Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-17


He had been sitting thus for some
time, nursing his woes and slipping a
glass of hot cognac which he had pre-
pared, when he was disturbed by a
loud imperative knocking at the front
door; whereat he snatched up 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 tall,
strongly built man of middle age.
whose naturally fine proportions were
increased by the fog. which chung to
them and exaggerated them. The
surgeon noted that he was richly clad.
and also that the embossed hilt of
sword protruded from the skirts of his
coat, while his face. from some power
full emotion. was pale and drawn.
care you the surgeon?" asked the
newcomer, abruptly.
Come i'm
The stranger obeyed, and, waiting
until the surgeon had secured the
door. followed him upstairs.
Examine mer' said he. taking off
his laced coat and standing pale and
upright before him.
"Unfasten your shirt" said the
other, falling in with his strange hui
NOR and commencing a careful exam
ination.
WELL" inquired the stranger, when
he had finished.
Sound as bell and as hard as
oak.''
mot likely to die suddenly" sug-
gested his visitor.
mo. I should think that would be
the last thing to happen to you"
replied the puzzled surgeon. why.
what is the matter with you? DO you
feel ill?"
mo; I feel hale and strong. capable
of enjoying life with the best I've
never had an illness in my life. But
for all that, shall die at midnight"
"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 any body else"
II have no intention of committing
suicide" was the stern rejoinder.
Nevertheless, at midnight my time
expires. The manner of my death is
unknown to me; but shall never see
the lifting of this dreadful blackness,
which on my last night upon earth has
fifty interposed itself between me and
the heaven have renounced."
The surgeon, listening to this
OF, n,1fh f,1r fn ho foh Ia
and filling glass with brandy, handed
it to his extraordinary patient. ''Twill
put heart into you," said he.
..But not SOUL" said the other;
and shuddering convulsively, drank it
at draught; then placing the glass
upon the table. he drew a purse from
his pocket and looked at the surgeon.
Your fee?"
Nothing. I know not what your
could help YOU"
''rm past all help" said the other
sadly, moving towards the door; then
pausing. as the surgeon took up one of
the candles to light him down. he said
in irresolute tones: Gas 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 up 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
they are now. Young and strong. 1
had at the death of my parents re-
jected the bread of dependence offered
me by relatives. and full of hope had
come to London to make my fortune.
It proved to be harder work than I
had anticipated; and in a very short
while / was reduced to the verge of
starvation. One dreadful night. of
which this is the twentieth anniver-
sary, I was half-crazed with poverty
and despair. For two days had not
tasted food, nor did see the slightest
prospect of obtaining any. Added to
this, l was deeply in love, though UNI
happily the interference of those who
should have been our best friends kept
us apart. As crouched shivering in
the garnet which served me for a
lodging, think l must have gone a
little bit mad" He broke off suddenly.
as though unwilling to continue. and
stared gloomily at the fire.
''Well?" said the surgeon. W no had
been listening with much interest.
Have you ever heard of compacts
with the Evil OneP" demanded the
stranger.
II have heard of such things" re-
piled the surgeon, on whose spirits the
occasion and the visitor were begin
ming to tell.
81 made one," said the other, hoarse-
ly. 'Crouched by the empty CRATE.
which Knocked me with it's cold bars
and white ashes, my thoughts turned.
as though directed by some unseen
power, to all that had heard and read
OF such compacts. As my mind dwelt
upon it, the subject lost much of it's
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 determin-
alton called upon my unseen visitor
al ~ ~f,,1 \