The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-13


hope, had come to London to make my
fortune. 1t proved to be harder work than
/ had Anticipated and in a very short time
l was reduced to the verge of starvation.
One dreadful night, of which this is the
twentieth anniversary, was half crazed
with poverty and despair. For two days
| had not tasted icod, nor did l see the
slightest prospect of obtaining any. Added
to this. was deeply in love, though I'M
happily the interference of those who
should have been our best friends kept
US apart. AS l crouched shivering in the
garnet which served me for lodging, |
think l must have gone little bi: mad"
He broke off suddenly, as though unwil-
ling to continue, and stared gloomily at
the fire.
"Well," said the surgeon, who had been
listening with much interest.
"Have you ever heard of compacts with
the evil ?" demanded the stranger.
81 have heard of such things" replied
the surgeon, on whose spirits the occasion
and the visitor were beginning to tell.
81 made one" said the other, hoarsely,
"Crouched by the empty CRATE which
Knocked me with its cold bars and white
ashes, my thoughts turned, as though di-
rected by some unseen power, to all that
had heard and read of such compacts As
Ivy uW6lJ upon IL, TIC buDlCCl 4OSt
much of its horror, until a gentle rustling
in the neighborhood of the fire drove me
with quaking heart to my feet. My fears,
however, were but momentary, and with
fierce determination / called upon my I'M
seen visitor to lend me his awful aid. As
spoke the sounds suddenly ceased, and
voice seemed to cry in my ear: Write,
writep ] dragged a small table into the
moonlight which struggled through the
begrimed panes of the window, and with
my own blood and the miserable stump of
a pen wrote out the terms of an agreement
with the prince of darkness, possessed,
as did so, with the horrible conscious
ness of something in the room watching
me. l 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. l
should take it for a sign that he had ac-
copied my conditions. / signed it, and
swooned. When / awoke from the sleep
into which the stupor had merged, the
sun was shining brightly into my foul
lodging, and below was 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
had aught to do with it! Since then,
everything has prospered with me. 1
married the woman l loved. We have a
large family. l have kept my secret to
myself. Tonight, at twelve, my time ex-
pires."
"The change in your fortunes was
mere coincidence" said the surgeon. IN
easily.
Another coincidence for you, them"
said his visitor, whose face was now livid.
'In the morning, when | awoke, the
agreement which had left on the table
had disappeared.
Mostyn arose, and, taking great care not
to extinguish the flames, snutfed the can
dies.
Gas 1 supposed my death would be
strictly natural one" continued the
stranger, 81 thought 1 would consult
surgeon, in order to see whether my heart
was sound, or whether | was to die as |
have said, in perfectly natural manner
owing to its disease. A Waterman whom
| met directed me TO YOUR door"
"Do you live in the neighborhood 90
"No, at Westminster" was the reply.
"But having put all my affairs in order,
and wishing that my dear ones should be
no witnesses of my death, / have been
roaming about the streets to meet it
there"
"Alone?" queried the wondering sur
geon.
"I-hope so" said the other, shudder-
ing.
"Be guided by me" said the surgeon,
earnestly. Return to your home and for
get all about this mysterious compact you
fancy you have made"
His companion shook his head and
turned to the door.
care you going to roam about in the
fog again ?" asked Mostyn.
"Unless you will let me stay here" said
the other, glancing at him wistfully.
'You are not nervous? do you think L
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 themselves out with
envy.
For some time they satsilent 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 hospitable thoughts in
tent, busted himself with the little spirit
case which stood on the sideboard and,
after sundry most musical gurglings from
the bottle as it confided its contents to the
| glasses, appeared in his place again with
two steaming potations and a sugar bowl.
! "Cognac," said he, with all its fiery nature
subdued, now in its tranquil old age"
Thanks" said the visitor, taking the
proffered glass. 1.-THE last toast / shall
drink: Long life to you" He tossed off
the contents and lapsed into silence, while
the surgeon slowly smoked his long pipe,
removing it at intervals in favor Of the
spirit he had commended
Half an hour passed and a neighboring
church clock slowly doomed the hour of
eleven. One hour more. The surgeon
| glancing at his companion to see what
effect the sound had upon him, saw that
his eyes were closed and that he breathed
| heavily. Rising cautiously TO his feet he
| felt the pulse of the strong sinewy wrist,
which hung over the side ofthe chair, and
then, returning to his seat, sat closely re-
| garding him, not without casting certain
uneasy glances into the dark corners of
the room. His pipe went out; the fire
burnt low, and seen through the haze of
fog and smoke, the motionless figure in
the chair seemed suddenly to loom large
in front of him and then to be almost OBJ
scured by darkness.
For few seconds il seemed bis ewes
closed. When he opened them tho
fire was out and the figure in front OF him
still sat in the chair, though its head had
| now fallen On ito hraast Enll of a bor,; :