Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-02-04
towards the gate to set MS uaoauamsy AZ

tho gate to set MS unornmsy AZ
rss&
From IL srhoe to the oats ssas no great
distance, and yet II took WIN sDme time; It
seemsd a. Il the dead thtcksued around him
In the court and crossed his path ct every
step. For, first, he was suddenly surprised
by ON overpowering sweetness Of haliotropes;
1t was IS II his garden had been planted with
this flower from end to end, and tho hot,
damp night had drawn forth all their per-
fumes in a breath, Now the hsliotrope Lad
been Marjory's favorite flower. andsiucehe,
death net one Of than had sver ben Hanted
In Underground.
81 must be goingcraky,n he thought ssPoor
xarjory and her hsliotfopasw
And with that be raised his eyes towards
the window that had onos been hers. II he
had been bewildered befo:~, be wa now al
most terrified; for thsrs WA q light in the
room; the window vas an orange oblong a.
Of yors, and thecornsr Of the blind was lifted
and let tall q OF the niehtWAe hsstood and
shouted to the stars in his perplaxity. The
illusion only endured an instant, but it left
him somewhat unnamed, rubbing his eyes
and staring at the outline Of the house and
the black night behind it. While he thus
stood, and It seemed % II he must havv stood
there quite . long time, thsre came q renewal
OF the noises on the road, and hs turned in
time to meet q stranger, who was advancing
to meet him across the court. There was
something like the outline of q great c -riage
disoernible on the road behind the stranger,
and, above that, . few hlack pine tops, like
80 many plumsa
master Willf' asked the nsw conner, In
brief military fashion.
"That same, sir" answered VIII. "Can I
do anything to serve your
u nave heard you much spoken of, Master
Will" returned the other, much spoken Of
and we'll. And though I have both hands
full Of businss I wish to drink q bdesle Of
wine with you In your arbor. Before I 60 I
shall introduce myself"
Will led the way to the trellts and got q
lamp lighted and . bottle uncorked. He Was
not altogether unused to such compli-
mentary interviews, and hoped little enough
from this one, being schooled by many dis
appointments. A sort of cloud had settled
on his wits and prevented him from remem-
bering the strangene@ of the house. He
moved like a person IN his sleep, and It
seemed as If the lamp caught fire and the
bottle came uncorked with tho facility Of
thought. Still, he had some curiosity about
the appearance Of his visitor and tried in
vain to turn the Light into his face; either b
handled the lamp clumsily or there was u
dimness over his eyes, but he could maks
out little more than a shadow at table with
him. He stared and stared at this shadow
as he wiped out the glasses and began to feel
cold and strange about the heart The 81
fence weighed upon him, for no could hear
nothing now, not even the river, but tho
drumming of his own arteries in his ears.
"Here's to you, said the stranger. roughly.
"Here is my service, sir" replied Viii,
oddly. ~ '''''A'" 'A''s'
II understand You are a very positive
fellow" pursued the stranger.
Will made answer with a smile Of some
satisfaction and a little nod.
80 am l." continued tho other: land it Is
tho delight Of my heart to tramp on peoples
corns. l will have nobody positive but N.Y.
self; not ono I have crossed tho whims, in
my time, Of kings and generals and great
artists. And what would you say" he vent
on, "t l had come up hero on purpose t.
cross yoursF'
Win had it on his tongue to make a sharp
rejoinder; but the politeness of an old inn.
keeper prevailed: and he held his peace and
made answer with q civil gesture Of tbs
hand.
II have" said the stranger. "And If I did
not hold you in a particular esteem, l should
make no words about the matter. It appear.
you pride yourself on staying where you ere
You mean to stick by your inn. Now
mean you shall como for u turn with mo- il
my b%arouche; and before this bottles empty
SO you shall"
"That would be ON odd thing, to 10 sure,
replied VIII, with . chuckle. why, sir,
have grown bore like an oak tree; the devi
himself could hardly root mo up; and for al
I perceive you arc a very entertaining old
gentleman, / would wager you another bottle
you lose your pains with nc"
Tho dimness of Wills eyesight had been in,
c,easing all the while; but ho was somehow
conscious Of a sharp and chilling scrutiny
which irritated and yet overmastored him.
"You need not think, b. broke out sud.
denly, in an explosive, febrile- manner that
startled and alarmed himself, shat I am Il
stay at home, because I fear anything under
God. God knows I am tired enough Of it oil
and when the time comes for a longer Jour.
ney than ever you dream Of, I reckon I shall
find myself prepared"
Tho stranger emptied his glass and pushed
1t away from him. He looked down for
little, and then, leaning over tho table
tapped VIII three times upon tho forearm
with q single finger. "Ths time has GOMEZ
10 soid solemnly.
An ugly thrill spread from the spot h,
touched Tho tones OF his voice were dull
and startling, and echoed strangely in Will
hoart.
Il beg your pardon" he said. with som.
discomposuro. What do you mean!n
Look at me-, and you vii find your eye
sight swim. Raise your hand; it il dead
heavy. This is your last bottle of wine, Mas
ter Will, and your last night upon tho earth.
"You arc a doctor p quavered Will.
"The best that over was" replied tho other
''for l cure both mind aud body with thu
same prescription. 1 take away all pain anc
I forgive all sins; and wheremy patients hav,
gone wrong in life, I smooth out all compli
cations and set them free again upon thsi,
feot."
g have no need Of you,n said Will.
IA time comes for oil mon, Master Will,
replied the doctor, "when tho helm is takol
ont of their hands. For you, because 20,
were prudent and quiet. it has been long o
coming. and you have had long to discipline
yourself for its reception. You have sec,
what it is to DO seen about your mill; 20,
have sat close all your days like q hare in it
form, but now that IL at an eud, and,
added the doctor, getting IN his feet, ''yo,
must arise and come with mo-"