Newspaper Page Text
Story of a* Physician’s Wife.
“ I have heard of persons whose
hair was whitened throng!) excessive
fear, but as I never saw myself any
tone so affected, I am disposed to be
incredulous on the subject.
The above remark was made to
Dr. Maynard as we sat on the piazza
of bis pretty villa, discussing the ef
fects of terror on dissimilar tempera
ments. Without 1 eplymg to me, the
Doctor turned to his wife and said :
“ Helen will yon please relate to my
old friend the incident within your
own experience ? It is the most con
vincing argument I can advance.”
I looked at her hair, which was
luxuriant and dressed very becoming
ly, was purely colorless ; liut as she
was a young wouu.n, and also a very,
pretty one, I surmised that it was
powered to heighten the brilliancy of
her tine eves.
The Doctor and ^li:id been fellow*
students, but after leaving college,
we had drifted apart—1 to commence
practice in an Eastern city, he to
pursue his profession in a growing
town in the West. I was now on a
wsit. to him for the first time since
his marriage.
Mrs. Maynard, no doubt, reading
my supposition by my look of inore*
dulity, smiled as si e shook her snowy
tresses over shoulders, and seating
herself by her husband’s side, related
the following episode:
“ It is nearly two yews ago since
my husband was called on one even
ing to visit a phtient several miles
away. Our domestics had ail gone
to a * wake’ in the vicinity, the dead
man being a relative to one of our
serving women. Thus, I was left
alone. But I felt no fear, for we
never had heard of burglars or any
sort of desperadoes in our quiet vil
lage, then consisting of a few scatter
ing houses. The windows leading
-out on the piazza were open as now,
but I secured the blinds before my
husband’s departure, and locked tlie
-outside doors, all except the front
•one, which I left for tne Doctor to
lock after going out, so t^at, if ^
should (all a !eep before his return,
he could enter without arousing me.
I heard the Doctor’s rapid footsteps
on the gravel, quickened by the ur*
gent tones of the messenger who
awaited him; and, after the sharp
rattle of carriage wheels had become
but an echo, I seated myself by the
parlor astral, and soon became ah'
sorbed in the book I had been read
ing before being disturbed by the
summons. But after a time, my in
terest succumbed t o drowsiness, and
thought of retiring when the clock in
the Doctor’s study adjoining the
parlor struck twelve, so I determined
to wait a tew moments more, fuelin
that he would be home soon,
closed my book, donned a robe-de-
ehambie, let down my hair, and thefi
returned to my seat to patient'y wait
and listen. Not the faintest sound
disturbed the stillness of the night.
,Not a breath of air stirred a leaf.
The silence was so profound, that it
became oppressive. I longed for the
sharp cliek of the gate latch and ihc
well-known step on the gravel walk.
I did not dare to break the hush my
self by moving or singing, I was so
oppressed by the deep stillness. The
human mind is a strange torturer of
itself. I began to conjure up vivid
fancies about ghostly visitants, in the
midst of which OQcurred to me the
stories I had heard from superstitious
people about the troubled spirits of
those who had died suddenly, like the
man whom my servants had gone to
* wake,’ who had been killed by
accident on a saw-mill. In the midst
of these terrifying reflections, I was
startled by a stealthy footfall on the
piazza. I listened between fear and
hope. It might be the Doctor. But
no, ho would not tread like that; the
step was too soft and caulioifs for
anything less wily than a cat. As I
listened again, my eyes were fixed on
the window blind. I saw the slats
move slowly.and softly, and then the
rays of the lAoon disclosed a thin,
cadaverous face and bright,.glittering
eyes peering at me. O, horror! who
was it? or what was it? 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
roof of my month, while the deathly-
white face pressed closer; and the
great sunken eyas wandered in their
gaze about the room. In a few mo
ments, the blind closed noiselessly
ns it had opened, aud the cautious
footsteps came near the door. ** Mer
ciful Heaven!” I cried in a horror-
stricken whisper, as I beard the key
turn in the lock, “the Doctor in his
haste must have forgotten to with
draw the key.”
“ God forgive me 1” ejaculated Dr.
Maynard, interrupting his wife and
looking far more excited than she.
“ I can never forgive myself for such
a thoughtless act. Please proceed,
dear.”
“ I heard the front door open, the
step in the hall, and helpless a statute,
I sat rivited in my chair. The parlor-
door was open, aud in it stood a tall,
thin man, whom I never beheld be
fore. He was dressed in a long,
loose robe—a sort of gaberdine, and
black velvet skull-cap partially con
cealed a broad forehead, under which
gleamed black eyes, bright as living
coals, and placed so near together
that their gaze was preternatural iy
its directness; heavy grizzled eye
brows hung over them like the tan
gled mane of a lion; the nose was
sharp and prominent, and the chin
was overgrown with white hair,
which hung down in locks weired as
tlie Ancient Mariner’s, lie politely
dolled His cap, bowed, replaced it,
and then said in a slightly foreign
accent:
“Madaine, it is not necessary for
me to staiftl on any further ceremony,
as your husband, Ur, Maynard (here
upon, he again bowed profoundly,)
has already acquainted you with the
nature of- my business here to-night.
I perceive,” i e added, glJncing at
my neglige robe, “that you are ex
pecting me.”
“ No,” I found voice to stammer.
“The Doctor has said nothing to me
about a visitor at this hour of tlie
night.”
“ Ajh ! itq wished to spate you, no
doubt, a disagreeable apprehension,”
lie returned, advancing, and taking a
seat on tlie sola opposite me, where,
lor a lew moments, lie sat and eyed
me from head to foot with a strange,
glittering light in his eyes that mys
teriously impressed me. “You have
a. remarkably line physique, madame,”
he observed, quietly, “one that
might deceive the most skilled and
practical physician. Do you suffer
much pain ?”
“ Unable to speak, I shook my
head. A terrible suspicion was creep
ing over me. 1 was alone, miles away
from aid or rescue, with a madman.’’
“Ah! ’lie continued reflectively,”
“ your husband may have mistaken
a tumor for cancer. Allo^v me to feel
vour pulse,’’ lie said, rising and bend
ing over me.
“ I thought it best to huiuor him,
remembering it was unwise fora help
less woman to oppose the as yet harm
less freak of a lunatic. He took out
his watch, shook his head gravely,
laid my hand down gently, then went
toward tlie study, where, on the table
was an open case of surgical instru
ments.’’
“ Involuntarily I raised my hand
and cried—’’
“Spare me! Oh, spare me, I
beseech you!” v
“ Madaine,” he said sternly, clasp
ing my wrist with his long sineway
fingers, with a grip of steel, “ you
behave like a child. I have uo time
to parley, for I have received a letter
from the Emperor of the French
staling that lie is suffering from an
iliae abscess, and is desirous of my
attendance. I must start for Europe
immediately alter performing the
operation upon your breast;’’ and
before I could make the slightest re-;
sistnucc, he had me in his arms, and
was can j ing me into tlie study, where
there was a long ta >le with green
haize. Oh this lie laid me, and, hold
ing me down with one baud wi h the
strength of a maniac, he brought
forth from some hidden recess in his
gown several long leather straps, with
which he secured me to the table
with the skill of an expert. It was
but the work of a moment to unloose
GEORGIAN: MARCH 13, 1877.
osotn. Then,
ning my left
e. your husband has made
a inK jfKe. I find no necessity for
my intended operation.’’ *
“ At this I gave a long rttawfl^sigh
of relief, and prepareilto rise.”
“But,” be continued, “ I 'have
made the discovery that yourjieart
is as large as that of an ox. I will
remove it so that you may see for
yourself, reduce it to its natural by
a curious process of my own, unknown
to the medical science, and of which
I am the sole discoverer, aud then
replace it again.” 1
He . then began to examine the
edge of the cruel >knife, on which I
closed my eyes, while every nerve
was in a perceptible tremor.* '
“The mechanism of the heart is
like a watch,” he resumed: “ if it
goes too fast,*the great blood-vessel
that supplies the force musPsYstop-
ped like the lever of a watch, and the
works must be cleaned, and prepared
aiu^regulated. It may interest you
to know that I was present at the
post mortem examination hel«T~over
the remains of the beautiful Louise
of Prus ia. Had I been consulted
before her deatli I would have taken
out her heart, and removing the
polypi, between which it was wedged
like as if in a vise ; hut I was called
too late. The king aud I had a little
difference lie was German and I am
French. I trust that is sufficient ex
planation.’’
“ He now bent over me, his iong
white heard brushing my face. I
raised my eyes beseechingly, trying
to think of myself. “ O, sir give me
an amethelic, that I may not feel tlie
| *
pain 1” I pleaded.
“ Indeed, indeed, madaine, I would
comply with your wish were vpu no^
the wife of a physician—of a skillful
surgeon. I wish you to note with
what ease I perform this operation,
so that you may tell your husband of
the great savant whose services he
secured fortunately in season.”
As lie said this iie made ihfc final
^jpst of the kvfUe oufchie t
precious were the monieuts now
They were flying all too fast, and yet
an eternity seemed compressed in
every one. I never fainted in my
life, and I never felt less like swooning
than now, as summoned all my pres
ence of mind to delay the fearful
moment, fervently praying iu the
meantime for nfy husband’s return.
“ Doctor,” said I, with assumed
composure. “I have the utmost con
fidence in your skill—I would not*
trust my life to another; but, Doctor,
you have torgotton to bring a napkin
to staunch the blood. If you wiil
have tlie goodness to asceml to my
sleeping chamber, at tlie riglit.of the
h*ill, you will find everything you
need for the purpose in tlie bureau.
“ All, madaire,” he said shaking
his head sagaciously, I never diaw
blond during a surgical'operation ;
that is another of my secrets unknown
to the faculty.”
“Then placing his hand on my
bosom, be added with horrible espe-
gleric:
“ I’ll scarcely mar that whiter skin
than snow, and smooth as monumental
alabaster.’’
“O, God!” I cried, as I felt the
cold steel touch my breast; but with
tlie same breath came deliverance.
“ Quick as thought a heavy woolen
piano cover was thrown over the head
and person of the madman, and hound
tightly around him. As quickly was
I released, and the thongs that hound
me soon held tlie maniac.”
“ My husband held tne in his arms.
He had noiselessly approached, and,
taking the horror of my situation at
a glance, had by the ouly moans at
hand, secured tlie madman, who was
the very patient h"e had been sum
moned to attend, but who had escaped
t lie vigilance of his keeper soon after
ti»e departure of the messenger, who
had now returned with tlie Doctor in
pm-snit of him. As tlie poor wretch
was being hurried aw: y, lie turned
to me and said: “ Madame th s is a
plot to rob nte of my reputation.
Your husband is envious of my great
skill as a surgeon. Adieu 1” I after
ward learned that the man was once
an eminent surgeon*in Europe, but
much learning had made him mad.
When lie bound me to that table my
hair was as black as a raven ; when I
left it, it was as you see it now—
white as full blown cotton.”— Wath~
ington Gazette.
Rock .Bottom Prices.
! WORKING ON A CASH BASIS. 1
t t
Mrs AD QUARTERS FOR
GRAIN, MEAT AND
vooun •j/z'/rz'S/z's/iWi'j/i'j/z's/z’J/i'SA: 'j/z'sn '/rx/nyrx/n y/x/rx/yx/yzx/xtr&m atyM/zurz&fcsazxK&K vx>
{FLOUR DEPOT.!
Competition Invited From all Quarters.
at Bulldozers Against High Prices.
Cash Against Time!
AND CASH ALWAYS WINS.
I
COME AND SEE HOW WE CAN SELL GOODS.
Talmadge, Hodgson & Co.
^pLanTers^ hotel;
xVUGrTJSTA. GEORGIA.
MEjW - A.K.3FL-A.3^BTC3rES3Vg:3E3JSr e T a -
S.at©s K.e&uoe& to $3 per Day.
HAYING LEASED THIS WELL KNOWN HOTEL, I enter
upou its management by Reducing Rates, and asking of the Travel
ing Public, especially my friends of Carolina and Georgia, a continu
mice of that liberal support they Have always given it.
FORMERLY OF CHARLESTON, PROPRIETOR.
jar>23-5ra
John Merryman 8c Co.’s,
AMMON LATEl) DISSOLVE!) DONE
AND ACID PHOSPHATE,
The Cheapest and most popular Fertilizers in use.
lira. is, Georgia=
Ammoniated Dissolved Bone, cash $50 00
bone,time with 15c cotton option 72 00
Acid Phosphate, cash . . 40 00
Acid phosphate, time with 15c cotton option 00 00
Time Sale Payable by First November,
Without interest, with option of paving in cotton of u grade not below middling at 15c., de
livered in our Warehouse in Athens, Ga.
REAVES & NICHOLSON,
j lln 23 Agents, Athens, Ga.
TR.IEIIMIO'V" ALI
■ THE ATHENS OFFICE FOE THE SALE OF
Singer Sewing. Machine
• „ Removed February 1st, 1877, to
Lester’s Building, (Upstairs) Over Talmadge, H. & Co.,
9MB M&WMXS s&MEsi®.
2,000,000 in Use—Sales in Excess of all Others.
ME SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, G. II. HOPE, AGENT, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
\
Ask your neighbors which Machine is the best; then buy the Singer.
J. B. Toomer, Agent for Singer Sewing Machines,
Lester’s Building, (Upstairs,) Athens, Georgia.
july.4.1y.
rum w hu
JOB WORK.
GREAT REOUGTfOK
IN PRICES.
Having Secured tne Services of
II. L. Cranford,
-A- FIBST-CLASS
JOB PRINTER,
We are enabled to turr out as good
work as can be done
IN THE STATE.
We call the attention of all our citi
zens to tlie following
Price List:
> «
Bill Heads, per Thousand,
, N Assorted, $5- t
Canary Colored Envelops,
Furnished to Merchants and
Business Men, with their
cards printed on them,
At $3 PER THOUSAND
LETTER HEADS,
$4 50 to $5 Per Thousand.
Common 75cper Hundred,
—AND-
$4 50 to $5 per Thousand.
Fancy Work Proportionately Higher.
visiting gauds,
BLANKS, NOTES,
Poters, Circulars,
N
Handbills, Pamphlets, etc.,
Printed in any color desired, and as
cheap as can be done m tlie State.
GIVE US YOUR ORDERS,
SAVE MONEY,
And get good work, and sustain a
home institution. Call at tlie ATH
ENS GEORGIAN office, Broad
street, Athens, Ga.