The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-06-24

On the grave Of . woodland kingl
For hate monotony in life.
And know would In death.
30 bury mo In some woodland spot
BENTON, Ill
THE GHOSTS SUMMONS.
APhysician's Story.
It was in the early days of my profess
sional career, when patients were scarce
and fees scarcer, and, though 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. I entered briskly, but no soon
er did catch sight of the figure stand
ing against the counter than I started
back, with q strange feeling of horror
which for the life of me 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 advice?' : began, with
some hesitation.
"No; I am not ILL.,"
"You require then"
"Hush!" 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 a thousand pounds ?"
A thousand pounds! His words seemed
to burn my very ears.
II should be thankful if could do 80
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 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 shrank hack. "Yours |!
What nonsense You are not diving
man. You are pale, but you appear per-
fectly healthy. You"
",Hush !" he interrupted; II know
all this. You cannot be more convinced
of my physical health than I am N.Y.
self yet I know TINT before tho clock
tolls the first hour after midnight / shall
be dead man."
"But-"
He shuddered slightly F.; but stretch
ing out hishand commandingl motioned
me to be silent. II am but too we'll in
formed Of what affirm, he said quietly
II have received G mysterious summons
from the dead. No mortal aid can avail
me. am as doomed as the wretch on
whom the Judge has passed sentence. I
do not come either to seek your advice
or to argue the matter with you, but
simply to buy your services. offer you
FL 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 as 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
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"
he exclaimed, eagerly; and the next in
slant, on the counter between us, lay a
parchment document, and, following
the indication of that white, muscular
hand, I read the words: "And to Mr..
Frederick Read, of IA High street, Alton,
I bequeath the sum of 81. 600 for certain
service rendered to me-"
II have had that will drawn up within
the last twenty-four hours, and signed
it IN hour ago, in the presence of COM
potent witnesses. I am prepared, you
SEQ. Now, do you accept my offer, or
notY'
Ny answer was to walk across the
room and take down my hat, and then
lock the door of the surgery communi-
eating with the house.
It was a dark, icy-cold night, and
somehow the courage and determination
which the sight of my own name in con-
nection with FL, 900 had given me tagged
considerably as I found myself hurried
along through the silent darkness by O
man whose death-bed I was about 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
the mow-on, on, till even I grew
weary, and at length on my appalled, ear
struck the chimes of q church clock,
while close at hand I distinguished the
snow hillocks of churchyard. Heav-
ensl was this awful scene of which ]
was to be the witness to take place VERT
ably among the dead2
eleven" groaned the doomed man,
"0racaous God but two hours more.
and that ghostly messenger will bring
tho summons. Come, come for mer-
cys sake let u hasten"
There was but short road separating
10 new fr0m will which surrounded a
large mansion, and along this we hast
ened until we reached a small door.
Passing through this, in few minutes
W were stealthily ascending the private
staircase to q splendidly furnished apart
ment. which left no doubt OF the wealth
Of its owner. All was intensely silent.
however, through the house and about
this room in particular there was a still
ness that, a. I gazed around, struck me
a1moet ghaStly.
Ny companion glanced at the clock on
the mantel-sheH and sank into large
char BY the side of the fire with shud-
den. "Only On hour and a half longer, I"
he muttered. "Great Heaven! I
thought had more fortitude. This hor-
ror unmans me-" Then, in a fiercer
tone, and clutching my arm, he added.
Hsi You mock me-you think me
md but wait till you 'ee-wait till you
I put my hand on his wrist; for there
d ~ now fever in his sunken eyes
which checked the superstitious chill
5SS:vl11,rich had bean gathering over me, and
No hope fhat, after oil, my first
3 ieiioawa correct, and that my pa
vlaSsbut tn victm Of some fearful