Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1885 — THE DOCTOR'S STORY. [ARTICLE]

THE DOCTOR'S STORY.

BY ALEC CREAN.

You must know, (said my friend Harry), that in the course of my many •wanderings about the world I chanced •once to meet an Englishman by the name of Rushton. He was a doctor by profession, but, like myself, being quite •well off, did not have as much practice as he might have otherwise commanded, for he was a talented fellow, and •one who had studied medicine with much zeal. Now, Dr. Rushton, some two years since, arrived in this city, and I immediately called upon him, and offered him our hospitalities. He was staying at one of our principel hotels. To this place I bent my steps, and while awaiting in the office the Doctor’s appearance in answer to my card, which I had sont up by one of the waiters, I amused myself, as I frequently do under such circumstances, 'by looking about and scanning the features of those around me. There were only a few persons present, such individuals as are to be met with loafing in the halls of our hotels; and I did not find anything particularly interesting to engage my attention until my eyes chanced to alight upon a man whom I had not at first perceived. I was immediately struck by his peculiar appearance He was a tall, thin Frenchman, dressed in rather a shabby cloak, and wearing upon his head one of those impudent-looking military fatigue caps which were so common at that time in this country But it was not his costume that attract-’ ed my notice so much as his face, which was particularly repulsive, and not in the least degree heightened in beauty by a pair of coal-black eyes, ever restlessly turning from .one object to another, as if suspecting every one they saw of being secret enemies. Under his chin I observed a dark-red scar, which he had evidently attempted to bide by allowing all his beard -to grow out. Unfortunately, his stock of that article was very poor, being thin, straggling, and of a light color, so that a been eye like mine readily detected the •curious mark he bore. I was thus observing this man and cogitating who he might be, when a hand was placed upon my shoulder, and turning around 1 beheld my friend, Dr.‘Rushton. After the usual salutations, the conversation turned upon old scenes and old friends, and, as is generally the. case, we had much to say that interested both; so that I forgot, for the time, the presence of the man who had attracted so much of my notice, until, turning to leave, I perceived the mysterious stranger still present. He had drawn a chair close to the stove, and was now fast asleep. I was about to call my friend’s attention ;to him, when I heard the Doctor suddenly give a slight exclamation as of one in pain, and looking toward him, I became conscious that he was deadly pale and was staring fixedly upon the Frenchman. Before I could speak he whispered hastily, as he clutched my arm .and motioned me to foMow:

“Come; for heaven’s sake, let us get ■out of this place!” He was so earnest in what he said that I made no remark, but followed him mechanically up the stairs to his room, having entered which he threw himself into a chair, and drawing a long breath exclaimed, “Lock the door!” I did as he requested, and then took a seat opposite him. “What in the name of all that is sensible does this mean ?” I asked. “My conduct must appear very strange to you,” answered Rushton, smiling, “and as I have acted thus, it is due to you, my friend, that I should give an explanation.” „ He ceased speaking for a moment to collect his senses, and then continued: “You noticed that man in the office—that Frenchman with a light beard?” “Yes, I did,Doctor. In fact, I thought .his appearance was very singular, and

■was devoting my attention to him when you came down stairs.” “I had a strange adventure once with that man. I saved his life—whether I did so rightly or not, I have never since made up my mind.” “I should like to hear an account of the adventure, Doctor, for I must confess that my curiosity this evening has been excited to a high pitch. ” “ You shall hear all about it, and you will be the first man that I have confided it to. So to begin. You are aware that, like yourself, I studied for my profession in Paris. For two years I had lodgings in the Rue d’Antoine, not far from the Academy of Medicine. One very stormy night I took it into my head, at rather a late hour, that I would visit the dissecting rooms and pursue my studies quietly there by myself, as I knew no one would be about, except the old janitor, who was well disposed toward me, and would easily give me admittance at hours when it was not customary for students to disturb him. So I pulled on my overcoat and, taking an umbrella under my arm, started out. A few steps brought me to my destination, and a knock at his door summoned the janitor to admit me. “ ‘Monsieur comes late to-night.’ “ ‘Yes, Adolphe. I must trouble you to let me in. I have some very important work to do in the college.’ “ ‘Certainly, Monsieur. Only too happy to do you a favor,’ answered Adolphe, with the usual politeness of a Frenchman. ‘But,’ he continued, 1 Monsieur will wait a moment until I get a light.’ “With this he bustled away, and soon reappeared, carrying a lantern. “ ‘ls there any one else up stairs in the dissecting rooms ?’ I asked. “ ‘No, Monsieur; youwill be entirely alone, and I wish you joy with all my heart, for a more disagreeable place I do not know of. Ugh! It makes me shudder to think of it.’

“Having uttered these words, Adolphe ushered me into a small apartment directly underneath the principal dissecting room, where he lit the lamp and then left me. As the sound of the retreating footsteps of the janitor died away in the distance I settled myself in an easy chair by the table on which the lamp stood, and, opening a large volume that I desired to look over before commencing my work, I was soon lost to everything but the subject to which my attention was devoted. About half an hour passed in this way, naught interrupting my studies save the wind whistling outside and the rain-drops pattering on the window panes. “Suddenly, and from no 'cause that I could imagine, an inexpressible sense of fear came over mo. I was unable to fix my attention upon. the book, although I tried my best to do so. My thoughts would wander, and my imagination caused hideous spectral objects to flit through my mind. I could not divine what this sudden dread meant. I was never superstitious —never had allowed my better reason to be overcome by any marvelous tales that I had heard in the course of my life. Still, try to throw it off as I would, at this moment I was in the power of some unknown, invisible terror. Thus I sat benumbed, feeling at short intervals a chill run through my frame, when I distinctly heard a moan in the room above. As you may suppose, this startled me, for I remembered well that old Adolphe had said there was no living being there —nothing but the mortal shapes of those whose souls had passed away from this earth. Again I heard the moan, then a rustling noise, then a step. Adolphe must have been mistaken. Some fellow-student had preceded me and gained entrance into the building without the janitor’s help. But how could this be ? Adolphe kept the keys. That step again! My thoughts were interrupted by the mysterious sound, and I arose from the chair and took up the lamp, intending to search out the meaning of this perplexing incident, when the steps were repeated — at first slowly, like one feeling his way, and then rapidly, as they descended the stairs and approached the room in which I was. My blood curdled as I saw, with horror, the door swing on its hinges and an unearthly object, clothed in the cerements of the grave, appear on the threshold. Upon discovering me the figure uttered a sharp cry, and, advancing a few steps, threw itself before me on the floor, shrieking, ‘ Save me! Save me! * “The tones of the human voice which thus struck on my ear reassured me, and gave me the welcome conviction that it was a living being who had thus unexpectedly disturbed my studies. Still, the emaciated form, clothed in its winding-sheet, the pallid face, and blood-shot eyes gazing upon me caused me yet to feel a great dread of my visitor. At length I mustered up courage sufficient to ask, ‘ Who are you?’ “As I spoke, the man lifted himself from the floor and answered in a whisper, ‘Do you not know me? lam one whose crimes have astounded all Paris. You now see the murderer, D !’ “ ‘What! D , who was hung this afternoon ? ’ “ ‘The same. But you seem to doubt me,’ continued the man, as he perceived an incredulous smile pass over my face. ‘Perhaps this will satisfy you! ’ With these words he unwrapped part of the shroud which covered his neck and disclosed a fearful gash. “I started in amazement. ‘ Gracious heaven!’ I exclaimed, ‘how has this happened? The hangman has failed to perforin his task! ’ “‘Do not ask me how it occurred,’ said D . ‘I had made up my mind to die, but I awake from my fearful dream to find my-

self m a charnel house. I, a living, j breathing man, the companion of 1 corpses: but we must not waste further time. Save me, for God’s sake, I im- ! plore you! Give me clothes, and show jme the way out of this place, and, i though I am weak and faint, I can yet !escape! ’ “Yon may imagine what a position I ! was in. The piteous accents of the man, notwithstanding his former crimes, ! struck a chord of sympathy in my ; heart. My feelings prompted me to j assist him to escape. But again, would Ibe acting rightly in so doing? My mind was thus perplexed wiih conflicting reasons when I suddenly remembered to have read in the paper that the friends of this unhappy man had received a promise from the Judge who had sentenced him that his remains should lie undisturbed in their grave, and not he subjected to the doctor’s dissecting knife, as the corpses of most criminals are. And yet some of my fellow-students had been bold enough to steal this body. Here was a loophole for my conscientious scruples to escape through. ‘I will see what I can do for you,’ I said. Never shall I forget the grateful expression of that man’s countenance. “ * God bless you, Monsieur. Let me but leave this building, and France shall never hear of D ’s crimes being repeated by him.’ “‘Do you think you can escape the police, if they should know of this ? ’ “‘lam sure I can.’ “ ‘ Will you promise me that you will leave the country ? ’ “ ‘Before heaven I swear to do so!’ answered the man, in a solemn tone, at the same moment raising his arm on high. “There was something in this criminal’s voice that led me to believe he was sincere. “ Twill trust you,’l answered. ‘Here, take some of this; it will strengthen you.’

“As I spoke, I handed him my brandy flask. He took a good pull at”the contents. But, my friend, it is needless for me to continue my narative further. It is sufficient to state that I gave him some clothes, led him to the door of the building, and saw his figure disappear in the darkness of the night. I never heard of D from that time until this evening, when, to my horror, I perceived him sitting in that office down stairs. The sight has conjured up all my old feelings; and the scene that I have attempted to describe is as vividly portrayed in my mind’s eye as if it had only occurred yesterday. I must leave this hotel. For me to stay here would only keep me in a constant state of uneasiness. ” “Andyou shall not stay here, Doctor,” Rapid. “My house is at your service, and I shall be greatly disappointed if you do not accept my invitation. But, tell me this: Did you never perceive any signs among your fellow-students at the academy as if they were rather cast in a fog as to the disappearance of D ’s body?” "Oh, yes” answered the Doctor, smiling; “two or three of them appeared to be very much perplexed, but they never confided the matter to me; and, as to the authorities, I suppose to this day they are not aware of the occurrence.” “Well, a still further question: How is it that your friend D escaped with his life from the gallows?” “His body, I believe, for some reason or other, was cut down too soon; and, although the surgeon present thought him dead, D had life enough left in him to frighten me out of my wits.” And so ends the Doctor’s story.