The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-26
THE MYSTERIOUS WATCH.

You have no faith in the supernsturaR l
have. You do not believe in neeromaney, or
astrOlogy, or in the power OF the evil eye? l
do. The reason fer this Is, you are Americans,
descended from English ancestors, while
have German blood in my veins, and inherit
reverence for what you sneer at Were a
disembodied spirit to arise at my bedside to-
night, should question it. and own to being
frightened, while you would throw CANDLE
stick at its immaterisl head, and insist to the
last upon its being burglar in disguise. Yet,
mark me, in spite of yourself, your hair would
rise, and your blood curdle, and you would
feel what you would not acknowledge for the
world. BAH if such things have no existence,
what do our strange shiverings and shudder-
ings mean? and why do We look about US with
awe-stricken eyes when VS. PASS grave yards
after dusk? You do not you say. Are you
sure of itP l have never seer a ghost, and
cannot say desire the spectacle. There must
be an uncomfortable beating of the heart at
such sight. / doubt if many could retain
both life and reason through such an ordeal.
/ am a doctor. Years ago l was very poor
and very young. | came from my own coun-
try with my diploma, and nothing else. L
found that the great cities of the new world
were full Of doctors young and poor as was.
left them and went Westward. l settled in
the State OF Indiana. 1t was then one great
forest, with clearings here and there for fields
of corn and rude log houses. Any one led q
hard life there, and doctors, it seemed to me,
worst of all. Miles and miles of hard riding,
through rain and mud, 10 visit patients who
could pay nothing; miles back again, 10 steal
few moments o. repose before another an
nouneement of some one being "very badf' l
was skin and bones in atwevemonth, but that
was nothing uncommon in that part OF the
world. The only wonder is, that | did not
have what they called 'fever'n age,h | was
The only person free from it for fifty square
miles. However, / prospered, after a certain
fashion, and in year or two made consid-
cradle local reputation. The place was grow
ing, and my spirits began to revive.
1t was about this time that l first saw my
| watch, to which all have now to tell relates.
A cold night in November had set in. was
at supper in my little home, and enjoying it as
| only hungry and weary man can enjoy food.
| Don't ask what had it was "Cut west, re-
member. OF course, there was preparation
Of corn, and preparation Of pork, and pre-
| paration of whisky; corn meal, pork and
! whisky are the staple articles offered "out
west" l was enjoying my supper, as l have
said and loud knock at my door was not the
most delightful sound which could have bro
ken the silence. However, said "Come inr'
with as good grace as possible, and a stran-
ger entered. He was tall, broad-shouldered
man, in the dress of back-woodsman, and
his large features wore troubled expression.
1 saw at once that something serious had oc
cured.
sits bad night to trouble you to come 81
far, doctor he said, looking at me from undel
his far cap "but there's bad accident hap
pened over at our clearin', and if you kin dC
something for the poor chap, Eli be glad to SCI
it done, more particularly as | helped to shoo
him."
"Helped to shoot him. 1 said, with start
"what do you meanP'
"We took him for some kind of critter
that's how it was, answered my visitor, @no
apurpoSe, stranger. We think heaps OF him
I'd sooner hev shot myself.
knew the man spoke the truth, and, tax
ing my box of sergical instruments under M
arm, followed him to the spot where his hors
= was tied Mine was already saddled m.
little darkey knew well enough what the al
rival portended and had made him ready
We were off in few moments.
Few words were spoken as we rode alon
through the darkness. / asked whether th
wounds were serious, and my companion II
piled I'm afeard they be, doctor.s aske
if the injured man were young or old, and
ans wered, Rising forty" )" aRd then, after
lew words upon the Oaohess On sne Eoao,
relapsed into silence.
At last glimmering light told that we ha
approached dwelling, and with sho
:. "We're thar, docter," my companion spran
d from his saddle and entered the door. / fo
lowed him. The room was feebly lit by flicl
ering candles About bed in the centre we
grouped four or five men and woman, lars
and broad-shouldered as any of her mssculiI
companions. A child, too, lay crying in
1. Grads. but no one seemed to notice him. Tht
made way for my approach, and l saw fgu
stretched upon the bed. 1t was tnat of a ma
with sinewy limbs and weather-beaten FAC
His shirt was unbuttoned, and the breast Al
sleeves were soaked with blood.
"'Tain't no use, Doctor" he said, as be
e. over him :" Pm gone cocn. Doctors ST.
~ amt no account to me now.