Show ynw ft SILENCED T7 Stranjt in Experience of a Doctor 1b Lf A by W Lola Petrie came to me from England bearing testimoniala from gey era! of London’s foremost physicians regarding her- ability as a graduate nurse I availed myself of her serv lees in my private hospital' and she she Justified the good impression made upon me at our first interview She was clever' painstaking and ab- solutely trustworthy and I learned to rely upon her in the handling of the most difficult cases Her health how ever was not all that it should have been and two months after her enwith a gagement she was taken I treated form of nervous malady and she acknowledg- her successfully ed that as I suspected she had suf- fered from the ailment formerly and this was a second attack of the old trouble It was then that she related to me a rather singular story which I have endeavored to set down as follows as nearly as possible in her own words Early in the winter of last year living In London I was sent to nurse a patient by the name of Leonora Trefusls She was a girl of nineteen and the victim of nerve distress The illness was in an acute form brought on by an unfortunate love she had affair Two years before Gifford to a Captain been engaged of the British army Then the news lover had Leonora that her reached with been killed during an encounter His body was tribesmen in India never recovered and the blow completely prostrated the young girl The which required nervous breakdown I got her to my services took place confide her sorrows to me and she when often spoke of Captain Gifford and of love she still bore him By and by Leonora began to get well and soon afterward to my astonishment I heard of her engagement to Dr Herslet one of the cleverest in Harley street I had surgeons nursed patients for Dr Herslet and never imagined that he was a marryHe was hard and dry in ing man appearance not more than but looking considerably older Herswas a brain specialist and no man let living had studied the anatomy of the All that modbrain more thoroughly ern science knew he had acquired I respected Herslet but at the same him for he was a silent time I feared cold sort of individual whose manner repelled one When he became engaged to Leonora I felt sorry for the girl Once I ventured to speak to my patient on the subject “Do you really love this man whom you the going to marry?” I asked She looked at me sadly and shook her head “I do not” she said slowly T am going to marry Dr Herslet simply because my father wishes it Yet he knows that all my love Is given to the man who lies in an unknown grave Dr Herslet understands that if such an impossible thing happened as that Dick Gifford should come back Dick will 1 could not marry him never come back of course and I to Dr Herslet in shall be married You will stay two months from now with me until the wedding is over will you not nurse?” I readily promised for I had grown On a certain to love the girl well I day not long after this conversation happened to be alone when the door of the room I was in opened and Dr Herslet came in “I have a very critical case in my hospital Just now nurse" said he “I want your assistance as the case is You must leave one of life or death Miss Trefusls tomorrow and come to me “Leonora is “I cannot” I replied better but she is still dependent on the r me" “Nevertheless" he returned coldly “you will come to my house tomorrow evening The operation will take I morning place on the following If I am not am going to trephine 'successful the patient will go mad him for chance the is only trephining I will arrange the matter with Miss Trefusls” That evening Lenora came to me “You will have to leave me nurse” “I feel terribly sad at the she said thought of losing you but Dr Herslet Is insistent and must have his way When he becomes emphatic I have to But I want you to come to obey him my oom I wish to show you something you have never yet seen— Captain Gifford’s photograph” I followed her to her room and Bhe of a me the photograph ' handed markably man “It is a good face" I said after I tad examined the picture "the countenance of a brave man I am sorry lor you Leonora” Toward the evening of the next day hospital I went to Dr Herslet’s which was next door to his own house Having been taken to my room and a servant some refreshment given came to ask me if I wished to see my patient I assented and in my pro- followed fessional cap and uniform She girl to the door of a room on the a voice bade I knocked tdrst floor I inside A Btepped ae ener and had risen to receive me a call w on the table behind him tamp G Chapman) his face and figure were in the shadow He came forward and shook hands “Pray sit down nurse” he said “Has Dr Herslet told you the nature of the operation?” “Yes" I replied “He says it is a serious one” Well a coupp of years "Exactly ago I received a severe blow on the head and Dr Herslet believes there is pressure on a certain portion of the brain Since the time of the accident I have suffered from epileptic fits To save myself from the horrors of a lunatic asylum I prefer to take the chance of the surgeon's knife I returned home a fortnight ago When with my regiment I received the blow which I have just mentioned I was supposed to be dead but was taken I have much to live prisoner instead for should the operation prove successful If not 'there are certain friends whom I would just as soon have believe that I perished in India But I must not talk too much as the slightest excitement brings on a fit Here is the key of my portmanteau Perhaps nurse you will go to my room and unpack some of my things" I took the key and went into his bedroom which adjoined the sitting room A large portmanteau stood by the door I unlocked it and began to put away my patient’s clothes At the bottom of the portmanteau I found a pile of papers on top of which I took the photolay a photograph face of graph up and the Trefusls my late patient Leonora was before me! My' mind reverted to the man I had just left Surely as he turned from out the shadow and the lamplight fell upon his features I had noticed something familiar about that frank open face Where had I seen Like a flash of truth or it before? what seemed to be the truth became clear The man I was about to nurse had only Just returned from India where he had been wounded and taken prisoner Was it possible that I had found Leonora’s lost lover? But I must make sure I must not be rash I returned to the sitting room “I have unpacked your things" I said to the patient “By the way' would you mind letting me know your name “My name Is Captain Gifford” was rll 's'W not sacrifice either love' or ambition I The operation will be postponed will glveimy patient excellent reasops for the delay I shall keep him here and operate after my marriage has Now perhaps you untaken place derstand the strength of my position You can If you wish it return to Leonora and stay with her until after the marriage or you can defy me” “You mean that I am to go back to Leonora and not tell her what I have discovered ?" but you “Exactly By A T MEAD (Copyright ib- 't sewmitfw can please your- self" '"What is the alternative?" “If you do not promise to obey me I shall seal your lips How I will do so is my secret You cannot leave this house tonight Tomorrow morning I will speak' to you again Now you must go to your room” He took me by the arm and led me out of the consulting room My brain was in a whirl and 1 was Incapable of resistance I went up the stairs entered my room and sat down to think matters over Knowing Herslet as I did I saw that it would be useless to try to leave the house that night Perhaps I could manage it in the He had said the operation morning was to be postponed and there might yet be time for me to save Leonora Overcome with excitement and emotion I lay back In my chair and fell I awoke suddenly into a deep sleep and opened my eyes to see Dr Herslet standing before me I tried to rise but was unable to move The surgeon bent over me one hand on my shoulder the other holding somethin? to my mouth and nostrils The sweet smell of chloroform was (fes air Herslet’s cruel eyes were into mine “You are in my power “I am sealing your lips As he spoke I ceased to struggle and my senses left me When I awoke again it was morning and I was lying on the floor with ny head against a I felt sharp corner of the bedstead queer and heavy and there was a dull Suddenly the pain in my temples door opened and a servant entered “What is the matter?” she cried “What has happened?" I made an effort to speak but not a word would come only a gurgling sometlihe and tell Miss Trefusls what you had found out I made up my niind to act I waited until you had dropped aBleep then I administered an anaesthetic The rest was easy With a suitable Instrument I made a small opening through the bone at the top of your temple Just over the center which controls the power of speech Having made the entrance I introduced a probe and broke up that portion of the brain tissue The external is opening You are scarcely visible supposed to be suffering from cerebral hemorrhage You may later on rise from your bed but you cannot speak nor can you control your brain even sufficiently to write anything with your left hand Thus you are as powerless to convey the information you know to Leonora Trefusls as if you were dead Having performed the operation I placed you with your head beside the sharp corner of the Led and upon it smeared a little blood You may call attention to the small wound on your head by making to the nurse but she has been signs told that the wound was caused by your fall" He bowed to me mockingly and left the room I lay perfectly motionless in my bed I knew that I was doomed chained as in iron fetters I in my first youth was doomed to the silence of the grave Dr Herslet would probably marry Leonora Captain Gifford would probably die Such thoughts sweeping by in grim procession tortured me day and night At last about a week after my seifcire Leonora came to see me accompanied by Dr Herslet “£he looks so anxious and pathetic" iaid Miss Trefusls “Watch her eyes Paul they seem as though full of a question She is longing to tell us something Perhaps she can write It’ “Try her” said Dr Herslet produa pencil and sheet of paper “'Leonora placed the pencil in my I hand glanced at her and made a frantic effort but in vain My brain directed the wortfs but the hand would not obey I could only effect a few straggling lines on the paper “It is of no use she cannot" said the surgeon “It tortures her to try” Leonora bent over and kissed me cing the reply I left the room without speaking further It was nearly 10 o’clock but I resolved to go straight to Leonora and tell her ’what I had discovered I dressed hurriedly and was descending the stairs when the front door opened and Dr Herslet entered “Have you seen the patient nurse?" he asked “I have unpack“Yes” I answered ed his things I am going out to see Miss Trefusls I have some Important news for her" “I am afraid I cannot spare you now” he said “The operation is to be performed early in the morning and I want to talk the case over with Come into my consulting room” you I followed him down the hall and entered the consulting room “Now nurse" he said “what do you mean by saying you have news for Miss TrefuBis?” “Do you not Intend to marry her in about six weeks?” I asked but what has your news “Certainly to do with that?" You engaged yourself “Everything to marry Leonora on a condition She promised to wed you only because she believed her old lover to be dead” "Which he is I did say to her that if such a thing should happen as that the dead should return to life I should in honor give her up But I was never sufficiently interested to even ask the name of the gentleman I preferred to avoid the subject” “You can scarcely avoid it now” I Dr Herslet said Leonora’s old he is alive and in this lover exists house now His name is Captain Gifford Go to Leonora if you do not believe me and ask what her lover's Ask her to show you his name was Thb photograph is that photograph of the man upstairs your patient” Dr Herslet’s cold eyes gazed at me steadily The man’s nerves must have been made of steel for he never flinched “I will investigate your story” he said “In the meantime I do not intend to allow you to see Leonora tonight While I am absent you shall remain here” Without waiting for a reply he left the room and locked the At the end of an door after him hour' he returned His face was as cold and impassive as ever "I have verified the truth of your tale” he said “I visited Miss and for the first time since our I alluded to her old lover engagement I asked his name and parShe wept ticulars about him and was shown hfs My rival lives he is upphotograph stairs Tomorrow I am to perform a critical operation upon him Think what you have put into my power A swerve of the knife means death But of committing I have no Intention murder I shall operate upon Captain Gifford and I hope to be successful I will not throw the case away for the success of such an' operation will greatly enhance my reputation I will you do not obey me I shall deal ino noise in my throat I tried to Btruggie to my feet but my right side arm and I sank back leg were powerless with a moan As I did so I noticed a little blood on the corner of the bed against which I had evidently fallen The girl rushed out and returned in a few moments with Dr Herslet He looked at me keenly “This is dreadful” I heard him murmur He raised my paralyzed arm “How did this and let it fall again happen nurse Petre?” he asked Again I tried to speak my lips moved but no sound escaped them “Ring for Nurse Martha” said the doctor “and get her into bed It is apoplexy I will be back shortly” I was put to bed and soon Dr Herslet returned with another doctor They both examined me careful- ly "It is a clear case Herslet” said from the other doctor "Hemorrhage the left middle cerebral with hemiplegia and aphasia Very sad Indeed The mind is fully conscious but all power of Bpeech is lost Broca’s convolution Is evidently Involved” “Can you raise your right arm?" he queried bending over me I shook my head in reply “You see she understands what is said to her” he added looking at Dr Herslet The two physicians left the room but soon Dr Herslet returned and Bent the nurse away “Well” said he bending over me “you can see now how wrong you were to defy me I told you I would seal your lips if necessary and they are sealed I am going to marry Miss Trefusls and bo I have taken steps to Insure your silence It is possible that you may never be able to speak of the again With my knowledge localization of motor centers of the brain It was easy for me to do what When I Baw that you I have done were determined to leave the house u left the room her eyes wet with tears Some more weeks went by there was no change in my condition A certain morning dawned and I awoke feeling strangely better I could not account for my sensations but I felt lighter and less I noticed too that I could move my arm — the paralysis was evidently passing away Once again I made an effort to speak but not a word would come Still the paralysis of the arm and side was less marked When the nurse entered the room 1 longed to say to her “I am better” but I think my eyes must have told her something for she leaned over me cheerily and said: “Well my dear you are looking more like yourself” I raised my arm about an inch in order to draw her attention to it “Why that is a splendid Improvement" she said “I must tell Dr Harslet" She stood at the side of the bed as If considering “I am uncertain whether I qught to trouble him today” she said “This In his wedding day But nurse what a strange expression you have in your You face have got such curious eyes —I never before saw human eyes express so much I do not believe that you like the idea of this wedding Well Miss Trefusls is a beautiful young lady but then Dr Herslet is so clever the cleverest surgeon of his ” day Of course he is older but She was Interrupted by a knock at the door and went to open It I heard utter an she exclamation her then came back quickly to my side “What do you think has happened?” she said “You are highly honored There Is no less a person standing outside than Miss Trefusls herself — Shall I show her in?” the My eyes spoke my hand beckoned and Leonora entered She was in her bridal dress Her beauty was extraordinary and startling but her sweet face was ghastly pale and her dark eyes were full of an uncontrollable sadness I motioned to Nurse Martha to leave us alone Leonora came up close to me "1 had hoped that you might be better" she said bending over me “I could not go away without seeing you and bidding you Yes I am going to the church now to be married Ah nurse dear nurse poor Dick never came back I shall be Mrs Herslet within an hour" I motioned with my hand and said with my eyes: “Stay with me a little while Mine la a dreadful me with your presence just for a few minutes” She appeared to read my thoughts for without a word she sat down near me Presently she took my hand and covered it with her kisses Some of her tears dropped upon it As she sat so and the quick moments passed and I knew that In a very short time her fate would be Irrevocably sealed a frantic determination awoke within me If no woija could arise to my direct my Ups at least I could above I thoughts to the Providence began to pray fiercely despairingly I began to plead with Heaven to give me back the gift of speech If it could be only for a short time a few fleeting moments what might I not If I could but save her accomplish? even If sounds by a few whispered the effort cost my life I would gladly As my spirit writhed pay the price within me Leonora watched me curiously and then leaned forward and touched me “What is it’ dear?” she asked "Your eyes seem to speak surely there is something that is troubling Oh nurse nurse make an efyou fort Surely you can move that silent tongue if you try hard I feel sure there is something I must know something you want to tell me” My heart was beating wildly and I moved my partially paralyzed arm to and fro It seemed as though my spirit must burst its bonds and overcome the weakness of the flesh My lips trembled with one final gigantic effort they writhed as in a spasm and a guttural noise issued from my throat Suddenly the blood came surging to my temples I found that the t speech had returned! "Leonora!" I whimpered faintly “Good Heavens! she speaks she speaks” cried the girl She fell upon her knees by the bed with clasped hands “Dear dearest tell me what is in your heart" I knew that my words must be few I had to select them before they were uttered “Leonora listen” I said “Do not marry Dr Herslet Captain Gifford is a patient in this house he is not dead — he came back — I discovered his Dr Herslet tried to silence identity me to keep you in Ignorance Do not marry that bad man dear” I could say no more my lips quivered and were still My brain reeled the room became dark and I slipped away Into blank unconsciousness I was very ill afterward and knew nothing more for a long time When I came to myself Leonora told me the story of the next few days Acting on advice she went to Beek Captain Gifford and found him She said little or nothing about that interview nor did I question her Dr Herslet returned to the house about half an hpur after I had recovered my power of speech Leonora herself met him and told him what had happened He looked quietly at her and his face white he went out of the grew house never to return Never again did he come back to Harley street his career In England was ended and the reason of his strange disappearance was not made public as we kept the secret to ourselves Another great surgeon performed the operation on Captain Gifford who recovered completely and Leonora became his wife As for me I grew to have a horror of my surroundings everything in London seemed to remind me of the terrible period through which I had I had When passed regained my strength I resolved to try what change of climate and country would do for me and I came to New York Perhaps I started to work a little too soon but now thanks to your care Dr Halifax I feel that I am on the road to complete recovery The silence is over forever thank Heaven and the memory of that frightful exis' fast assuming the perience of some fantastic dream SUICIDAL INSANITY s “What Is the cause of the terrible increase in the crop of suicides?” was the psychological problem propounded by one of Pittszurg’s notable sclentiflo men in the presence of a reporter for the Pittsburg Dispatch “I do not refer especially to Pittsburg” he continued "for this species of insanity seems to be general In America and in all other countries It is a ghastly record this by bullet by deadly drugs by the knife the rope by gas by drowning: by almost every means conceivable and some nearly inconceivable" “Many of the suicides are traceable to causes that are really trivial but those are mostly confined to women and for the most part I think the records will show to young women of the shallower sort who have been disapin what they pointed imagine love Sometimes it Is domestic difficulty I and dare say that of the cases of this sort are really due to the Impossibility of the family to make the social show they desire This affects the wife and mother poignantly probably because of the of daughters presence who wish to dress more showily than the purse or the father will permit The father also is fond of his children and in attempting lo give them all that his purse will allow he often gives more gets deeper and deeper into pecuniary difficulty and concludes that the easiest way out Is the way that will end all for him not stopping to consider that the sensible way would be to liv well within his means no matter wh:t the demands on bis Income "Nearly always this is the result of wishing to live like other people live whose Incomes are larger It la n wrong silly view of life and to some extent it is peculiarly an Americn view The show that mere money v Ill give Induces a sort of craze to mako the same sort of show that somebody eise’s money gives and where thcro is much more money I have here a clipping of an Interview with Frederic Harrison of reputation as a publicist and It Is so much to the point that I hope it can be reproduced in the Dispatch The comment of Mr Harrison was called out by the suicide of a young stockbroker Mr Coleman whose Income was about $3000 but who lived to the limit of about $6000 He became involved In debt and paid bis debts by putting a bullet in his brain Here Is the com- ment: "However terrible- the cost people be in the BWiffi'''Each man toin England copies the senseless extravagance of his richer neighbor They follow like sheep one after the other and no one has the courage of bis convictions “The case of Mr Coleman is a finger post on the road along which we are traveling today “The taste for luxury has Increased beyond all bounds spreading from the upper classes who started it to the middle classes who were free from It 20 years ago “People cannot keep quiet now They can’s be alone they can’t read they can’t stay at home Formerly people went to the theater to enjoy the play Now the play ia not enough They must have supper at an expensive restuarant after the theater “And It Is not because they really desire these luxuries that they indulge in them It Is something even more to poisonous public life than mere idle must - day extravagance “It is a want of mental balance The family has lost the power of estimating things on their own merits They do things now because they fear to be ‘out of it It Is sufficient for a man or woman to see their neighbors in enjoyment of some luxury to want It themselves It is a lunacy of ! i I imitation “In Germany people go to the theater simply dressed because they love the theater And If a man goes In the stalls It is because he finds them more comfortable than the pit — not because be is ashamed to be seen in a cheaper part of the house than his neighbors “But we are losing our sense of proportion and our equanimity And when those are gone there will be to delight left In life “There are many causes I would as- The young people have sign for this too much to say They have not sufficient mental balance to be a sound Influence though the enthusiasm may be theirs But enthusiasm must he pruned or It will run wild “The prudent and steady people have been pushed Into the background and they are beginning to think it must be their proper place We want them back again iu the van “Then which 20 English society years ago was impervious to foreign Influences has let the restless American spirit pervade it cf late Money must be spent And the move you can spend the nobler Is the work you will have done for society “This must be fought We must make Eugland realize that the simple himself no questions well will be life contains all the elements of hapasked about bis parentage” It Is not for others to ordain piness When the same mother received our life nor to set a value on the Harold’s quarterly deportment report worth living that make she sent it back demanding to know things “We must cultivate a crop of Mr what "generally good” meant The ground has lain fallow Peabody replied: "According to Webtoo long and weeds have sprung up on ster’s Unabridged ’generally’ has the all sides’’ of ‘not particularly'" significance Headmasters' Replies Head Master Peabody of Groton was noted for bis wit An illiterate mother social with pronounced aspirations once wrote him saying that she would like to “inter" her son as a scholar at Groton What she particularly Insisted upon knowing however before she “interred” darling Harold was the exact social standing of the parents of the boys with whom Harold would be thrown in contact Headmaster Peabody thus replied: “Dear Madam: With reference to wish to interring your son at Groton say that I should be glad to underIf your son behaves take the task Unanimity Doctor — Your temperature seems to have taken a drop or two Patient— Can’t I do the same doc tor? On the Centrary "Look here Henry yoj shall not waste so much of your time o:t this foolish aviation stunt" “Oh father how can you tVk so? It Is a very uplifting occupstVa’’ ii |