St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-04

draught; then placing the glass upon
the table he drew purse from his
pocket and looked at the surgeon.
Your fee?"
Nothing. 1 know not what your
trouble is; but wish much that could
help you"
Pm past all help" said the other,
sadly, moving toward the door; then
pausing, as the surgeon took up one OF
the candles 10 light him down, he said,
in irreSOlute tones: LAS you shall
Judge, If you care TO hear?''
''By ali MEANS" said MOstyn heartily,
as, replacing the candle, he poked the
lire and drew up chair for his visitor.
Twenty years ago." said the latter,
accepting the proffercd seat and lean
ing toward the surgeon, "my circum-
stances were very different from what
they are now. Young and strong, l had
at the death of my parents rejected the
bread of dependence offered me by rel
atlyeS, and. full Of hope, had come to
London to make my fortune. 1t proved
to be harder Work than l had antici-
pated; and in a very short while l was
reduced to the verge of starvation. One
dreadful night, of which this is the
twentieth anniversary, l was half
craZed with poverty and despair. For
Two days HAD not tasted food, nor did
L see the slightest prospect of obtaining
any. Added to this, l was deeply in
love, though unhappily the interference
OF those who should have been our best
friends kept us apart. AS | crouched
shlverlng i'll the garnet which served
me for lodging, think | must have
gone little bit mad" He broke off
suddenly, as though unwilling to con-
tlnue, and stared gloomily at the fire.
"Well?" said the surgeon, who had
been listening with much interest.
Lave you ever heard of compacts
with the evil One?" demanded the stran-
ger.
~ have heard of such things" re-
piled the surgeon. on whose spirits the
occasion and the visitor were beginning
10 tell.
II made one" said the other hoarsely.
"Crouched by the empty CRATE, which
Knocked Inc with its cold bars and white
ashes, my thoughts turned, as though
directed by some unseen power, to all
that had heard and read of such COM
pacts. AS my mind dwelt upon it, the
subject lost 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
put mOmentary, and with fierce
determination l called upon my
unseen visitor to lend me his
awful aid. As spoke, the sounds sud
denly ceased, and a voice seemed to cry
in my eaI: Write, writep | dragged a
Shall table into the moonlight Which
struggled through the begrimed panes
OF the window and with my own blood
and the miserable stump of pen wrote
out the terms of an agreement with the
Prlnce OF Darkness, possessed as did
so with the horrible consciousness of
something in the room watching me. |
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 1t for sign that he had
accepted 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 should
have had aught to do with it! Since
then everything has prOspered with me.
l married the woman l loved. We have
large family. l have kept my secret
to myself. Tonight at IL my time ex-
pireS.
1.-The change in your fortune was
mere coincidence" said the surgeon,
uneasily.
Another coincidence for you, then"
said his visitor, whose face was now
livid. I'm 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, snutfed the
candles.
LAS | supposed my death would be
strictly natural one" continued the
stranger, II thought would consult
surgeon in order to see whether nv
heart was sound, or whether | was to
die, as l have said, in perfectly ma
tural manner, owing to its disease. A
Waterman whom l met directed me to
your door"
'Do you live in the neighhorhood?''
"No-at Westminster, twas the reply.
''But having put all my affairs in order,
and wishing that my dear ones should
be 10 witnesses of my death. have
been roaming about the streets to meet
it there"
"Alone?" queried the wondering sur
geon.
"I-hopc 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
the fog again?" asked Mostyn.
UNLESS you will let me stay here.''
said the other. CHANGING at him visit
fully. You are not nervous? You do
not think | shall die?"
You will die of fright if you die at
ALL" said the surgeon. sturdily. "Bnt
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 candies to snuff them
selves out with envy.
For some time they sat silent. 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 intent, busted himself with
the little spirit case which stood on the
SidebOard; and after Sundry most mu-
seal gurglings from the bottle as it con-
fided its contents to the glasses, ap-
peared in his place again with two
Steamlng pGtatlonS ana sugar bowl.
"Cognac," said he, with all it's fiery
nature subdued, now in its tranquil old
age"
Thanks" said his visitor taking the
proffered glass. The last toast | shall
drink: Long life to you" He tossed
off the contents, and again lapsed into
silence, while the surgeon slowly
smoked his long pipe, removing it at
intervals in favor of the spirit ne had so
highly commended.
Half an hour passed, and neighbor-
ing church clock slowly doomed the
hour of II. One hour more. The sur
geOn glanced 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 rist which hung over the side of
the chair, and then. returning to his
seat, sat closely regarding him, not
without casting certain uneasy glances
into the dark corners Of the room. His
II