Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-06-25

And know would In death.
So bury me In some woodland spot
Where nature draws breath.
BENTON, III.
THE GHOSTS SUMMONS. -.
APhysieian's story.
It was in the early days of my profess
sional career, when patients were scarce
and fees scarcer, and, though I was in
the act Of sitting down to my chop, and
had promised myself glass Of steaming
punch afterward, in honor of the Christ
mas season, hurried instantly into my
surgery. I entered briskly, but no soon.
er did I catch sight of the figure stand.
ing against the counter than started
back, with q strange feeling of horror
which for the life of me I could not COM
prehend.
Never shall forget the ghastliness Of
that face-the white horror stamped up
on every feature-the agony which
seemed to sink the very eyes beneath the
contracted brows; it was awful to me to
behold, accustomed as I was to scenes Of
terror.
"You seek adsicer' I began, with
some neS1CaClOn.
"No; am not ILL.,"
"You require then"
"Hushl' he interrupted, approaching
more nearly, and dropping his already
low murmur to mere whisper. II be-
ieve you are not rich. Would you be
willing to earn thousand poundsY
A thousand poundsi His words seemed
to burn my very ears.
II should be thankful if I could do so
honestly" I replied, with dignity.
"What is the service required of me?"
A peculiar look Of intense horror
passed over the white face before me ;
but the blue-black lips answered firmly,
ITO attend death-bed."
"a Thousand pounds to attend q
death-bed! Where am I to go, then ?
Whose is it?"
"Mine."
The voice in which this was said
sounded so hollow and distant that in
voluntarily I shrank hack. "Yours
What nonsense I You are not q dying
man. You are pale, but You appear per-
fectly healthy. You"
Hush |" he interrupted; II know
I'LL this. You cannot be more convinced
Of my physical health than 7 am my
self yet know that before the clock
tolls the first hour after midnight shall
be dead man,"
"But-"
He shuddered slightly but stretch
lug out his hand commandingly motioned
me to be silent. IT am but too we'll in
formed of what affirm" he said quietly ;
II have received 6 mysterious summons
from the dead. No mortal aid can avail
me. am as doomed as the wretch on
whom the Judgehas passed sentence. 7
do not come either to seek your advice
or to argue the matter with you, but
simply to buy your services, offer you
El, 600 to pass the night in my chamber,
and witness the scene which takes place.
The sum may appear to you extrayagant.
But ! have no further need to count the
cost Of my qualification !; and the spec
taole you will have to witness is no COM
mon sight of horror"
The words, strange as they were, were
spoken calmly enough; but as the last
sentence dropped slowly from the ivid
lips an expression Of such wild horror
ngain passed over the strangers face
that, in spite OF the immense fee, hest
tated to answer.
"You fear to trust the promise Of q
dead man See here, and be convinced, y
he exclaimed, eagerly; and the next in
slant, on the counter between Us, lay q
parchment document, and, following
The indication o. that white, muscular
hand, read the words: "And to Mr..
Frederick Read, Of IA High street, Alton,
! beqneath the SUM Of 81. 900 for certain
service rendered to me-"
IT have had that will drawn up within
the last twenty four hours, and I signed
it an hour ago, in the presence Of oom-
see. Now, do you accept my offer, or
pat2"
My answer was to walk across the
room and take down my hat, and then
lock the door of the surgery eommuni-
eating with the house x
It was . dark, icy-cold night, and
somehow the courage and determination
which the sight of my own name in con-
pection with Ell 900 had given me tagged
considerably a. 7 found myself hurried
along through the silent darkness by a
man whose death.bed I was abopt to at
tend. He was grimly silent; but, as his
hand touched mine, in spite Of the frost,
it felt like burning coal.
On we went-tramp, tramp, through
weary, and at length on my appalled, ear
struck the chimes Of . church-clock,
while close at hand I distinguished the
snow hillocks OF . ohurchyard. Heav-
ems WAS this awful scene Of which ]
was to be the witness to take place VERT.
ably among the dead3
Eleven" groened the doomed man,
"Graoaous God but two hours more,
and that ghostly messenger will bring
the summons. Come. come; for mer-
ey's sake let IN hasten"
There Wa but short road separating
u now from wall which surrounded 3
large mansion, and along this: We hast
ened until We reached 4 smal door.
Passing through this, in q few minutes
We ware stealthily ascending the private
staircase to ndidly.fprpished apart.
msnt, which lett no doubt,of the wealth
OF its owner. All wAs intensely silent,
however, through the house; and about
t0J0 EOOkU II 0AktAUll4k tk4ek0 wa u Dtu4.
ness that, - I gazed around. struck me
almost CHASTITY. -. 4 = r.
NV companion glanced at the clock on
the mantAI -sheH and sank into largt
chair By the hide Of the fire with . ihud
der. "Only On hour and . half longer,
he muttered, IS Great Heeyenl
thought ] had more tortitude. This hor
roe unmaps me-" Then, in . aerce1
tone, and clutching my arm, he added
"HAl you nook me-you think mt
mad but wait till you see-wait TIL YOU
seer' !. -.
I put my hand on his wrist: for their
WAS now . fever In his sunkeu eye
which checked the superstitious chill
which had been gathering over me, and
made me hope that, after al, my 6rst
suspicion was correct, and that my pa
tent WAS but the victim OF some fearful
hallucinAtion. SIS sstSss
s. Mock your I answered soothingly
Far Rom it; ! sympathize intensal,
with You, and would do much toaid yoa
You require sleep. Lie down, dleAs,
me to watch. ssss -
He groaned, but rose, and bega1
& throwing of his clothes. md. Watching
my opportunity, ] Gipped 6 sleeping
powder. which s had MANAGED q put & &
my pocket before leaving thes surgery
into The tumbler O claret that AtoQd b
side him ss5'sssss
Ths n,ces Iasx, he mors Z I'll scon
vinOAd fhaf IL go The nnr = N <clm a