The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-10-15

sion l understood from my late hus
band, poor Sir Gibson Hardale, thai
the physician of this place was very
old man"
my predecessor was, replied Pat
bowling and seating himself on the
chair to which she pointed; "but his
successor is just as you see him-at
your ladyship's service" !" "Why she
looks as fresh and healthy as thor
ough-bred three year DID," was the
horsey rascars next thought.
"a very good-looking fellow,
thought the widow. what beauti-
ful teeth the man has, and what an
eye" Then aloud-"Is your prac-
tice large here, doctor p
"The truth is, Lady Hardale, the
benighted people about this part of
the country are ridiculously prejudic-
ed against sickness of every kind, and
they persist in maintaining a painful
state of rude, vigorous health"
"Ahl'' her ladyship smiled, 81
perceive, doctor, you are an Irish
man."
"Why, madam" he answered, am
doomed, like all my race, and, if 1
were fool enough to deny my nation-
ality. should only put my foot in
it
The young widow laughed outright
this time; the words were uttered with
so much Of that irresistible mingling
of humor and apparent simplicity
which only an Irishman, of all the hu-
man race, can compass.
"Ahl doctor, l see you are great
wag."
"Your ladyship is pleased to credit
me with that not very professional
qualification
A strange opening this for an inter
view between a suffering patient and
her medical man; so thought Pat
Callahan, and he Immediately rejoin-
ed
"Pardon me your ladyship sent
for me, and your servant told me you
were seriously i'll. l am seriously
happy to perceive that you look much
better than [ had been prepared to
expect"
''Let me feel your pulse. What a
lovely white dimpled hand she has p
thought the model OF physician -
Permit me to look into your eyes.
Ha dangerous practice that Pat CAL
lananl Those glorious eyes met his
with a glance that made his heart
jump and his hand tremble, and fell
rgain, whilst the hot flush came to her
cheek once more. "Rapid pulse, SEN
sitive organization, keen, nervous tenn
perment," the humbug softly said,
and then--"Your ladysbip will excuse
me for saying that, whilst l find no
touch Of organic disease whatever,
your ailment must be traceable to some
mental cause"
"That's it, she answered. "How
clever you are. Yes, doctor, l have
received a terrible mental shock. Sit
down again and let me relate to you
the circumstances. Doubtless, you
have heard that this house is haunt
ed
"Yes,'' replied Pat, ':there has been
some absurd story of the kind pre-
valent amongst the country people,
But surely such nonsense is not cred
tied by an intellect evidently SO su-
perior as thBt of Lady Hardale ?"
"Really, DOCTOR" said the widow,
with a smile, "you have strange way
of flattering. Gentlemen generally
say pretty things about lady's eyes,
her beauty and all that. But l was
never before complimented on my in
tellect."
Il can't presume to rival so true a
painter as Lady Hardale's mirror
answered the impudent scamp. "But
1 know that only intellect aud true
artistic taste could haYe ordered the
furnishing of such a chamber as
this"
"The man has generous taste,
thought the gratifed young widow
"He is evidently an educated gentle
man. Then aloud-"But, indeed,
doctor, if such thing as ghost be
possible, I must have seen one last
night.''
"You surprise me.
"Pray, listen. I have chosen for
my use a suite of rooms in this wing,
because they face the south, aDd are
the only rooms in this gloomy build
ing which made any approach to
cheerfulness. Last night | remained
up somewhat later than on any previ-
Gus one of the few nights 1 have been
here and when l retired to bed !
felt unusually restless, and could not
sleep for a considerable time At
last-,it was more than an hour after
midnight drowsy feeling came over
me; and l was sinking off to sleep,
when 1 startled by a sudden flash that
filed the whole room with a strange,
rale, phosphorescent light. I start
ed up in a alright, and was Mortified
to behold a tall figure, with out
stretched arms and hldeously CHASTITY
Visage, approaching the bed. The
phosphorescent light was horribly
clear around it; and the hollow jaws
of the phantom opened with some
low, iDartieulate sounds. I tried to
scream out /; l could not; and l sank
back in a swoon. When | recovered,
the room was in a state of utter dark
ness"
"Ah r. muttered Pat, "a curious
case of nightmare
"No, no, doctor" cried Lady Har-
dale eagerly, and she looked really
frightened now. II was as completely
awake as 1 am at this very moment
And l may mention that strange
odor, which accompanied the phan-
tom, still fingered in the room when ]
returned to consciousness"
"An odor-a smell p said Callahan.
That's odd.--A novel feature in
ghost to which l must call the atten-
lion of Professor Pepper when 1 nexi
60 up to London. A person named
Macbeth, of whom your ladyshiT
must have read, talks of the eyes be-
ing made fools of by the other senses, ,ol
something of that sort. In your lady
ships case, the eyes and nose were
joint victims to the same delusion."
Pray, doctor, don't jest" said the
young widow, rather testify. "Thi:
thing has been no joke with me. ]
have sustained a cruel fright, and il
this horrible thing be renewed, I will
hasten back to London at once"