The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-11-30
coming on the 10th. l thought it would

be pleasanter for you, you know; but neve
mind; just as weleome-entirely welcome
Come into the round room; Wen hav,
supper-not word. III set these blacl
rascals to work. Plenty in the house-yo,
must be hungry. Tiresome ride by canal.
| All the while he talked the mans teetl
were clicking Like castanets, and his bod,
shook visibly.
| But Shultas, you've got an attack o
ague. / can't allow you"
Nonsense, Doc, just follow me-" ant
he smiled, showing yellow teeth tina
matched the sallow face, and affected me-
disagreeably; but, wishal, he was so polite
so elegant in address, so resolute and quick
in speech and movement, that there was
nothing to be said or done only to obey ant
follow. :,
=" am sorry there's no lady to do the
honors," said Shultas, placing the candle
under a tall glass shade, clicking his teetl
| with every word; "but be seated, ladies
you shall have a room presently
"Oh, get married, Shultas; get mar
ried,' said the doctor, jocosely; "don't lei
yonr silly pride stand in the way
The man smiled ghastly, but said moth
ing in direct answer.
pray excuse me for few moments, u
he murmured, presently, "while l look
into the state of the larder. Don't give
my peculiar symptoms the least attention,
doctor; I'm quite used to it, / assure you
indeed, it is my normal condition as you
melical men say" and with these words
he vanished.
We sat and looked blankly at each other
"Well, / declare - said the doctor s
wife,
"Inexpressibly dreary placeH' muttered
Cousin Dyas. "Just as lief be in State
prison. There's something uncanny here
feel it in my bones. A goodish room
that is, has been, but such broken plas
tering; and, good Heavens. there's a
bat p
Now if there is one thing more than an
other that / abominate-that fills me with
shuddering hate and disgust-it is bat.
| could sooner handle a serpent. l cow
cred as the black web-footed thing was
driven out of the window, and Cousin Dyas
secured the once splendid but now ragged
curtains SO as to preclude the entrance of
bug or bird, or conglomerate of both.
We had taken off our hats and outside
drapery, and sat there staring at the round
table, with its wine and fruit stained cover,
when the door opened, and a tall, elabor-
ately dressed gentleman entered. With u
graceful bow he moved toward the doctor.
81 am Lieutenant Pitkin, at your ser
vice, sir, guest at present with our mu-
tual friend, Shultas. Pleasant place, but
somewhat out of repairs at this time.
Hope you are not fatigued, ladies, with
your long journey. Rather nice, canal
boating; fine scenery. We shall endeavor
to make your visit agreeable. All ! here is
Pepperpot," as a gigantic negro entered,
bringing Il silver cruet-stand. "Pepper,
don't forget the claret.'
The negro glared at him as if he could
have taken his head off. Ny heart sank.
What kind of a den had we come to?
"Shultas is sick, said the doctor.
"Ague,' responded Pitkin, with smile
always ague. Here or anywhere, no
matter what location, always ague; it has
taken perpetual lodgings in his bones
doses with quinine, morphine, and all
drugs known to pharmacy; but this cussed
climate-pardon, ladies .-shakes a man s
heart out of him. | wish he could avail
himself of my remedy; l play. Music
hath charms, you know. The violin is my
speciality; it keeps off the blue-devils-par-
don again, ladies but the ague is the
vcry-Lucifer " and he smiled, showing
teeth as white as milk.
A centipede crawled slowly along the
ceiling. My flesh began to creep. Cousin
Dyas got up and walked back and forth
uneasly.
"Governorll be here on the 10th, rat
tied the lieutenant, evidently disappointed
that we did not call for his violin
"Shultas tried to get you word-every-
thing fixed up by that time. Plantation
deuced fine place; grows all sorts of things.
Acquainted with his Excellency?" ?"
"Ies, l know Lord Wodehouse WELL"
returned the doctor.
"Ah y The lieutenant ratified his
watch-ehain. Conversation tagged.
Sorry there's no lady here he said
after u few moments. "Of course YOU
know Of Shultas's misfortune? She is
down cellar" with a significant motion of
the forefnger.
what not buried YETI" queried the
doctor.
Pitkin shook his head, and pulled down
his soiled lemon-colored waistcoat.
Il assure you its melancholy-an un-
buried corpse in the house. l tell him a
mistaken sense of loyalty makes him too
fastidious. Keeping dead wife for six
months! It's altogether preposterous, you
know. | believe l have prevailed upon
him, however, to bury her: and why not
tomorrow He spread out his thin left
hand, on one of the fingers of which
sparkled Il large diamond solitaire
If my blood had chilled before, it curdled
now. Cousin Dyas had stopped his walk
abruptly, and stood like statue, his great
eyes fastened on Pitkin's face. The doe
tor looked yexed; so did his wife, who was
ON the point of speaking when in came
Pepperpot, followed by retinue of blacks
of all shades and sizes, their eyes rolling,
their wool in state of insubordination, as
if each particular kink protested against