Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-09-02
THE WEEKLY STAR.

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| iy until late next morning / swoka fo,s,;sh
and unrefreShed, and returned home as snead;.
ly as possible. Ever since that time NV bs aIth
has slowly but surely declined; not perban,
outwardly, bot know and feel that nv hou,
will soon come. and the dread Of that hepd ,
vengeance will embitter my dying moments,
unless you, my old, tried friend, will promise
to see me buried in T church yard, and
with your own hand TO place this misc bic
tooth in my coffin"
What could do but promise The case
was one OF decided monomania-argument and
ridiculc, both of which tried, only served to
make poor Ellis angry, and he was thoroughly
L urged on him strongly.
renamed with him, for a few days and
nsd .ne pleasure OF leaving him, rs trusted,
| III oetter nealth and spirits than when We
met ana hoped that his absurd fancy, as L
deemed IT, would soon pass away. 1 was
therefore greatly shocked when, in about six
| weeks afterwards, received letter from his
old housekeeper, telling me that her master
mad died somewhat suddenly, but requested
with his dying breath that should be sent
| for Immediately
Need L say that hastened to obey the
summons Very mournful il was, certainly.
10 enter the silent cottage where had lately
met warm welcome from my poor friend. A
physician was in attendance, and pronounced
that death had resulted from disease of the
neart. de, the clergyman of the parish, snd
Ellis solicitor were all, al my equest present
at the opening of the will. After having dis
posed Of his trifing property in legscies, the
document went on 70 request that /, whom be
styled his beloved friend, should have him de-
Gently buried in the church ward of r
and follow, in all matters connected with his
instructions previously given TO me.
Inc interment took place without the oc.
currence OF anything worth recording; but sf.
ter 1t was over, felt so wearied and dispirit-
ed, that L resolved to take up my abode for
tne night at the comfortable hotel at T.
Alter dinner was suddenly attacked by nv
CID enemy, toothache, and the pain, resisting
all the usual applications, became at length
SO excruciating, that, starting up in a sort of
frenzy, L inquired for the residence of the
pest dentist In town, and speedily found nv
self in his study. Whether il was the effect
of reaction after the rapid exercise had
taken, oS the well known curative influence
Inherent Va the atmosphere Of dentists house,
Know not, but the pain 1 was suffering grad
ually abated; and when the operator entered
feit almost inclined to make a civil retreat
without putting his skill to the test How
ever, on second thought, L considered il as
well TO lay ray case before him, and try to eb
tain some soothing nostrum which might stand
me instead on future occasions. / therefore
told him how L had been affected, and casual
~ mentioned my having come a long journey
that morning: and its melancholy cause.
"Ah :" said the dentist, thoughtfuIly, "you
came from E., in Deyonshire. The nsmo
OF that v illage is associated in my mind with
curious incident which occurred TO me some
three or four months since"
Now L happen to have a decided banker
ing, whether natural or acquired, after
strange stories, and my curiosity being ex-
citod by his allusion, begged the dentist to
have the kindness TO satisfy Il
Seating himself opposite to ne, rs complied,
and began in these words:
"One night, between three and four moaths
since, was aroused near midnight by loud
knocking and ringing at the door. was Just
about to step into bed, and my servants hay-
ing long before retired to their rooms, has
tIlY resumed my clothes, and answered tho
summons. An elderly gentleman, with a mil
ltary ar and address, entered There was all
odd, staring look in his eyes, but he told mo
In perfectly coherent manner, that he was
suffering from dreadful toothsche, and wished
10 have one of his grinders extracted imme-
dia'ely. VI course ushered him into this
room, placed him Ia the patients chair, and
proceeded to examine his Jaws. / don't
think L ever saw finer or moro regular set
OF teeth-nQt a vestige Of decay could per-
csive in any Of them, and the one which he
pointed out as the offender seemed TO ms per
fectly free from disease. However lac insisted
80 strongly on having the tooth pulled out,
-
depended upon its being done, that I consent
ed, though most unwillingly, to perform tho
operation, and In a atwinkling the tooth was out.
" Having paid me my fee, the patient de-
hberately wrapped up his tooth, put il in his
pocket, rose, and wishing me good night, was
about to depart, when q suspicion which arose
IN my mind caused me suddenly to thrust a
lighted candle close to his eyes They never
biInked; the pupils were fixed and distended;
IN fact, to cut the story short, my visitor was
fast asleep; and in a ft of somnambulism,
had LETT his bed, and caused me 10 extract his
excellent tooth. As he still continued in the
trance, and it would have been dangerous 20
arouse him suddenly, prevailed upon him TO
allow me to accompany him home. He N sde
his way with unerring accuracy to the hotel
and the gates happening TO be open for the
reception of the night coach, / saw him to his
room without attracting observation
'On inquiring after him next morning,
/ heard that he had left by an early convey
ance for E., in Devonshire -
looked attentively at the dentist he was
| tall man, dressed in black, with a white
| neckcloth his head was large, nearly bald,
| and he wore pair Of gold spectacles, which
had trick Of slipping down to the point Of
his long nose whenever he shook his head,
which he did pretty frequently.
did you ever ascertain" 1 asked, "the
name Of your visitor''
eyes" replied the dentist. He took the
blank part of a letter from his pocket, and
! tore off the corner to wrap up his tooth the
remainder he dropped upon the carpet, and 1t
bore this address:
"Capt. IL. Ellis, -th Regiment,
E, Devonshire."
| friends monomania He actually died the
victim of somnambulism And such vas my
! adventure as executor Of a will.