The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-08-20

"a " AAAJ ALANhAg VI a OCt0
lily believe it was, in very fact, the
living imagsls death.
: ''The skeleton was there, immova-
bic, looking at me with its empty,
open eyes.
~ got up. / made several
turns around my o The head
followed me in all my move
ments. The eyes did not leave me for
a moment; the body remained as be-
fore, mmovable.
"That night / did not have the
courage to go to bed. | slept, or
rather remained, with my eyes closed,
in the chair usually occupied by the
skeleton.
"At daybreak the skeleton disap-
peared.
81 ordered John to change my bed
and to close the curtains.
cat the last stroke of six / heard
the rustling. saw the curtain move;
then ! noticed the extremities Of two
bony handT drawing the curtains
aside, and through the parted eur
tains / plainly saw the skeleton again.
"This time | had courage enough TO
get into bed.
THE head, which, as on the evening
before had watched my every move
ment, inclined towards me; its eyes,
which had never lost sight OF me, were
fixed intently upon me.
"You can imagine what a night /
passed. Well, doctor / have passed
twenty such nights. Now that you
know what is the matter with me will
you undertake to cure me?"
II will at least try" replied thedoc-
tor.
"How? Come tell me-"
II am convinced that the phantom
exists only in your imagination"
"AVhat difference does it make if it
exists, or if it does not exist, if / can
see1it?"
do you wish me to sect with you?"
Certainly"
"When?"
"As soon as possible, by all means
tomorrow"
very well, then, tomorrow. Until
then keep up your courage"
The sick man smiled sadly.
The next day at seven O'Clock in the
morning the doctor entered his friends
room.
well" said he, "how about the
skeleton?"
1T has just disappeared" replied
the invalid in q feeble voice.
1--WE will manage it SO that he does
not return this evening"
"Do 500
10 begin with-let me see, you say
that the skeleton enters on the last
stroke Of six?"
without fail"
Every well, then, we viii stop the
and, so saying, he fixed the
pendulum.
what are you going to dor"
81 wish to take away from you the
means of measuring the time
"Good!'
Nov, we will close the blinds and
draw the curtains over the windows"
why do you do this?"
For the. same reason. Iwishtode-
prive you OF any chance of learning
the time OF day"
do as you please, Doctor, | am in
your hands"
The blinds closed and the curtains
drawn, the candles were ordered lit.
Keep q breakfast and d~innerready,
said the doctor; i've do not
wish to have either meal at any fixed
but only when / shall call"
You understand, John?' said the
sick zaan.
Eyes, sir"
Now, then, give us the cards, dice
and dominoes, and leave u.s."
These desired objects were brought
by John, who Withdrew.
The doctor commenced to distract
the sick mans mind as well as he
sometimes talking. sometimes
with him, until at length he
felt hungry. He rang the bell.
John, who understood the reason
OF the ringing, brought in the break
fast.
After breakfast play commenced
and was interrupted but by a
second stroke of the bell on the part
of the doctor.
Then John brought in the dinner.
The doctor and his patient ate and
took coffee and commenced to
play again. The day seemed longthis
way, between two persons. However,
the doctor thought be had pretty well
measured IN his mind the time that
had passed. Finally he arose fromhis
chair and exclaimed, "Victoryr'
"TIow victory?" asked thesick man.
Certainly; it must be nearly eight
or nine o'clock by this time, and the
skeleton has not appeared"
sdsook at your watch, Doctor, since
IS che only one that is going in the
house. II, indeed, the hour has passed,
| will cry victory, like you,"
The doctor looked at his watch and
said nothing!
You were4 mistaken, wereyounoty"
said the sickman. ut is exactly six
O'Clock"
ssYes. ardfwhat then2v <