Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-11-14
''1sll4 said the surgeon who had

been listening With much interest.
Have you ever heard of .compacts
with the Evil 0ue7' demanded the
stranger.
i have heard OF such things. re.
piled the surgeon, on whose spirits the
occasion and the visitor were begin.
ming TO tell
Il made one. said the other, hoarss-
ly. 'Crouchsd by the empty crate.
which mocked me with its cold bars
and white ashes. my thoughts turned,
as though directed by some unseen
power. to all that I had heard and
read of such compacts. As my mind
dwelt upon it. the snbjsct lost much
Of its horror, until q gentle ru.tling
in the neighborhood of the fire drove
me with quaking heart to my feet.
My fears, however, were bu. momen.
tary. and with fierce determination
called upon my unseen visitor to lend
me his sawful aid. AsIspoke the sounds
suddenly ceased. and voice seemed
to cry in my ear: Write, write + I
dragged a ANAL table into the noon.
light which struggled through the be.
grimmed panes of the window, and
with my own blood and the miserable
stump of Pen wrote out the terms of
an agreement with the Prince of
Darkness, possessed. as | did 80. with
the horrible consciousness of some.
thing in the room watching me, I
vowed that if for twenty years he gave
me wealth and the possession Of her
whom / loved better than my own
life, my soul should be the forfeit. IF
the next morning brought change of
fortune. | should take it for sign
that he had accepted my conditions.
| signed it, and swooned. When I
awoke from the sleep into which the
stupor had merged the sun was shin.
ing brightly into my foul lodging. and
below was a messenger who brought
me news of large fortune which had
fallen to me through the death Of an
uncle. God forbid that my rash VOW
should have had ought to do with it
Since then. everything has prospersd
with me. i married the woman I
loved. We have a large family. I
have kept my secret to myself. To.
night, ct IL. my time expires.
The change in your fortunes was a
mere coincidence said the surgeon
uneasily.
Another coincidence for You. then,'
said his visitor, whose face was now
livid. In the morning. when / awoke.
the agreement which / had left on the
table had disappeared
Mostyn rose and taking great care
not TO extinguish the flames snuffsd
the candles.
AS supposed my death would be
a perfectly natural one, continued the
stranger, / thought would consult a
surgeon, in order TO see whe.he my
heart was sound or whether was to
die as / have said, in a perfectly
natural manner owing TO its disease.
A watchman whom / met directed me
to your door.
DO you live in the neighborhood 2
No. at Westminster was the reply.
But having put all my affairs in
order. aud wishing my dear ones should
be no witness of my death, have
been roaming about the streets to
meet it there
'AloneT queried the wondering
surgeon.
Hope SO. said the other, shud.
dering.
BE guided by me. said the surgeon
earnestly. Return to your home and
forget all about this mysterious com.
pact you fancy you have made
His companion shook his head and
turned TO the door.
Are you going TO roam about in the
fog again 2 asked Mostyn.
Unless you will let me stay here
said the other. glanciDg at him wist.
fully. You are not nervous2 you do
not think shall die?
'You will die of fright if you die at
all, said the surgeon sturdily. But
stay, and welcome if you will. And
to avoid the thanks of his guest he
poked the FIRE until the resulting blaze
almost caused the candles to snuff
themselyer out with envy.
For some time they sat sile0t. The
streets were now entirely deserted,
and no sound save the Pickering Of the
FIRE disturbed the silence of the room.
Then the surgeon arose and upon hos
pitable thoughts intent, busted him
self with the little spirit case which
stood ON the sideboard: and after