Year: 1875

things, the use ana misuse OF p0lSOnS


cropped up in the course of conversation /;


and some one present-a gentleman of


some note and mportance-asked what


was the quickest and easiest death to die.


The subject was freely debated.


One evening he returned from one of


those pleasant gatherings, and in reAec-


tive mood of mind, sat for an hour look


ing over the moonlit city and the world


famous bay. 1t twas near midnight when


two strangers were shown into him who


requested his immediate attendance in a


case of great urgency. He represented


that he was there OH a visit of pleasure,


not for professional purposes. They


were perfectly aware of that fact, they
said, still they urged him so strongly that
at last they overcame his scruples,
and he consented to go with them. A
carriage was at the door; ne got in first,
they followed him, pulled down the blinds,
and the carriage ratified away. He did
not like his position, and began to sus-
pcct that all wasnOt right. They kept
utter silence.


They seemed to drive q great distance,
turning and turning many times. Once
he inquired "Had they far to go?" and
received the brief answer, "No." At
last they drove into the courtyard of a
great house. The door opened as fby
magic. There were no lights, he might
as we'll have been blindfolded; there
would have been total darkness but for
the moonbeams which struggled through
the stained-glass window, and fell in fam
tastic shadows at their feet as they
In1 thn ctn ofat In
reaching the first landing they threw
open door, and for a second he was al
most blinded by the blaze of light that
streamed out upon him. The door
closed behind him as he entered the room.
He took in the whole aspect of the room
at glance it was gorgeOusly furnished,
and brilliantly illuminated with wax
candles; at table near the heavily
curtained window man of stern,
commanding appearance sat writing.
He raised his head as they entered and,
pointing to the far end of the room, ex-
claimed:


"Your patient lies there, SIR"


My grandfather's eyes followed the di-
rection of his finger, and observed
woman stretched upon couch. Where
had he seen that face before? Slowly it
dawned upon his memory. A few days
back he had been to the theater, and
glancing round was struck by beautiful,
fair face, which for the time fascinated
him he thought it the loveliest there.
He looked on it again now; but how
changed! The hands were clasped upon
the breast as though in prayer; dumb,
white terror was written on the face and
in the great uplifted eyes there was
hopeless, despairing agony sickening to
behold.


He inquired what was the matter
how she had been attacked, and seeing
that she was gagged, he begged them to
release her mouth, that she might answer
his questions, adding:


81 must know something of the symp-
toms before can attempt cure"


"Your business here is to kill, not to
cure, DOCTOR" said one in a strangely
sad tone, which accorded i'll with his
stern fearful phrase. Your patient has
spoken her last word in this world. She
is doomed to die by a secret though
strictly just tribunal, but we. would
temper justice with mercy and spare her
the shame and public disgrace. You
can cause her to die easily and secretly
therefore we have brought you here"


eff this lady has committed any
crime so great as to deserve DEATH" he
full of compassion for the un
fortunate, she must meet her punish
ment from the hands of the public exc
cutioner, not by mine."


"By yours, and yours only" said one
of his conductors, gravely. "There is no
time to waste in mere words. She. knows
she has deserved death, and she knows
that she must die"


"God forbidp exclaimed the pbysi-
clan, frozen horror stealing over him.
The ominous stiffness, the grim aspects
of the terrible men, struck chill to his
heart. He realized all the horror of his
position.


"a doctor never travels without his
TOOLS" resumed the stranger; and as he
spoke he turned the lace back from the
tender throat, and, pointing to it, added
"Open the jugular vein
it is the easiest and quickest way to die"


My grandfather started back amazed
and horror-struck. These were the very
words he had uttered during one of those
pleasant gatherings at the house of q
celebrated Neapolitan few days back.


How dare you propose to me such a
crime Y he exclaimed. am an Eng
lishman and will not commit murder"


"Pshaw your nation produces as
many honorable criminals as any other.
To your work, sir, and quickly. If you
have conscientious scruples, remember
IN enforced sin lies lightly on the con-
science lay that comfort to your soul.
No more words, he added peremptorily-
not one this is the time for action"


"I refuse to obey your cruel command.
Let me CO."


The man who had been writing and
until now had taken no part whatever
in the scene that was passing round him,
then rose up and joined the group. Lay
ing his hand lightly on my grandfather's
shoulder, he said:


"There is no escape for you, Doctor
every moment you hesitate you prolong
that woman's pain. She must die; and
you can dispatch her with painless
speed"


"What if l refuse? You cannot force
me to commit so foul a murder"


He pointed to two swarthy figures
(either soldiers or liveried servants of
some noble family-my grandfather
could not tell which) who had been
standing motionless by the couch, and



"Then those faithful fellows will dis
patch you, and afterwards dispatch her
they are not professional, and their work
will be clumsily done. If the opera
ton will not be performed upon your
patient before the clock strikes you
know your fate; il you are obdurate, re-
you throw away your own life
without saving hers. She is doomed
no power on earth can save her."


It was vain to speak or expostulate
with those fiends in human form. He
felt they were as stern and memorable as
fate. Itwas as cruel as horrible, and cow
ardly. Five men assembled to witness
the professional murder of young and
beautiful woman What had she done ?
whom had she offendedY Some secret