A ROMANTIC STORY.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2072, 12 November 1879, Page 3

A ROMANTIC STORY.

A week or two ago (says the “Figaro’ one of the most celebrated surgeons in Paris was stopped in the street at a late hour of the night by three men armed with pistols, who compelled him to enter into a carriage and submit to have his eyes bandaged. After some time the doctor found himself in a "beautiful furnished room, where a young and beautiful woman was in bed, and h,o was ordered by one of the party who Had brought him there to amputate her left hand, The doctor at first refused, but to the threats (of his captors were joined the fearful entreaties of the lady herself, who assured him that it was the only way of saivng her life. Ile therelore, did as he was ordered. His eyes were rebandaged, and he was finally get down in a deserted street, not far from his own house; It has since transpired that the lady operated upon was the daughter of a well-known French feneral, who had recently betrothed erself to one, who like herself was poor. Subsequently under pressure from her father, she consented to giro her hand to a wealthy count, but continued, Against the wish of her husband, to wear a ring which her former lover hajj,

given to her just as he was setting out to join an embassy to which he had been appointed, and which she had sworn never to take off the hand that should “always be his.” The count’s jealousy was increased by a letter from the duke which fell into his hand, and in which his late finance was reminded of her promise, and, wrought up to a pitch of madness by the the persistent refusal of his wife to give up the ring, he swore that he would have her baud cut off and sent to her lover, and llie above is the means he took to cai’ry out his threat. The affair has been hushed up as much as possible, and the count has retired with his wife to his estates.