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


getting gray. know, but may .outIve
you. You may get blowed up yet; and
as you will have no special use sor that +
square If you will agree to let me have it /
after you have got through with it.
This staggered Murch not little !;
and his wife was disposed to resent /
such proposition But after contem
plating Il euriously for a day or two,
both agreed and DIR. Otis gave Obed a
receipt for all services rendered, abso-
lutely declining 10 take any written
ment--laugh hingly declaring that if Obed's
word. attested by Obeds wife, was not
good for Obed's skull when he was done
using il, a formal document would be no
better.
| The curious facts in Murch's case got
| into the newspapers. Consequently,
| when he went to the large town OF Emily
vile to live, he was the object Of much
remark and curiosity, and he thought
this odd sort of notoriety rather helped
him in his attempts to win livelihood,
tor in some way or another things pros
pere1 with Kim and he got even with
the world in spite of his drawbacks
Murch had made good nany friends
in his new home, aud when Priscilla was
taken down one summer with Il fever.
there were kind and sympathizins hands
extended to help the ehillless couple in
their trouble. One of the neighbors
for doctor who had latee!y moved iutp
! EmIlyville, and had already made for
| himself a considerable name. Ubed had
had no sickness in his home aud knew
nothing of the physician of the town
aud was not a little astonished when
! the new doctor proved to be no less than
| his old friend Otis-who had Il mortgage
on the skull of his old patient The
CHEEKY doctor, however, shook him heart
| lily by the hand, aud divinlng his
thoughts. said good naturedly: Never
| you mind. Obed. you are not sent Tor
yet; aud your head is good tor as many
years on those shoulders as this one Is ON
mine" shaking his own gray locks.
| Afterwards, when the doctor came Out
of Priscilla's sick chamber, he said grave
ly to Obed: s.My old friend, your time
is not come yet, but Priscilla is called .
This was a sad blow to Obe1, and he did
not let go his hold on his beloved vile
with much resignation. Priscilla was
not gentle woman, and sometimes her
| language had been rough with Ohed !;
but she was true, loving. and honorable
wife, and her cJunsels had been his
, guide In life. So when she was passing
away and reminded him of what b" had
! owed TO DIR. Otis, he listened awe struck
! as to voice from the grave.
.tRemember,' said Priscilla, s.it it
, hadn't been for OTIS you would have
gone FIVE years before me. He saved
your life. and you musn't go back on
your promise to him. We made it
together, and if l had outlivei you
meant to see it kept. He has set his
heart ont. Whoever comes after you
must do your will III his matter" Ooed
promised he meant to keep his word,
and perhaps it was not his t,.uit that b.
: never did. And when he laid Priscilla
. in the bleak cemetery of Emily vile, he
made up his mind to write his will sn
! that his wishes might be known TO those
, who should come after him. But men
. dislike making their wills.
Prisciila's death unsettled Murch once
more !. and, selling out his little property
he went back to Puget sound, where he
had wooed and won her he had lately
lost. He took unto himself second
, wlfe-Phebe Aorey by name. Very
! different was Phebe from her predeces-
: sor. Light, trifing, vain, and superficial
she led the steady going Obed life
much changed from what he bad known
E before.
Eating his solitary luncheon at noon
one day, Obed saw the open dooI way oi
the saw mill darken, and looking up,
: beheld DIR. Otis. A little chill pas>e
: over him as he greeted his oldtirne pre-
! server, but he managed TO put pleasant
r face on the matter, and found that the
: doctor, had been, like himself, rolling
I stone, and had finally bent his steps tc
;, the new Territory as more promising
), region for a professional man. Obed was
. really bothered at tie sudden appear
:, ance of him who had claim on h.>
: head, and when he went hume to hi.
supper that night his wife pouted and
!. freIted because he was silent aud glum
: and would give no explanation therefor
4 His story had gone with him. aud durin.
the few years which had passed since be-
returned to Puget Sound, he had estab
:, lished something of an eccentric fame "a.
. "The Man with Hole in bis Head.
3 Often had he good naturedly allowed hi
prying ne1ghbors to feel the silver plat,
i under his scalp, and had showed then
;. the scar hidden among the bu>hy VIII s.
: kers that covered the puce where til,
tamping-iron had passed up through hi
T head from under his chin. Bur not ever
!. his wife knew of the bargain which h
. had made with DR.. Otis. Still be mean
!, to keep il all the same
Obed could not very well avoid meet
!. ing DIR. Otis in the little village wher
!, they both lived now and he never sav
the good doctor without thinking Of tn
+ chances which there might be of tn
= cool scientific man some day turnln
4 over his empty skull, as Hamlet nigh
: have handled poor Yorick s. And h
:, made CHASTITY joke to himself, as b
= thought of the intoxicating liquor guin
: to his brain. Only once did he nlentio
Il the unpleasant topic to the doctor; an
: il was then he suggested that he was abl
- to pay that old bill now, If the doctu
would make it out for him.