The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-07-29

3
table aud chatting gaily with his wife,
Obed never spoke of the affair to him
again but often, when the unconscious
Otis was passing IN and about his home,
he would look almost sava.elY at him,
muttering TO himself = He's waiting for
my head Don't he wish he may get I
it.
Some such feeling as this, added to
his Siies opportunities, may have ln-
duced Murch TO quit the Sound country
and go to California. At any rate, for
the next few years he moved restlessly
from place to place, never staying very
long anywhere His friends and ac-
quaintances said it was pity that his
wife was OF such tickle disposition. 1t
was a. little singular, to be sure; but
Otis never dwelt long in one place and
he was so attached to the man whose
life he had saved, that he liked to live
where he lived. And SO it came to pass
that Obed fairly hated the sight OF the
good doctor; and when he had moved
to new pa2e. he waited uncaslly until
he had found that Otis was once more
near him. He knew he would come
aud though he swore suppressed oath
TO himself when he saw his old and fast
| friend at last in his new home, he was
restless and e:i getty until the doctor came
Then was NOR Sc, but tranquil
While he was living AT San Marcel.
there every indication that the time
| for Obed Murch to die had come at last.
/ lie was very sick aud what was most
unfortunate, there was no physician IN
! the place. There might be one at Red
Dog; but Red Dog was over 1.-The di~
vide, ten miles away, aud with rough
road between. The emergency was pres
slug, aud u kind neighbour was found to
mount aud ride to Red Dog to see if any
body had moved into the place to sue
coed to the practice of DR. Nc lavish,
who had drank himself into IA premature
grave and disused mining shalt one
n,ght aud had left no successor. Murch
Was very sick with horrible spasm> OF
calc, when back came his messenger
with DIR. Oti-. wine had moved into Red
Dog only week before Obed was no,
surprised in the least. and m"tioning his
vile from the room, he raised himself up
in bed. and said !; .'See here, Doc; Do
foplishne-s. now; if you don do your
level best to bring me out OF this, you
bet II fad some way to eircumvent you
yet.
Bat my dear fellow" said the doctor
with an injured air, ..do you suppose l
wouldu do my best to bring you out of
this Your time has not come yet, and if
any body car save you l can, and will
A nd he did.
When the Idaho mining excitement
broke out. Murch left his wife with the
mother of his first wife, Priscilla, then
living in San Francisco. and went to the
diygihgs He lost sight of DIR. Otis for q
while; but, with singular fatality. he
soon tIrii'te back to California, the Idaho
venture not turning out as he expected
aud he yt,ok up his abode in San Francis
co sitaT;.t-s ms bon,e with his moi her in
law. tir. Dallkins. His old friend, DIR
.Oais. was already established in good
praci ice IL she city and when Obed met
him on the street few days after his re.
turn, he winked Significantly at 'he doctor
aud said !: waiting tor me, are you =
1t was Murch who had followed Oti>
his time Aud there omen in it
One fine summer day. Obed Murch
was brought home stretcher, dunk
with apoplexy, and easpiDg for breath
iIe was laid couch, but only 10 die
and as he passed away, lie rallied for
moment, his dying eye lightnin. up az
DIR Otis entered the room. He gurging-
ly whispered don't call time, on me
yet, Doc, you may have my head to-
morrow"
Aud this time Obed Murch had reall,
handed in his checks"
Poor dear" said his wife who had
heard his last words to the doctor, ..he
vas ont OF his head at the very last
The doc'o smii d grim smiie, and saw
trouble ahead, for he knew that Obed
. had never told this no-accnunt young
, wife Of his of the compact which he hao
} made with the doctor. She was hishty
: weak -minded woman, without the leas
consideration TO, the requirements o
science and totally ignorant of ANTONY
Will preparations for the funera
) Were going IN. DR.. Otis. as gently rs posi-
! BILE communicated to the widow the par
tlcalars OF Uoed' : early accident, hi:
marvellous cure. and the promise which
, he had made to his preserver. "a nd so,
: said the indignant woman, drying he
tears for the moment, '1you want to. Gu
$ Obed's poor dead head off, and max
'natomy of him, do yeu?' The docfo
5 explained that something like this Was hi
: desire. But the widow was obstinate
I, In vain did Ots plead the sacred pgoanis
: OF the deceased; in vain did he recall th
e consent et PRISCILLA in vain did Mrs
; ilafiksas slser reiacfsntly that she hat
. heard her poor dead and gone Priscill
e say that Dr Oas had he premise o
t Obed's skull, if he lfvei long en.,ush 4
get il rightly And SO to Lone Muuntail
did Obed go. taking his head with hia
G into his sandy grave, whore be was lai'
' peacefully To rest.
The dispositio of Obed's skull prove
to be sore subject with both women
: They had never agreed well together
Z but while Dbef lived. he had manage
e to keep peace in his house Now, how
e ever, Mrs Diilkins. who thought Dl
< Otis a hardly used man. "couldn't abide
. Mrs. Phebe, who was horri6ed at ih
ghnul like proposition of the doctor. an
e determined that she would not live j
II the same house with woman who uT
held him his m m ST rnus demands IS