Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-09-02
EVENING STAR.
0 q Z n AJ0R'S STORY
tFrom the Modern Story TeIls,

against the low wall that divides Carlisle Ter
race from the beach. III venture tn "a,
the trusts committed to him won't be n
strange as mine were the first time was m mad
executor. Somo years since received a LET
ter from my old friend and cOmrade, Ellis. q
the -th, telling me that his health had beer
Tor some time declining that he was about Z
make his will, and earnestly desiring that
would consent to act as his sole executor
there being ho added, trust Of some i'm
Portance to be undertaken, which L wish 4
confide to no ono but yourself The lette
concluded with cordial invitation to pay hin
visit at the snug cottage in DsvoDshire {,
which he had retired. Now Ellis was, lik,
myself, an old bachelor; and, except hi
half pay, was, knew, but little burdeneC
with this worlds baggage and accoutrements
SO IL never occurred TO me that the trust wa!
| TO undertake could possibly relate to ANYTHING
| more important than the bestowal of lecscic,
on his old housekceper and butlor, or his al.
most equally antiquated cat and dog 1 wrote
Immediately to accept the invitation, and
early the next morning | deposited myself
and portuanteau in the E. coach, which,
| alter days travelling, left me at my friend s
abode. He was himself standing at the gar
den wicket, ready to give me a cordial vel
| come. There was nothing very doathlike il
| his clear, bright eye, or in the firm grasp Of
| his hand; and l wondered internally what
the missive be sent me could possibly mean.
| However. kept my thoughts to myself, and
followed Ellis into his neat little dining room,
where the snowy tabe-cloth was speedily and
satisfactorily covered with a bountiful repast
Ample justice was done to the fare by myself,
and, despite his mortuary intention, by mine
host also. After dinner he produced a capital
bottle of port, over which We discussed many
of our former campaigning adventures
notwithstanding the fitness of the weather
(it was in the beginning of juno had caught
slight cold on my journey, which, towards
the close of the evening, made itself felt in
| the very unpleasant form Of toothache; and
the pain becoming worse, said to my host.
" think must ask your housekeeper to-
night for somo flannel and camphorated spirit
to apply to my unfortunate jaw. You, happy
fellow! can't know what toothache is. your
teeth look all SO good"
" Teeth cried my host, bis cOuntenance
changing "Teeth - he repeated, shud-
dering. "Ah you little kncw-you can't
tell''--
Whats he matter. Ellis what 90 you
mean"
"I mean tooth-an unfortunate tooth has
been my ruin, and will cost me my life 30
And rising froH his chair he paced up and
down the room in a state of the most violent
agitation. Greatly astonished, L tried, of
course, to soOth him, and to induce him to re-
veal the cause of his strange excitement
WELL" he said at last, will read for you
the will TO which you have SO kindly prom
ised to be executor"
81 had made no promise of the kind, but
my poor friend took it for granted L had done
so; and leaving the room, be speedily re-
turned with a folded paper in one hand, and
small round box in the other.
I" Liying these articles on the table he seat.
cd himself in his arm chair, pushed aside his
glass, and, making a strong effort to speak
calmly, began:
About two months since had occasion to
having speedily despatched, dircJ at the
hotel, and afterwards set out for stroll
passed through the High street, and walked
along the turnpike road, without meeting any
object Of interest whatever. shady green
lane opening to my right. invited mo to turn
into 1.-THE fragrant hawthorn in tho hedge,
and tho cool fresh grass below, Offering a plea
SAINT contrast to the hard, dusty road ON which
L had been walking. 1 soon found that this
quiet lane led to a still more quiet and peace
ful church yard and threading my way among
the rustic graves and rude head stones / NOR
allied upon them after my own fashion, if not
precisely according TO that of Gervey. had
had at one time transient fancy for the
study Of phrcnology, and still retained habit
OF examining the cerebral DEVELOPMENT of
every ono whom L met. 1t was, therefore,
with some curiosity, that picked up a large,
round, we'll bleached skull, lying on the
ground. What particularly interested me,
however, was the great beauty and regulsr-
ity of the teeth; they were all perfect, and as
evenly arranged as if they had been prepared
to decorate the window of some advertising
dentist Led by an idle impulse, which
could not then, nor can L now, account for, /
pulled out one of the grinders, put it into my
waistcoat pocket, and then carelessly throw
ing down the skull, returned TO the inn Hav-
ing partaken of tea, accompanied by some ex.
cellent mullins, went to bed, and being fa-
| tigued with my journey, soon fell asleep.
II had slept for some time, but how long
1 cannot tell, when was suddenly awakened
by the door of my room opening. In stalked a
tall figure dressed in black, with a white
neckcloth his head was large, nearly bald,
and he wore pair of gold spectacles. In his
hand he carried silver candlestick, bearing
a lighted candle, and advancing to my bed.
side, said in a menacing voice and manner
'Why did you rob NE OF my tooth g
My tongue suddenly became paralyzed;
tried to speak but could not utter word:
"' You have taken my tooth, continued the
| figure; and now take your choice. I'm no:
| OF revenseful disposition; don I want 10 say
or do anything uncivil, but one Of two things
must have, and that instantly-your life OF
the best tooth you have got in your head. Sc
look sharp and take your choice
"'I Ihe extremity OF terrol Festored ray
voice
Would it not do, sir, to restore your own
too.h ?" 1 gasped.
"No, mo-" replied my visitor, shaking his
head until the gold spectacles slipped down
| to the very point of his long nose l think
am very good natured fellow to give you the
choice; SO which will you part with-yOur life
| or your tooth? %
my tooth - exclaimed, in agony and
| Instantly the appsrition, with as much dexter
ity, as if be had been a dentist, introduced a
forcep into my mouth, and neatly extracted a
fine, sound tooth. Look here" continued Ell.
| lis, opening his mouth, ''see the cavity it has
| left
There was indeed the space from which a
large tooth had been extracted, and 1 re-
| marked that it was the ony one that was de-
| ficient in the entire range
"Well," continued my friend, 'that was
not all. The fellow pocketed my tooth, and
| then said "Now you must promise, on youI
honor as q gentleman, that you will preserve
my tooth as long as you live, and make pro
| visions TIA. after your death" And with
menacing gesture, tho proprietor of tht, dc,