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Show A PHYSICIAN'S WIFE'S STORY. "I have heard of persons whose hair was whitened through excessive fear, but, as I never saw, myeell, any one so a fleeted, I am disponed lo bu incredulous on the subject." The above remark was made to Dr. May-uard, May-uard, aa wo sat on the piuzza ol his pretty villa diacustiog the different effects Of terror on dissimilar temperaments. temper-aments. Without replying to me the doctor turned to his wife and said: "Helen, will you pleiiBe relate lo my old friend the incident within your own experience. It Sb the most convincing con-vincing argument I can advance." I looked at Mrs. Maynard in surprise. sur-prise. I hud observed that her hair, which was luxuriant und dressed very becomingly, was purely colorless; I but, as she was a young woman, and also a very pretty one, I surmised that it was powdered to heighleu the brilliancy ot her fine dark eyes. The doctor and I had been fellow students, but, after leaving college, we had drifted I to commence practice prac-tice in an eastern city, be to pursue his profession in a growing town in the west. I was now on a visit to him lor the first time since his marriage. mar-riage. Mrs. Maynard, no doubt, reading my supposition by my look of incredulity, incred-ulity, smiled as she shook her Bnowy iressea over her shoulders, and seating seat-ing herself by her husband's side, related the following interesting episode: It was nearly Uo years ago since my husband was called on one even-1 ing to visit a patient Beveral miles away. Our domestics had all gone to a wake in the vicinity, the dead man being a relative ol one of oui serving woman. Thus I was left alone. But I felt no fear, for we never had heard of burglars or any sort of desperadoes in oar quiet village, vil-lage, then consisting of a few scattering scatter-ing houses. The windows leading out on the piazza were open as now, hut I Eecured the blinds before my husband's departure, and locked the outside doors, all except the front one, which I left for the doctor to lock alter CoiDg out, so that, if I should fall asleep before his return, he could enter without arousing me. I heard the doctor's rapid footsteps on the gravel, quickened by the urgent ur-gent tones of a messenger who awaited him; and, after the sharp rattle of the carriage wheels had become be-come but an echo, I seated myself r y the parlor astral, and very soon became be-came absorbed in the book I had been reading before being disturbed by the summons. But alter a time my interest succumbed suc-cumbed to drowsiness, and I thought of retiring, when tli clock in the doctor's study struck twelve, so I determined de-termined to wait a few moments more, feeling that he would be home very soon. 1 closed my book, donned i a robe-de-chambre, let down my hair, and then returned to my seat to patiently wait and listen. Not the faintest sound disturbed the stillness of the night. Not a breath of air stirred the leaf. The silence was bo "profound that it became oppressive. I longed for the sharp click of the gate-latch and the well-known Btep on the gravel walk. - I did not dare to break the hush myself by moving or tinging, I was bo oppressed with the deep stillness. The human migd is a strange torturer ot itaelf. I began to conjure up vivid fancies about ghostly visitants, in the midst of which occurred oc-curred to me the stories I had beard from superstitious people about tne troubled spirits of those who had died suddenly, like the man wbom my servants had gone to "wake," who had been killed by nn accident at the saw mill. In the midst of these terrifying reflect ions, I was startled by a Btealthy lootfall on the piazza. I listened between lear and hope. It might be the doctor. But no, he would not tread like that; the step was too solt and cautious tor anything less wily than a cat. Ab I listened again, my eyes were fixed on the window-blind, I saw the slats move alow and cautiously, und then the rays of the moon disclosed a thio, cadaverous face, and bright glitterirjg eyes, peering at me. O, horror! who was ill or what was ill I felt the cold perspiration start at every pore. I seemed to be frozen in my chair. I could not move; I could not cry out; my tongue seemed glued to the rool ol my mouth, while the deathly-white deathly-white face pressed closer, aod the great sunken eyes wandered in their geze about the room. In a few moments mo-ments the blind closed noiselessly as it had been opened, and the cautious footsteps came toward the door. "Merciful Heaven!" I cried, in a horror-stricken whisper, as I heard the key turn in the lock, "the doctor in his haste, must have forgotten to withdraw the key." "God forgive me!" ejaculated Dr. Maynard, interrupting inter-rupting his wife, and looking far more excited than she. "I can never forgive myself for such a thoughtless act. Please proceed, my dear." I heard the Iront door open, the step in the hall, and, belplesa as a statute, I sat riveted to my chair. The parlor door was open, and in it stood a tall, thin man, wbom I never beheld. He was dressed in a long, loose robe, a sort ot gaberdine, and a black velvet skull cap, partially concealed con-cealed a broad loreuead, under which gleamed black eyes, bright as living coals, and placed eo near together to-gether that their gaze was preternatural preter-natural in its directness; heavy grizzled eye brows hung over them uke the tangled mane ot & lion; the nose was sharp and prominent, the chin was overgrown with white hair, which bung down in locks as weird as tho Ancient Mariner's. He politely defied his cap, bowed, replaced it, and then said, in a eligoUy foreign accent: i "Madam, it U not necessary for me to stand on any further ceremony, as your husband, Dr. Maynard (hereupon he again bowel pn foLiU'lly), h:is a'rt'udy acq'.iaiuted you witli the nature uf my business here to nik'Lt. "I pert'eivrt," he nddtd, ' gUitiLirig a: my neg'iyn rube, "lhat yuu wvre expecting me." ' "iNo," 1 fuund voice lo stammer. "The doctor has Baid nothing to me about a visitor at tiiia hour of the night." " At,! he wishc i lo spare jou, no doubt, a disagreeable apprehension," lie n-'urmd advuu' inn nd taking a scat on the sofa '.ppi'oitu mo, where lur a low moment- In- s:t ;uid eyed in e from hcud to foot rvuu ; strange gliupring light in his eyes that mysteriously impressed me. "You havo a remarkably Cut physique, madam," he observed, quieiy; "one that might deceive the eye of tho most skilled and practical physician. Do you suffer much pAiu!" Un.ible to speak, I sho.ik my head. A terrible auwpiciou was creeping over mo. I was alone, miles away from ret-cui1; with a mad man. "Ab! he continuid, reflectively, ''your husband may havo mistaken a tumor for a cancer. Allow me to leel your pulee," he said, raising and bending over me, 1 llu-uglitit best tu humor him, remembering re-membering it was unwise lor a helpless help-less woman to oppose the as yet barm- leas Ireak of a lunatic. He took out his watch, Bhook his bund gravely, laid my hand down gently, then went laward tiie study, where, ou the table was bu open case of surgical instruments. instru-ments. "Do nut bo alarmed, madam," he said lo me aB I was about to rise and flee, and in another instant be was by my side, with the case in his possession. Involuntarily I r.iiaed my hand and cried: "Spare mtd Oh! sparo me 1 beseech you!" "Madam," he said sternly, clasping clasp-ing my wrist with bis long, Biuewy fingers, with a grip ot steel, "'you behave be-have like a child. I have no time to parley, lor I have received a letter Irom the emperor ot the French Btating that he is desirous of my attendance. I must start for Europe immediately after performing the operation upon your breast," and, before I could make the slightest resistance, re-sistance, be had me in his arms, and was carrying me into the study, where was a lorn; table covered with green baize. On this he laid mo, and, holding me down with one hand with the strength of a maniac, he brought forth Irom some hidden recess in bis gown several long leather straps, with which he aecurod me to the table with the skill of an expert. It was but the work of a moment lo un-lose un-lose my robe and bare my bosom. Then, after carclully examining my left breast, he said: "Madam, your husband has made a mistake. I find no necessity lor my intended operation. At this I gave a long-draw sigh ol relief, and prepared to rise. "But," he continued, "I have mde the discovery that your heart is large as that of an ox! I will remove re-move it so that you can see for yourself; your-self; reduce it to its natural size by a curious process of my own, unknown un-known to medical science, and of which I am sole discoverer, then replace it again." He began to examine the edges of the cruel knife, on which I closed my eyes, while every nerve was in perceptible per-ceptible tremor. "The mechanism of the heirt is like a watch," he resumed; "if it goes too fast, the great blood vessel that supplies the forco must be stopped like the lever of a watch, and the works must be cleaned, and re paired, and regulated. It may interest in-terest you to know that I was present at the post-mortem examination held over the remains of the beautiful Louise of Prussia. Had I been consulted con-sulted before her death I would have Baved her by taking out her heart, and removing the polypi, between which it was wedged like as if in a vise, but I was called too late. The king and I had a little difference; he was German, I am French. I trust that is sufficient explanation." He now bent over me, his long white beard brushing my face. I OQened mv eves beseechingly. Irvine to think of some way to savu myselr. "Oh, sir, give me an at ajslhctic, that I may not feel the pain!" I pleaded. "Indeed, indeed, madam, I would comply with your wish were you nut the wife of a physician, of a okillfu! surgeon. I wish you to note with what ease I perform this difficult operation, so that you may tell your husband of the groat savant whose service he has secured, fortunately in season." As he said this, he made the final test of the knife on his thumb. How precious were tho momenta now! They were flaeiug all ton fast, and yet an eternity eeemcd compressed in every one. I never laiuted in my life, and I never feltless likeswooniog than now, as I summoned all my presence of mind to delay the fearlul moments, fervently praying in the meantime for my husband's return. "Doctor," said I, with assumed composure, "I have the utmost confidence con-fidence in your skill I would not Irust my life to another; but, doctor, you have forgotten to bring a napkin to stanch the blood. Ir you will have the goodness to ascend to my sleeping chamber, at the right of tho hall, you will find everything you need for that purpuse in the bureau." "Ah, madam, he said, Blinking his head sagaciously, "1 never draw blood during a surgical operation; that is another one of my secrets unknown to the faculty." Then placing bis hand ou my bosom he added with horrible espieg-lerie: espieg-lerie: "I'll scarce mark that skin whiter than snow, and smooth as monu-men'al monu-men'al alabisler." ' 0 Uod !" 1 cried, ad I felt the cold steel touch my breaet; but with the same breath came deliverance. Quiek as thought a heavy woolen piano cover was thrown over the head and person of the madman, and bound tightly around him. As quickly quick-ly was I released, und the thengs that bound me soon held the maniac. My husband held me in his arms. He had noiselessly approached, and taking the horror of my aituption at a glance, bad by the only means at hand secured se-cured the madman, who was the very patient he had been summoned td attend, but who had escaped the vigilance of his keeper soon after the departure of the messenger, who bad now returned with the doctor in pursuit pur-suit of bim. As the poor wretch was being hurried away, he turned lo me and said: "Madam, this is a plot to rob me of my reputation. Your husband hus-band is envious ol my great skill as a surgeon. Adieu!" I uierwards learned that the man was once an eminent surgeon in Europe, but much learning learn-ing had made him mad. When he bound me to the table my hair was as black as a raven; wheu I left it, it was as you see it now white as full blown colion. Washington Gazette. |