Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-11-14
A STRANGE COMPACT.

1t was a drsary night in the winter
OF II. Outside heavy fog filled
the narrow unsavory streets Of the
metropolis and the lungs and eyes of
such unfortunates as chaneed to be
abroad. 1t even invaded the small
wooden sanctums of the night watch.
Interfering with slumbers TO which the
: eates were both by age and Office
2 We'd. Across the river. in the din
paved lanes Of the borough the
<sspsd at its ylrst. light warm
SSSbsiug thu ,,nlv indication Of
ace Of those shops which
ansSA1l1sd ofsB. and ssand which
small ill-clad urchins with most IN.
mistskabls intentions persistently no.
vered.
IA sweet night for foo!pads." NUT
tered young DR.. Mostyn. as he Olsen
engaged himself from a chance rem.
contrs with a post, and felt his way
along By tapping with a stout stick at
the house-walls, proceeding by which
he had already severely damaged the
legs of three Of his Suffering fellow
creatures. and poked large hole in
the kitchen window of a fourth.
"And now," be continued, talking to
himself for the the sake of company,
"for home and supper and fire. Ah,
and patient or two, perhaps. Who
knows?"
At this cheering prospect bis spirits
rose, and be banged nightly at the
wall with his stick in consequence,
until at length, coming to small
street on his right, he turned smartly
down and having made sure Of his
own door knocked briskly at it.
Who's there ?" cried shrill fe.
male voice in response.
"Its l, Bet" said her mastsr.-
open the door. my good girl"
mot if knowa it." was the cheer.
ing response. you take yourself
of, young man, whoever you are.
There's two bulldogs and three men
with loaded guns standing by me, to
say nothing
"Open the door, Bet l. roarsd. hei
master through The keyhole. sor :,
you know me ?"
us it nine clock or is it eleven p
propounded the damsel "because il
it's eleven o'clock my eyes deceive
me, and if it's nine o'clock your voice
deceives me; for the doctor said he d
be home at eleven and not before,
and considering the fog l should say
good deal arter."
"Open the door said the surgeon
sharply. I'm back already because
my patients dead. Come open at
once |"
There was creaking and shooting
Of bolts as he finished speaking. and
the door being cautiously opened dis.
covered an angular woman of some
FIVE and thirty years, whose nervous
face cleared as. soon as she saw her
master.
I'm asking your pardon for keep.
ing you long, cir, said she; but one
never knows who's who, and, judging
by ths noises aud runnings, there &
been rare doing round the corner to
night
Anybody been. Bet asked the
surgeon, as ten minutes later he sat
down to carefully grilled chop.
Not a soul, replied his handmai.
den.
"And nice person yoa would be to
open the door if an accident had ar.
riv H.
'Ob, ! should have opened it at
once. said Bet, with decision. 'Di.
rectly they nsed the word accident
] should have opened it and chsnced
it,
Her master, smiling at her devo-
ton. drew his chair to the FIRE and,
having carefully filled a long clay
pipe, fell to smoking with an air OF
great enjoyment and content. Then,
thinking it extremely unlikely that
be would be disturbed at that late
hour, he dismissed his retainer to her
quarters in neighboring house, and,
being left to himself. lspsed into a
brown study.
1t might have been the fog, or il
might have been the unexpected
death of his patient whatever the
cause. his thoughts took very gloomy
direction indeed, and he shook his
head despondingly as he thought oi
his future prospects. His mood was
not made more cheerful by the room,
which was large and dark. and panel.
ed with oak, and ornamented with