The Golden Ingot

by Fitzjames O'Brien

I had just retired to rest, with my eyes almost blind study of new work on physiology by M Brown-Sequard, night bell was pulled violently

winter, and I confess I grumbled as I rose and went downstairs to open the door Twice that week I aroused long after midnight most trivial causes Once, to attend son and heir of wealthy family, who had cut his thumb with penknife, which, it seems, he insisted on taking to bed ; and once, to restore young gentleman to consciousness, who found by his horrified parent stretched insensible staircase Diachylon one case and ammonia other were all that my patients required; and I had faint suspicion present summons was perhaps occasioned by no case more necessitous than those quoted too young in my profession, however, to neglect opportunities only when physician rises to very large practice that afford inconsiderate first step ladder, so I humbly opened my door

woman was standing ankle deep snow that lay stoop I caught but dim glimpse of her form, night was cloudy; but hear her teeth rattling like castanets, and, sharp wind blew her clothes close to her form, discern sharpness outlines that she was very scantily supplied with raiment

"Come in, come in, my good woman," hastily, wind seemed to catch eagerly opportunity of making itself at home in my hall, and was rapidly forcing an entrance half- open door "Come in, tell me all to communicate inside "

She slipped in like ghost, and I closed the door While striking light in my office, hear her teeth still clicking out dark hall, till it seemed some skeleton was chattering I obtained light I begged her to enter the room, and, without occupying myself particularly about her appearance, asked her abruptly what her business was

"My father has met with severe accident," she said, "and requires instant surgical aid I entreat you to him immediately "

The freshness melody of her voice startled me Such voices rarely, if ever, issue from any but beautiful forms I looked at her attentively, but, owing to nondescript species of shawl her head was wrapped, discern nothing beyond what seemed pale, thin face and large eyes Her dress was lamentable An old silk, of color now unrecognizable, clung to her figure in those limp folds which are so eloquent of misery The creases where it folded were worn nearly through, edges skirt had decayed into species of irregular fringe, clotted and discolored with mud Her shoes-- which were but half concealed scanty garment--were shapeless and soft with moisture Her hands were hidden under the ends shawl which covered her head and hung down over bust, the outlines , although angular, seemed to possess grace Poverty, when partially shrouded, seldom fails to interest: witness the statue Veiled Beggar, by Monti

"In what manner was your father hurt ? " I asked, in tone considerably softened one I put my first question

"He blew himself up, sir, terribly wounded "

"Ah ! in some factory, then ? "

"No, sir, chemist "

"A chemist ? Why, brother professional Wait an instant, slip on my coat and go live far from here ? "

" Seventh Avenue, not more than two blocks end street "

" the better Did you leave anyone in attendance on him ? "

"No, sir allow no one but myself to enter his laboratory And, injured as , induce him to quit it "

"Indeed ! engaged in some great research, perhaps ? known such cases "

We were passing under lamp-post, woman suddenly turned and glared at me with look wild terror that for an instant I involuntarily glanced round me under the impression that some terrible peril, unseen by me, was menacing us both

"Don't--don't ask me any questions," she said breathlessly " tell you all But do, oh, do hasten ! Good God ! dead ! "

no reply, but allowed her to grasp my hand, which she did with bony, nervous clutch, and endeavored with some difficulty pace long strides-- well call them bounds, for they seemed the springs of wild animal rather paces of young girl-- she covered the ground Not word more was uttered until we stopped before shabby, old-fashioned tenement house Seventh Avenue, not far above Twenty-third Street She pushed the door open with convulsive pressure, and, still retaining hold hand, literally dragged me upstairs to what seemed back offshoot main building, as high, perhaps, fourth story In moment more myself in moderate-sized chamber, lit by single lamp In one corner, stretched motionless on wretched pallet bed, I beheld what I supposed the figure patient

"He ," said the girl; "go to him See if dead--I dare not look "

my way as numberless dilapidated chemical instruments the room was littered French chafing dish supported on an iron tripod overturned, and was lying across the floor, while the charcoal, still warm, was scattered around in various directions Crucibles, alembics, and retorts were confusedly piled in various corners, and on small table distributed in separate bottles number of mineral and metallic substances, which I recognized as antimony, mercury, plumbago, arsenic, borax, etc veritably the apartment of poor chemist All the apparatus had the air of being second-hand no luster of exquisitely annealed glass and highly polished metals, such as dazzles one laboratory prosperous analyst The makeshifts of poverty were everywhere visible The crucibles were broken, or gallipots were used instead of crucibles The colored tests usual transparent vials, but were placed in ordinary black bottles nothing more melancholy than to behold science or art in distress threadbare scholar, tattered book, or battered violin is mute appeal to our sympathy

I approached the wretched pallet bed the victim of chemistry was lying He breathed heavily, and had his head turned toward the wall I lifted his arm gently to arouse his attention "How goes it, my poor friend ? " I asked him "Where hurt ? "

In moment, startled sound voice, he sprang up bed, and cowered against the wall like wild animal driven to bay "Who ? I don't know you Who brought you here ? stranger How dare you come into my private rooms to spy upon me ? "

And as he uttered this rapidly with frightful nervous energy, I beheld pale distorted face, draped with long gray hair, glaring at me with mingled expression of fury and terror

" no spy," I answered mildly "I heard that you had met with an accident, come to cure you Dr Luxor, and my card "

The old man took the card, and scanned it eagerly " physician ? " he inquired distrustfully

"And surgeon also "

" bound by oath not to reveal the secrets of your patients "

"Undoubtedly "

" afraid that hurt," he continued faintly, half sinking back bed

I seized the opportunity brief examination body arms, part chest, and part face were terribly scorched; but it seemed that nothing apprehended but pain

" reveal anything that learn here ? " said the old man, feebly fixing his eyes on my face while applying soothing ointment burns " promise me "

I nodded assent

"Then trust you Cure me-- pay you well "

scarce help smiling If Lorenzo de' Medici, conscious of millions of ducats coffers, addressing some leech period, have spoken with loftier air than this inhabitant fourth story of tenement house Seventh Avenue

" keep quiet," I answered "Let nothing irritate you leave composing draught with your daughter, which she will immediately you morning well in week "

"Thank God ! " came in murmur from dusk corner near the door I turned, and beheld the dim outline girl, standing with clasped hands gloom dim chamber

"My daughter ! " screamed the old man, once more leaping up bed with renewed vitality " seen her, then ? When ? Where ? Oh, may thousand cur--"

"Father ! father ! Anything--anything but that Don't, don't curse me ! " poor girl, rushing in, flung herself sobbing on her knees beside his pallet

"Ah, brigand ! there, ? Sir," said he, turning , " the most unhappy man Talk of Sisyphus rolling the ever-recoiling stone--of Prometheus gnawed vulture birth The fables yet live my rock, forever crushing me back ! my eternal vulture, feeding upon my heart ! There ! there ! there ! " And, with an awful gesture of malediction and hatred, he pointed wounded hand, swathed and shapeless with bandages, cowering, sobbing, wordless woman by his side

horror-stricken to attempt even to soothe him The anger of blood against blood has an electric power which paralyzes bystanders