The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-05-31
4 DOCTOR GHOST STORY.

story when tell it to you. NOBODY ever
did-becauss it is so unreal you know
some people only shake their heads and
smile when they hear ii. the same as if I
we're trying to impose on their credulity.
while others set me down as the victim of
too keen an imagination. II makes but
little difference to me what they say or
think--the story is true for all that. am
an old man now-nearly seventy years hay-
ing come and gone since first saw the
highland, with one foot in the grave, / am
sure would not tell wilful falsehood !;
and, in spite of the trouble have had, my
mind il as strong to-day as it was fifty years
ago, and, in that respect, was neUer con-
sidered weak. However, will relate the
story:
loved Amy Merlin from the first. Not
only for her pretty brown eyes, wavy,
golden hair and trim little figure, but for
her amiable disposition and kind heart.
You might look the world over from one
end to the other, and never find girl to
compare with Amy, either in point of beauty
or sweetness of disposition. Amy loved me,
too; she not only said SO, but her every
action clearly showed it; and everybody in
the town said ] was remarkably fortunate
being but poor young doctor to win the
love of such girl, who could have had her
pick from the best in the land, as her father
was the wealthiest man in all the country
around fully appreciated nay good for
tune, and was happy accordingly. But my
happiness was not to be of long duration,
and the course of the love that had run SO
smooth was destined to become exceeding
rough.
About this time Ralph Clayton, a wealthy
merchant of high standing, met and lost
his heart to Amy, and became constant
visitor to her home. While was assured
of Amy's love and esteem, was positive
that her father held quite different opin-
ion of me. and he soon made it evident
that my attentions to his daughter were
distasteful TO him. He always welcomed
Clayton warmly, and bestowed upon him
every attention, while was treated with
freezing politeness. All, money is a won
derful power. Clayton was pompous
man, some half dozen years my senior, and
and on account of my inferior financial pc
sition in the werld he always treated me
with considerable condescension. One day
az we turned from q visit to the Merlin
mansion he said to me:
Conway. think Amy Merlin one of the
INCEST girls ever met. She would make
model wife, and am going to marry her.
What do you think of it ?"
eWhy," replied, while the hot blood
rushed to my cheek. 81 think she never
will be your wife, because she loves and is
engaged to me"
ssOhs that is nothing" he cody answer
ed. "Her father approves of me, and, it
is very plain, desires me for son-in-law;
but you he doesn't like at all. Amy Is
very dutiful girl, and don't think the old
man will have any trouble in gaining her
consent to marry me-"
ssBut," said I, s'would you marry wo-
man who does not love you, but whose
heart is another's?"
.sThat," he replied, sis small matter.
Love doesn't amount to much where filthy
lucre is plenty. | could learn her, / think,
to esteem me in time"
Ihad never liked the man, now I fairly
despised him, and it was with mighty ef-
fort that restrained myself from knock
ing him down.
Amy had always been in the habit of
meeting me, when called, under spread
ing maple some distance from the house.
SO the next day after my conversation
with Clayton went to see her and he
met me at the usual place. After few
commonplace remarks, told her what
Clayton had said to me.
ooh, Paul ?" she fervently exclaimed, ST
pray that my father will not desire me to
marry that man; for do not love him
can not love him; but If my father bids me
marry him dare not disobey. But let us
pray that he will not make any such re-
quest-for love you, Paul-only you
and believe should die if were sep
arated from you"
While did not exactly like the way she
replied, / could not find the heart to be
angry with her, for I really believed she
loved me; 80 folded her in my arms and
warmly kissed her and assured her of my
trust in her. I returned to the village
feeling anything but buoyant, and passed
sleepless night.
A few days after that received q note
from old Mr.. Merlin, also one from Amy.
The old man, in a few words, informed me
that his daughter was soon to marry
Ralph Clayton, and babe me discontinue
my attentions to her, Amy wrote tear
full little note, returning the ring l had
given her, and saying she loved only me,
but duty and obedience to her father
compelled her to renounce me and marry
Mr.. Clayton; that she thought it best
never to see me again, and closed by be-
seeching me to forgive her.
rage was to take place, and took no par
ticular pains to find out. That night
boarded train for distant town, where
intended to locate and strive to forget
the heartless girl-as I then thought her
who had treated me SO cruelty.
did well in my new home, and, though
the wound in my heart was past healing, it
was not so sore as at first; time, in meas
ure had deadened the pain. A year and
more had gone by, and in all this time l
had never had any tidings of Amy.
scanned the papers closely, but I never
saw any account of the marriage. thought
all this very strange, but could not doubt
that the marriage had been consummated.
After q time ceased to look at the papers
altogether, and devoted myself strictly to
my profession. One night, as I sat alone
In my Office, swrapt in thoughts of the
past, O boy entered unnanounced and
handed me telegram. lost no time in
reading it, and found it to be from old Mr.,
Merlin, and contained these words:
"Amy is very Ill and desires to see you.
Come Immediately"
! did not stop to think over this strange
message. I only knew my darling mime
in spite Of the past-was ill-probsbly dy-
ing lend wished to see me. / never once
thought of her being another mans wife.
] would 60 to her, of course. All the Bit
terness I had felt toward the poor little girl
left me, and the love for her that had
partially smothered surged over and
through me with renewed vigor.
My preparations were hastily made, and
the next train that left the town carried
me as passenger aboard. My suspense was,
indeed, terrible. Time never dragged his
length along so slowly. 1t was early morn
ing when started on my journey, and the
darkness of night was setting over the world
when reached my destination. No one
was st the station to me. and without los