Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-20
A STRANGE COMPACT.

II. Outside a heavy fog filled the mar
rev. unsayory streets of the metropolis,
and the lungs and eyes of such unfOrtunates
as CHANGED to be abroad. 1t even invaded
the small wooden sanctums of the night
Waterman, interfering with slumbers to
which the inmates were both by age and
office entitled. Across the river, IN the
dingy, ill-paved lanes Of the borough, the
fog seemed at its worst, a light warmlsh
haze being the only indication OF the
presence of those shops which still remained
open, and around which small 1ll-clad
urchins with the most unmistakable lnten-
tions persistently lowered.
"A sweet night for footpads, muttered
young Dr. Mostyn, as he disengaged HIM
self from a chance rencountre with post,
and felt his way along by tapping with his
stout stick at the housewalls, proceeding
by which he had already severely damaged
the legs of three of his suffering fellow
creatures, and pol1ing large hole IN the
kitchen window of fourth and now,
he continued, talking to himself for the
sake of company, ''for home and supper
and a fire. All, and patient or two, per-
haps. Who knows?'
At this cheerful prospect his spirits rose,
and he banged nightly at the wall with
his stick In consequence, until at length,
coming to small street on his right, he
turned smartly down, and having made
sure Of his own door, knocked briszy at
it.
"Whos there2' cried a shril female
voice in response.
Its |, Bet, !" said her master. "Open
the door, my good girl. >
mot if know it, > was the cheerful re-
plv. "You take yourself off, young man,
whoever you are There two bulldogs
and three men with loaded guns standing
by me, to say nothing
open the door, Bet!" roared her mas
ter through the keyhole. don t you know
me?"
is it 9 o'clock or is it lip" propounded
the damsel .'because if it's II o'clock, my
ewes deceive me; and if it's clock, your
voice deceives me; for the doctor said he d
be home at II and not before; and, con-
sidering the fog, | should say good deal
after.
"Open the door, said the surgeon
sharply. I'm back already because my
patient dead. Come; open at once!"
There was a creaking and shooting of
bolts as he finished speaking; and the door,
being cautiously opened, discovered an
angular woman of some hve-and-thrty
years, whose nervous face cleared directly
she saw her master.
I'm asking your pardon for keeping
you so long, sir, said she; 'but one new
er knows who's who; and judging by the
noise and trimmings there's been rare
doings round the corner tonight.
Anybody been here, Bet?" asked the
surgeon as, ten minutes later, he sat down
to carefully grilled chop.
l. 10,
"And nice person you would be to
open the door. if an accident had arrived. :"
"Oh, | should have opened 1t at once,
said Bet, with decision. Directly they
used the word accident | should have
opened it and CHANGED it. -
Her master, smiling at her devotion,
drew his chair to the fire, and, having
carefully filled long clay pipe, fell to
smoking with an air of great enjoyment
and content. Then, thinking it extremely
unlikely that he would be disturbed at
that late hour, he dismissed his retainer
to her quarters In a neighboring house,
and being left to himself, lapsed into a
brown-study.
1t might have been the fog or it might
have been the unexpected death of his pa
tient: whatever the cause, his thoughts took
very gloomy direction indeed and he
shook his head despondingly as he thought
of his future prospects. His mood was not
made more cheerful by the room, which
was large and dark and paneled with oak,
and ornamented with battered oil portraits
of dead and gone worthless, with whom he
claimed some kinship more or less remote,
who seemed to stare at him In particu-
larly ghostly, not to say wooden, manner,
Besides all this, he was in love;
LII l,,,I
magnificent castle-in the air-and placed
her in it, than an anything but fairy land
lord called for the rent and the dream was
spoiled
He had been sitting thus for some time,
nursing his woes and slipping glass OF
hot cognac which had been prepared, when
he was disturbed by loud imperative
knocking at the front door; whereat he
snatched up one of the suffering candles
and marched down the narrow stairs to
open it. The feeble light of the candle,
when he had done so, showed him a tall,
strongly built man of middle age, whose
naturally fine proportions were increased
by the fog, which chung to them and exag-
gerated them. The surgeon noted that he
was richly clad, and also that the emboss-
ed 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 new
conner abruptly.
AT your service, :" was the reply. Come
in"
The stranger obeyed, and waiting until
the surgeon had secured the door, followed
him upstairs.
Examine met said he taking off his
laced coat and standing pale and erect be-
fore him.
''Unfasten your shirt, !" said thesurgeon
falling in with his strange humor and com,
mencing a careful examination.
''Well?' inquired the stranger, when he
ad finished.
Sound as bell and as hard as oak.
Not likely to die suddenly?" suggested
his visitor.
NO. l should think that that would bt
the last thing to happen to you, replied
the puzzled surgeon. why, what is the
matter with you? Do you feel ill?"
No; feel hale and strong, capable O.
enjoying life with the best. I've never
had an illness in my life. But for all that
| shall die at midnight"
'sOfcou said the surgeon. somewhat
provoked at all this mystery, IF you ar,
going to kill yourself, you can speak Will
more authority as to the time than any
body else.
Il have no intention of committin
suicide. > was the stern reioinder. Never
theless. at midnight my time expires. Tn
manner of nv death is unknown to me
but | shall never see the lifting of thi
dreadful blackness, which on my last nigh
upon earth has ftlv interposed itself be