The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-06-24
THE GHOSTS SUMMONS.
APhysician,s Story.

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, I hurried instantly into my
surgery. entered briskly, but no soon
er did I catch sight Of the figure stand
ing against the counter than I started
back, with a strange feeling of horror
which for the life of me could not COM
prehend.
Never shall I 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 was to scenes Of
terror.
"You seek advice?'' T began, with
some hesitation.
"No; I am not Ill.
"You require then
"Hushp he interrupted, approaching
more nearly, and dropping his already
low murmur to q mere whisper. ct be-
ieve you are not rich. Would you be
willing to earn thousand pounds ?"
A thousand pounds! His words seemed
to burn my very ears.
CT should be thankful If / 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,
ssTo attend death-bed. =
"a thousand pounds to attend a
death-bed! Where am I to so, 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 You are not dying
man. You are pale, but you appear per-
fectly healthy. You -
".Hush 1" he interrupted; ST know
all this. You cannot be more convinced
Of my physical health than I am my.
self; yet know that before the clock
tolls the first hour after midnight I shall
be dead man."
ssBut -
He shuddered slightly; but stretch
ing out his hand commandingly motioned
me to be silent. 81 am but too well in.
formed of what I affirm . he said quietly
81 have received mysterious summons
from the dead. No mortal aid can avail
me. / am as doomed as the wretch OF
whom the Judge has passed sentence.
do not come either to seek your advice
or to argue the matter with you, bu
simply to buy your services. I offer yor
Y G1,0 900 to pass the night in my chamber
and witness the scene which takes place
T1ho c1,,,, NOV or,,oor {r Won nv cro N +
But I have no further need to count tn.
cost Of my qualification and the spec
tacle you will have to witness is no com
mon sight of horror. ]"
The words, strange as they were, wer
spoken calmly enough; but rs the las
sentence dropped slowly from the LIVE
lips an expression Of such wild horro
again passed over the strangers fac
that, in spite Of the immense fee, / hesi
tated to answer.
ssYou fear to trust the promise Of
dead man! See here, and be convinced,
he exclaimed, eagerly; and the next in
slant, on the counter between us, lay
parchment document, and, followin!
the Indication of that white, muscula
hand, I read the words: s'And to MI
Frederick Read, of IA High street, Alton
Ibequeath the sum of 81. 900 for certai
service rendered to me"
ST have had that will drawn up With
the last twenty-four hours, and signe
it an hour ago, in the presence of con
potent witnesses. am prepared, 70
see. Now, do you accept my offer, {
not?"
Ny answer was to walk across til
room and take down my hat, and the
lock the door Of the surgery commun
eating with the house.
It was dark, icy-cold night, an
somehow the courage and Discriminate
which the sight of my own name in col
nection with g1 900 had given me hagge
considerably as I found myself hurrie
along through the silent darkness by
man whose death-bed ! was about to a
tend. He was grimly silent; but, as b
hand touched mine, in spite of the fros
it felt like burning coal.
On we went-tramp, tramp, throue
the snow-on, on, till even I gre
weary, and at length on my appalled, q
struck the chimes Of a church-cloc
while close at hand distinguished Il
snow hillocks Of churchyard. Hea
ems ! was this awful scene Of which
was to be the witness to take place YER
ably among the dead2
liz 1<N<,r n 10