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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.