A MANIAC'S FREAK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 200, 27 September 1900, Page 1

A MANIAC'S FREAK.

XHB TURMBLB EXPERIENCE THAT BCBAOBXD A WOMAN'S HAIR. (Argonaut.) •I HAVE heard of persons whose hair was whitened through excessive fear, bat, as I never saw myself any one so affected, I am disposed to be incredulous on the subject.' The above re- | mark -was made to Dr. Maynard, as we sat on the piazza of his pretty villa, on discussing the different effects of terror Hingitnilnr temperaments. Without replying to me, the doctor turned to wife, and said: i 'Helen, will you please relate to my old friend the incident within your own " experience? It is the most convincing argument I can advance.' - I looked at Mrs Maynard in surprise. I had observed that her hair, which \j?aa luxuitent, and dressed very becomwas purely colorless; but as she was a young weman, and also a very pretty one, I surmised that it was powder to heighteon the brilliancy of . her fine dark eyes. The doctor and I had been fellow students, but, after leaving college, we had drifted apart; I to commence practice in an Eastern city, he to pursue his profession in a growing town in the West. I was on a visit to him for the first time sines his marriage. * Mrs Maynard, no doubt reading my supposition by my look of incredulity, smiled as she shook her SDOwy tresses over her shoulders, and, seating herself tfy her husband's Bide, related the following interesting episode. It was nearly two years ago since my k husband was ealled on one evening to ■ visit a patient several miles away. Our ■domestics half all gone to a wake in the vicinity, the dead man being a relative of one of oar serving women. Thus I was left alone. But I felt no fear, for ire never had heard of burglars or any sort of desperadoes in our quiet village, then consisting of a few scattered houses. The windows leading out on the pizza were opened as now, but I secured the blinds before my husband's defature, and locked the outside doors, altrocept the front one, which I left for the doctor to lock after going out, so that, if I should fall alseep before his return, he could enter without arousing me. I heard the.doctor's rapid . footsteps on the gravel, quickened by tjia argent tones of a messenger who > j)»aited; and after the sharp rattle of "* the carriage wheels had become but an echo, I seated myself by the parlour astral, and very soon became absorbed in the book I had been reading before being disturbed by the summons. But after a time interest succumbed and I thought of retiring. Then the clcck in the doctor's study so I determined to wait few moments more, feeling that lie be home very soon. I closed my ) book, donned a robe de chambre, let down my hair, and then returned to my ' £eat to patiently wait and listen. Not ■the faintest sound disturbed the stillness of the night. Not a breath of air stirred the leaves. The silence was so profound that it became oppressive. I longed for the sharp click of the gatel«tph and the well-known step on the gravel walk. I did not dare to break the hush myself by moving or singing, I mas so oppressed with the deep stillnesk The human mind is a strange torturer of itself. I began to conjure np vivid fancies about ghostly visitants, in the midst of which occurred to me V the stories I had heard from superstitia\ous 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 an accident at the 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, ha would not tread like that; the step was too soft and cautious for anythwg less wily than a cat. As I listened again, my eyes fixed on the windowblind, I saw the slats move slowly and cautiously, and then the rays of tbe moon disclosed a thin, cadaverous face, and bright glittering eyes, peering at me. 0 horror! Who was it ? or what was itf I felt the cold perspiration start at svery 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 mouth, while the deathly white face pressed closer, and the great sunken eyes wandered in the& gaze about the room. In n few . moments the blind closed as noi.-elcssly as it had been opened, and : he cautious footsteps came towards the door. ' Merciful heaven!' I cried in a horrorstricken whisper, as I heard the key y turn in the lock, ' the doctor in his haste, must have forgotten to withdraw the key.' - I heard tbe fror. 1 : door open, the step in the hall, and Wpleo as ,i statue. 1 sat riveted to lay chair, Tite parlor door was opened, and it; ir ;Wr; s | .. uii. thin man, whom 1 never Were ; <vi-i > He was dressed i& a loug, it,-** n>i«. aWort of gaberdine, and a Hack veive skull-cap partially concealed a 1.-ruui forehead, under which gksiuM' M d: eyes, bright an liniig ct>:«K i- 'i t :. so near together I p<--~ preternatural in tk'Tir iir« heiky. gri'.zled »yelnw • " them like tlie tail';':<J v. the ncsew.is.sha;;> ai.d pr'ui-'-c.': chin was overgrovn with v'ite he., which down in leeks a:> -vend the Ancient Mariner's. He politely dotted his cap, bowed, rq'lnccd it, amthen said, in a slightly ficcc-nt: ' Madam, it is not rceessai-y for hi to stand on any further cojc-monv, a.r. ydfe husband, Dr. 3lavnard,' here ft;

l bowed again profoundly, ' has already ' acquainted you with the nature of my business here to-night. I perceive,' he added, glancing at my neglige robe, 1 that you were expecting me.' ' No,' I found voice to stammer; 'the doctor has said nothing to me about a visitor at this hour of the r night.' ) ' Ah! he wished to spare you, no > doubt, a disagreeable apprehension,' he - returned, advancing and taking a seat ■ on the sofa opposite me, where for a > few moments he sat and eyed me from 1 head to foot with a strange, glittering light in his eyes that mysteriously im- • pressed me. ' You have a remarkable ' fine physique, madam,' he observed, quietiy, 'one that might deceive the eyes of the most skilled and practiced 1 physician. Do you suffer much pain V ' Unable to speak, I shook my head. A terrible suspicion was creeping over ' me. I was alone, miles away from aid 1 or resoue, with a madman. • Ah, he continued, reflectively, 1 ' your husband may have mistaken a tumor for a cancer. Allow me to feel your pulse,' he said, rising and bending / over me.

thought it best to humor him, remembering it tu unwiw for a helpless woman to oppose the as yet harmless freak tifa ilunMiA B«rto6K - out ' his watch, shook his head gravely, laid my hand down gently,-then went towanis thastudy, where on the table was an open ease of surgical instruments. 'Do not be alarmed,', madam,' he said to me, as I was about to rise and flee, apd in another instant be was by my side, with the case in his possession Involuntarily I raised my head, and cried: 'Spareme 1 Oh spare me. I beseech you 1' 'Madam,' he odd, sternly, clasping my wrist with his long, sinewy Jingo's with a grip of steel, |you behave likej a child. 1 have no time to parley, for I have received a letter from the Emperor of France, stating that he is desirous of my attendance. I, must start for Europe immediately after performing the operation on you breast,' and, before I could wla^rQ the - slightest resistance, he had me in his arms, and was carrying me inte the study, where therQ was a long (iurgieal table, covered with green baize. On this he laid me, and, holding me down with one hand, with? the strength of a maniac, he brought forth several long leather straps, which bore evidence of having recently been cut, and with which he secured me to the table with the skill . cf an expert, It was but the work of Then, after carefully examining my left breast, he said 1 "' Madam, yont husband tiaa made a mistake. I find na necessity for my intended opeiatien.' At this I gave long-drawn sigh of rehef, and prepared to rise. • ' But/ he continued,' I have made the discoveiy that your heart lis as largeastiuitaf anox! T will remove it, so that yon can see it for yourself, reduced it to its natural size by a curious process of my own, unknown to medical science, and of which I am sole discoverer, then replace it again.' He began to examine the edge of the orae } JR'fev on which I* closed my eyes, while every nerve was in 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 must be stopped, like the'lever of a vratch, an 4 the works must be apd repa«w|, and regulated. present at the post mortem examination lwd over the remains of the beautiful

Louisa of Prussia. Had I been consulted before her death, I would have sa*«lAerby taking out her heart, and removing tha polypi, between which it was wedged as in a -vie?, but I was allied tpp fcte. • The king and I had a little difference; he was German, lam French. I trust that is sufficient explanation.'

He now bent over me, his long white beard brushing my face. I opened my eye* beseechingly, toying to think of some way to Bavj myself. «Oh, sir, give t me an anaethetic, that I may not feel'the pain,'l pleaded. 'lndeed, indeed, madam, I would comply with your wish were you not the wife of a physician—of a skillful suigeon. I wish you to note with what flosaj perform this difficult operation, so thatyoucan tell your husband of the - great savant whose services he secured, fortunately in season. , As he said this, he made the final : test 0& the knife on his thumb. How preciqps were the moments now! Thoy 4 were fleeting all too fash, and yet an eternity seemed compressed in every „ «e. I never faitted in my life, and I never felt less likei-swooning than now, , as I- summoned all my presence of iniud to-* delay the" fearful moment,

fervently praying in the meantime for my husband's return. • Doctor,'sai<i I, with assumed composure, ' I hive the utmost confidence H»y°ar skill; I would not trust my Jiib to another; but, doctor, you have tog ft napkin to staunch the will have the goodness to ascend to my sleeping chamber, - at the ngfefcof -the hall, you will find everything jrqu need for that purpose in the Irareau.' ' madam,' he said shaking his

h«d sagaciously, «I never drew blood during? a surgical operation; that is anotW oiie of my secre!s unknown to the faculty.' % Theu placing his hand en my bosom, M added, with horrible espiiglerie • 'HI scarcely mark that skin whiter than snow, and smooth as monumental aJahnsteh'

OhXSod! I cried, as I felt the co'd et»el tm hmy breast; but with the same hr%<th came I'diveiance. i . Quick'as thought a heavy woollen 7*-ro-cover was thrown over the head and person of the madman, and bound tightly around him. As quickly was I ™ •"w.and the thongs tht held me J»M me mliis arms. He had noice»Mly approached, and, taking ii the horror of mjs situation ata glance, had, by uie onjyjieans at hand, secured the the very patient he ran beeD summoned to attend, but who h-d of his keeper soon after deputure of the messenger, who had now ro'urned with the doctor m pursuit of him. Ar the poor wretch was hurried away, ho turned to me, and said: 'Madam, this » a plot to rch me of my reputation, jcour husband is env'ous of my great •kill as surgeon, Adieu!' I afterwards learned that the man was once an eminent surgeon in Europe, but much learning had made him mad, When he bound me to the table, my hair was üblackasantyea; when I left it, it triisas you see it now—white as fullblown cotton.