Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1880-07-24
THE GHOSTS SUMMONS.
PhysiCiRn's story.

II was in the early days of nv profcs-
sional career, when patients were scarce
and fees scarccr, and. though l was in
the act of sitting down to my chop. and
had promised myself glass of steamine
punch afterward, in honor of the Christ
mas season, hurried instantly into my
surgery. entered briskly, but no soon
er did I catch sight of the figure stand
ing against the counter than l started
back, with a strange feeling of horror
which for the life of me could not COM
prehend.
Never shall forget the ghastlincss 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 was to scenes OF
terror.
"You seek advice2" began, with
some hesitation.
"No; am not ILL.,"
"YOu require then"
"Hush!" he interrupted, approaching
more nearly, and dropping his already
low murmur to a mere whisper. 81 be-
lieve you are not rich. Would YOU be
willing to earn thousand pounds?"
A thousand poundsl His words seemed
to burn my very ears.
II should be thankful If I could do so
honestly" 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,
"To attend death-bed."
"A thousand pounds to attend
death-bed! Where am I TO 60, then
Whose is it?'
"Mine."
The voice in which this was said
sounded so hollow and distant that in
voluntarily l shrank hack. "Yours
What nonsense! Ycu are not a dying
man. You are pale, but you appear per-
fectly healthy. You"
",Hush /" he interrupted; 81 know
all this. You cannot he more convinced
Of my physical health than I am my
self vet know that before the clock
tolls the first hour after midnight shall
be dead man."
"But ="
He shuddered slightly; but stretch
ing out his hand cOmmandingly mOtiOned
me to he silent. 81 am but too well in
formed of what l affirm" he said quietly;
81 have received mysterious summons
from the dead No mortal aid can avail
me. I am as doomed as the wretch on
whom the Judge has passed sentence. /
do not come either to seek your advice
or to argue the matter with you, but
simply to buy your services. offer you
4l, 900 to pass the night in my chamber,
and witness the scene which takes place.
The sum may appear to You extravagant.
But have no further need to count the
cost of my qualification and the spec
tacle you will have to witness is no COM
mon sight of horror"
The words, strange MS they were, were
spoken calmly enough; but as the last
sentence dropped slowly from the livid
lips an expression of such wild horror
again passed over the strangers face
chat, in spite of the immense fee. hesi-
tated to answer.
"You fear to trust the promise of q
dead man See here, and be convinced"
he exclaimed, eagerly; and the next in
slant, on the counter between us, lay
parchment document, and, following
the indication of that white, muscular
hand, read the words: And to Mr..
Frederick Read, of IA High street, Alton,
bequeath the sum of 81. QUO for certain
service rendered to me-"
"I have had that will drawn up within
the last twenty-four hours, and signed
it an hour ago, in the presence of COM
petent witnesses. l am prepared, you
see. Now, do you accept my offer, or
not?"
NV answer was to walk across the
room and take down my hat, and then
lock the door of the surgery communi-
eating Nth the house.