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

ne nad no sooner built Q magnificent
castle in the sir-and placed her in
it than al anything bat airy landlord
called for the rent. and the dream
was spoiled.
He had been sitting thus for some.
time, nursing his woes and sipping a
glass Of hot cognac which he had pre-.
pared. when he was disturbed by q
loud. imperative knocking at the front
door, wiereat he snatched mp one Of
the guttering candles and marched
down the narrow stairs to open it.
The feeble light Of the candle, when
he had done so. showed him a tall,
strongly built man of middle age,
whose naturally fine proportions were
increased by the fog. which clung to
them and exaggerated them. The
surgeon noted that be was richly clad
and also that the embossed hilt of q
sword protruded from the skirts o.
his coat, while his face from come
powerful emotion, was pale and drawn.
Are you the surgeon !? asked the
newcomer abruptly.
AT your service" was the reply.
come in.
The stranger obeyed. and waiting
until the surgeon had secured the
door followed him up stairs.
Examine me I said he, taking off
his laced coat and standing pale and
erect before him.
'Unfasten your shirt. said the OF her
falling in with his strange humor and
commencing a careful examination.
'Well?' inquired the stranger, when
he had finished.
Sound as a bell and as hard as
oak
Not likely to die suddenly P sug.
gested his visitor.
No. / should think that that
would be the last thing to happen to
you. replied the puzzled surgeon.
why, what is the matter with you !?
Do you feel ill2'
No; / feel hale and strong, capa.
BILE of enjoying iiis with the best. I've
never had - illness in all my life,
but sqrSlI that shall die at mid
night
.'Of course. said the surgeon. some
what provoked at all this mystery,
"if you are going to kill yourself, you
can speak with more authority as TO
the time than anybody else.'
I have no intention of committing
suicide was the stern rejoinder. New.
ertheless, at midnight my time ex.
pires. The manner of my death is
unknown to me, but I shall never e
the lifting of this dreadful blackness,
which on my last night upon earth
has ftly interposed itself between me
and the heaven / have renounced.'
The surgeon, listening to this strange
outburst, turned to the table, aud FILL
ing glass with brandy handed it to
his extraordinary patient. 1t will
put heart into you, said be.
But not SOUL said the other and
shuddoring convulsively, drank it at
at drsught; then placing the glass
upon the table, he drew a purse from
his pocket and looked at the surgeon.
Your fee 2
Nothing. I know not what your
trouble is; but I wish much could
halp YOU
I'm past all help said the other
sadly, moving toward the door; then
pausing as the surgeon took up one of
the candles to light him down. be
said in irresolute toDes: "As you
shall judge, if you care to hear
by all means. said Mostyn, hearth
ly. as. replacing the candle. he poked
the FIRE and drew mp chair for his
visitor.
Twenty years ago. said the latter,
accepting the proffered seat and lean.
ing towards the surgeon, "my circum-
stances were very different from what
are now. Young and strong had at
the death of my parents rejected the
bread of dependence offered me by
relatives. and. full of hope. had come
to London to make my fortune. Il
proved TO be harder work than | had
anticipated and in very short while
| was reduced to the verge Of starvs-
tion. One dreadful night. of which
this is the twentieth anniversary, /
was half crszed with poverty and dis
pair. For two days / had not tasted
food. nor did see the slightest pros.
psct of obtaining any. Added to this
l was deeply in love. though unhsp.
PLY the interfsrence of those who
should have been our best friends
kept Us apart. As I crouched shiver.