2


Ny wife started nervously, as a sharp peal
from the bell interrupted our brief interval
OF domestic quiet.


Only the surgery bell, my dear. Some
body wanting me. 1 suppose.


And [ went down stairs, secretly wonder
ing to myself If, after all, there was such Il
vide difference between galley slave and a
country doctor.


The surgery door stood wide open, but no
ono was there, and through the binding
darkness without, [ could discern the dark
outline of a close carriage and a man stand
ing at the horse head. .r49


Who there e? what's wanted ?" | ask
ed, coming to the threshold and instructive
ly buttoning up the overcoat / had hurriedly
thrown on.


You're wanted, DOCTOR" said the man,
speaking indistinctly from behind the mui
fling that surrounded his face.


YES, but what for? who wants me 2"


II am not at liberty to tell. y


| had already entered the carriage, but
this suspicious answer inspired me with dis
trust. | made step to descend, but was
too late. The vehicle was already in motion.
1T Is quite unnecessary to alarm yourself,
doctor, said quiet measured voice at my
side. believe me, you are quite safe, and
trust you viii feel no uneasiness when L
tell you that you must be blindfolded. -


And at the same instant folded bandage
was deity slipped over my eyes.


Hold /" [ ejaculated. st strikes me
that this is rather superfuous. The night
is dark as Erebus, and you have no lamp.


Possibly" returned the dry voice, but
1t is best to run 10 risks. y


And then ensued silence of some ten or
fifteen minutes, while the carriage rolled
swiftly along, and the low measured breath
Ing of my unknown companion kept time to
my own uncomfortable thoughts.


At length my companion spoke again In
the same soft, modulated tones.


Doctor, one more little precaution is
necessary-your promise never to divnlge to
human soul a word of this night S visit, "
any such covenant. The relations between
physician and patient are of course confiden-
tial; but"


Tbs carriage paused abruptly here, and
the door was swung open. At the same in
slant something cold touched my temple.
1t was the muzzle of pistol. l recolled in
horror,


You surely would not murder me p


You promise, doctor p
u promise y | gasped, recolling once
more from the chilling touch OF the cold
steel at my temple.


Very well come


L was led up narrow walk, through
doorway, into a room, where bandage was
removed from my eyes, The spot was very
familiar to me-a ruinous cottage, long since
abandoned to decay, in the very heart of
dense, swampy woods How the carriage
had ever reached it | was at a loss to know.
Upon pile of straw, hurriedly thrown into
corner of the mouldering floor, lay pros
trate figure, moaning at every breath. bis
lace was concealed by handkerchief, and
The blood was slowly dripping from gun.
shot wound just above the ankle, a wound
which had been clumsily bandaged by some
unsklltul hand Moreover, there was dark
red stain on the straw where his head lay,
and his light brown hair was matted with
coagulated drops. Two or three men stood
around, with rude masks of black cloth
uraWn over their faces, in which three sllts
were cut tor the eyes and mouth; and fe-
male hgure knelt behind the heap OF straw,
Yelled closely. The men silently made way
Tor me as advanced into the apartment,
ana held their lanterns so that the lurid
nght should fall full upon my strange pa
tent. silently stooped and examined both
wounds.


Well p asked my carriage companion


can do nothing. the man must die.
Nonsense mere bullet through the
leg-what does that amount to?' hurrleHy
gassped the man.


=, In itself, not much !; but that blow upon
'Ae skull must prove fatal -
:, A low, half suppressed cry broke from
She woman opposite. She tore the veil
rom her face as if she could not breathe
through its heavy folds revealing features
as white and beautiful in their marble agony
as so much sculptured stonel She did not
seem more than thirty, but | afterwards
Knew that she was indeed more than ten