Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-11-30

time, nursing his woes and slipping
n glass of hot coghnc which he had
prepared, when he was disturbed
by n loud imperative knocking
at the front door, whereat he
snatched up one of the guttering
candles and marched down the mar
row stairs to open it. The feeble
light of the candle, when he had
done so, showed him n tall, strong
ly built man of middle age, whose
naturally fine proportions were in
creased 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 a sword protruded from the
skirts OF his coat, while his face, from
some powerful emotion, was pale
and drawn.
Are you the surgeon" asked the
newcomer, abruptly.
AT your service was the reply.
| "Come in.
The stranger oheyed, and waiting
until the surgeon had secured the
door, followed him upstairs.
| Examine mel" said he, taking off
his laced coat and standing pale and
upright before him.
"Untasten your shirt, said the
other, falling in with his strange
humor and commencing II careful en-
animation.
"Well?" inquired the stranger
when he had finished.
Sound as bell aud as hard as
oak"
Not likely to die suddenly" sug-
gested his visitor.
NO. | should think that that
would be the last thing to happen to
you, )" reDlied the puzzled surgeon.
Why. what is the matter with you?
Do you feel ill?"
NO. 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"
"Ofcourse, 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"
In have no intention of commit
ting suicide, " was the stern reioinder.
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 renowned"
The surgeon, listening to this
strange outburst, turned to the ta-
bic, and filling glass with brandy,
handed it to his extraordinary pa
tient. Twill put heart into you"
said he.
But not n soul, said the other;
and shuddering convulsively, drank
it at n draught; then placing the glass
upon the table, he drew purse from
his pocket and looked at the surgeon.
Your fee?"
Nothing. | know not what your
trouble is, but | wish much that
could help you"
I'm past all help" said the other,
sadly, moving toward the door; then
pansing. as the surgeon took up one
of the candles to light him down, he
said, in irresolute tones: AS you
shall judge. if you care to hear"
by all means, said Mortyn heart
lily, rs, replacing the candle, he poked
the fire and drew up q chair for his
visitor.
Twenty years ago, said the lat
ter, accepting the proffered sent and
leaning toward the surgeon, "my cir
cumstances wsre very different from
what they are now. Young and
strong, | had at the death of my pa
rents rejected the bread Independence
offered me by relatives, and, full of
hope | came to London to make
my fortune. 1t proved to be harder
work than had anticipated; and in
very short while | 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 food, nor did | see
the slightest prospect of obtaining
any. Added to this, was deeply in
love, though unhappily the interior
tllCc vi IhOoe VIM ssiOuiu nave bseD
our best friends kept us apart. As
crouched shivering in the garrett
which served me for lodging,
think | 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, who had
been listening with much interest.
"Have you ever heard of compacts
with the Evil One?" demanded the
stranger.
II have heard, OF such things?" re-
piled the surgeon, on whose spirits
the occasion and the stranger were
beginning to tell.
II made one" said the other,
hoarsely. "Crouclled 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 nv
mind dwelt upon it, the subject lost
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