Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-29
Written for TEE EVENING STAB
THE WOODLEY LANE GHOST,
A STORY OF FACT AND FANCY.
ByxlpEIEISx vISroS DAHLGREN
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BynApEIEISE vISroS DAHLGREN.
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TWAS the afternoon OF the longest day OF the
year. the 2Ist OF June and jogging along over the
splendid sweep OF Massachusetts, avenue, whose
picturesque homes are grouped around the statues
OF historic men, past Thomas Circle, past scott
Circle. reaching Dupont Circle, then by way Of
Connecticut avenue and over the city boundary
line. Dr. Rawle's buggy nnally turned into that
lovely stretch OF circling drive called woodley
Lane. The doctor was a young man, a newly
married man, Just starting into a meager prac-
tice, and quite disposed, while waiting for
more patients, 10 take lie easily as very limited
means would permit His comely girlish wife
was seated at his side, an embroidered linen Ian
robe deity tucked around her. Such Is the incon-
sequence OF youth that these two were as happy
perhaps more 50, than another two who whirled
past them In grand equipage. In fact the foolish
doctor was even as content as II he were Flooding
around town with his nired boy visiting patients
and coming doIlarS
AN, my Cynthia" said he "what an Eden
Washington would be were II not so detestably
healthy. Why, my sweet moon-nower "a pet name
OF MS, In allusion 70 hers OF Cyntnia) with more
money. you, TOO, would bloom forth In q stylish
victoria"
PRAY, dear Rufus,r she laughed cheerily, .sdon't
wish II for In such case you would not be my
driver"
"Wise words fallen from fragrant lips" was the
approving answer. Strange how all men lover
and husband alike, are magneJized by the electric
stroke Of natteryi
AT this moment, turning a sharp corner of the
winding road, they perceived An oldish man COM
Ing toward them with slow and feeble step. Al
though his scanty locks were white, he gave the
impression OF one rather bending under the weight
OF settled sadness than as II oppressed by years
Notwithstanding his STOPPING gait, 1t was evident
that he was tall OF stature, and his BEARING was
that OF Q man coDcentered upon himself, forced
back INTO orooding introspection by the strong
pressure OF stormy past As thus he tottered On.
with eyes liked upon the ground, all unobseryant,
flashing wheel OF glttering steel, noiseless and
swift, hurled past them There was, as one
might hold their breath, a forceful clash sudden
outcry, q horror-sJricken scream from Cynthii,
and The doctor with a quick spring stood beside
TWO fallen men. The reckless bicyclist had struck
the ground with such Earring whiri partially 10
stun him, but the old man, who had been thus
rutnlessIy run over, lay limp, moaning and help
less
II trust that you are not much hurt, SIR" said
the doctor, STOPPING over him, with Careful pre-
csion he made an examination. ''Oh, yes, here II
Isl compound fracture OF the hip, and. IL Is TO be
feared, internal injuries"
Meantime, CynIna ran 10 the little brook near
py and nIllng her straw nat with water, poured IL
over the mead OF The youthful wheeman, who, re-
vving, did not pause 20 Thank her. bu-, picking
hinlsfI up, best be could, remouni ed his wheel
and Was on, doubtless fearing arrest should he IT,
main and assist.
San imp OF sAtan," groaned the wounded "By
the highest One, the Spirit OF Bad has prevailed"
The doctor looked Significantly at his wife, as
much as 70 say, "Poor man. his mind wanders."
"Can you Tell me where 10 take you, slr?" in
CURED the doctor, In a compassionate voice. I'VE
Will MT you as gently as possible into my buggy,
and not leave YOU Have courage"
Courage" gasped the Old man, 'comes OF force
OF will IL Is subtle essence, IL peneITates and
oyercomeA ! WILL 10 endure-I Will point the
way"
cynthia helped her husband and together they
succeeded In placing the unfortunate, leaning
against and supported by her, IN the buggy, the
doctor leading the morse very slowly. Iue Trans
fsI the motion, were torture 10 the hurt man,
whose pailld PROV was oathed with great beaded
by sIvar mutteredhe, grinding his teeth, "my
cycle Is closing"
Cynthia shisered, but she firmly upheld the suf-
ferer amid all his delirious rawlings Yet, inco-
herent Is were his utJerances he retained sum-
Client CONSCIOUSNESS 10 point out the way exactly.
BY his direction they had turned on from WOodiey
Lane INTO the Ieney town road, " hen presently le
called out: Turn IN there, and they entered un-
kempt grounds through a shackly gate With
what a mdsterIuI command over himself tortured
and almost swoOnIng a. he was, had he guided
their progress The doctor, who nad had a season
OF training IN the hospital wards, Understood the
force VI viii this man had exerted sIylnz as n TO
himself: Most men would he in the stupor Of
dead Swoon no had borne this nervous shock and
endured his awful pall- This Is no common man."
They were now slowly ascending a hill by a mar |
row, Serpentlne and unduidtlBg road. The sea- |
sou, as We have said, was ieafy June, and THESE |
grounds, neglected they were. gIOrisd In The |
majestic growth Of a mag n.flcent 0aS forest. so
entirely was the house hidden Dy their DARK and |
towering branches tnat one came upon IL as a |
surprise, 50 unexpectedly, ana yet twas a SUBJ |
stantial, wel-DuliL OricA house OF amp.e proper
TONS here was no atteLnpt at architectural
lines, except, pei maps In square tower that was
prof. ected from the center OF the house forming A
hall OF entrance below, and small room, a. IL OF
observation. above Otherwise, the structure was
plain red-orick dwelling OF two spacious rooms,
one on each side or q wide hall below, and on the
second door were precisely corresponding rooms
with the addition OF the tower apartment ID.
rectly in front Of the building was a Knoll OF
horseshoe shape crowned by an immense red ylr-
g1nia Oak. IL stood a very sentinel tree, shooting
a skyward shalt some seventy feet, Its nneiy-
vclnedooionS leaves or vivid green, framed in and
screened the house In uInDra geous beauty IA
they passed under Its protecting boughs the hurt
man. VINO seemed 10 have grown yery FAINT during
the hard IOlIing oil the Winding ascent Instantly
revived, as II through some mysterious accession
Of strength, and upnIting ardent gaze OF yearn-
Ing tshIerness, ne extended wlue mis- arms up
raising them as II TO embrace the signing leaves
that tent over him Il come, GOMEZ" he almost
shouted win nerce eagerneso: then, as II his
very soul had gone forth Ia the supreme effort ne
sank BACK III dead swoon OF pain.
There Vas Dot soul 10 greet them. No. not
Tls strange man, then, lived alone, yes literally
all alone The doctor entered the UNLOCKED door
and ASCENDING To the tower room brought forth
small mattress, upon which he laid Tue now in
sensible form. As the DOCTORS fair young wus
ZedlOus4y Helped him, he said 10 Aer careS,lngiy
my Cynthia, now good ana brave you are" me
momentary glance he mad gwen the tower room
amazed him. IL Was evident, Us he had said that
Ills patient was no common man. Here WAS the
Den oi a natural philosopher, chemist, an as
tronomer. In Tact OF wide STUDENT o! NATURE
ILLS was MS laboratory. his workshop. Here
undoubtedly, ne performed various experiments
wItn sclentiAc precision, and through MS WELL
planted Telescope that pierced a small opening al
Justed tots Use, tine heavens were nightly read
And what, al That time, was or vital CONSEQUENCE
was the existence Of a careful Iy labeled pharmacy
evliensly experimenting extensive Invests atlons
IN CHEMISTRY.
at Is wonderful, simply wonderfulrs said the
DOCTOR. "herr are all appliances needed for treat
iSenl have yOu TuoDed AIaddln's lamp and sent
senl hltner, my nlOon-nower?" Querle1 he
lis the Pltrla" nuttered the patient They
both started lie mus nave heard AID measured
the DOCTORS words IN ais seenIn, Syncope Mean
time Dr. RASie made str nQols and successful
EFFORTS 10 revive his patient, preparatory To the
more serious operation that he knew must be at
tempted IL was not long before the Old man
spoke again
do LOT torture me- he said: .au surgery "a
useless i snail soon be dissolved. Ny work IN
this transition state Is al an end. All that now
remains Is 70 disintegrate the eartn-oound tie.
Leave me-so quicAly, and bring hlther one
learned In the Iaa. But heArken. No lugxlery
10 prestcrafI 10 as you are bid Now nasIenS
The doctor looked inQulringly his wife .Do
you dare 70 stay, Cynthia, until I come bacA?'
asked be.
Il Dare said the brave little woman. shut
hasten, Rufus, Tor the night closes IN" Her wor1is
were Calmly spoken, but her heart beat violently
I'd lighter OF Eva" said the sick man, looking