g sound within. Fearing the worst, I threw
my whole weight and strength against it, and it flew open with a crash.
There lay Miss Jorgensen upon the floor, in the middle of her little
room, uttering low moaning sobs, though apparently not unconscious. I
stooped over and lifted her in my arms to lay her upon the bed, and as I
did so, a small pocket-pistol fell at my feet, and I discovered blood
upon the carpet.

"Yes, Miss Jorgensen had certainly shot herself, I told Mrs. Mason, and
the rest who crowded after us into the little woman's room; but whether
dangerously or not, I could not say, nor whether purposely or
accidentally. Probably not dangerously, as she was already making signs
to me to exclude people from the apartment.

"You had better bring a surgeon," I said to Quivey, who turned away
muttering, followed by Miss Flower.

With Mrs. Mason's assistance, I soon made out the location of the wound,
which was in the flesh of the upper part of the left arm, and
consequently not so alarming as it would be painful during treatment.

"Could she have meant to shoot herself through the heart, and failed
through agitation?" whispered Mrs. Mason to me, aside.

"No, no; it was an accident," murmured the victim, whose quick ear had
caught the words. "I did not mean to shoot myself."

"Poor child, I am very sorry for you," returned Mrs. Mason gently, whose
kind heart had always leaned toward the little French teacher, in spite
of her singular ways. "It is very unfortunate; but you shall receive
careful nursing until you recover. You need not worry about yourself,
but try to bear it the best you can."

"O, I cannot bear it--I _must_ be well to-morrow. O, what shall I do!"
moaned Miss Jorgensen. "O, that this should have happened to-night!" And
momently, after this thought occurred to her, her restlessness seemed to
increase, until the surgeon came and began an examination of the wound.

While this was going on, notwithstanding the sickening pain, the
sufferer seemed anxious only about the opinion to be given upon the
importance of the wound as interfering with her usual pursuits.

When, in answer to a direct appeal, she was told that it must be some
weeks before she could resume going out, a fainting fit immediately
followed, which gave us no little trouble and alarm.

Before taking leave, the doctor accompanied me to my own apartment and
proceeded to question me.

"What is the history of the case?" said he. "Is ther