Connecticut western news., 1892-09-29
CALLED BY A GHOST.

It was in the early days of my profes- sional career when patients were scarce; and though was in the act of sitting down to my chop, hurried instantly into my surgery.
 I entered briskly; but no sooner did l catch sight of the figure standing lean- ing against the counter than 1 started back with strange feeling of horror.
 Never shall I forget the ghastliness of that face-the white horror stamped up on every feature-the agony which seemed to sink the very eyes beneath the contracted brows; it was awful to me to behold, accustomed as I was to scenes of terror.
 "You seek advice," I began, with some hesitation.
 "No; am not ill"
 "You require them
 "Hush" he interrupted, approaching more nearly and dropping his already low murmur to mere whisper. "I be- heve you are not rich. Would you be willing to earn thousand pounds?"
 ''I should be thankful, if I could do SO honestly" I replied with dignity. "What is the service required of meY'
 A peculiar look of intense horror passed over the white face before me, but the blue black lips answered firmly, gro attend deathbed." s...
 "A thousand pounds to attend death bedl Where am l to go, then-whose is it?'
 "Mine."
 The voice in which this was said sounded so hollow and distant that in- voluntarily l shrank back. "Yoursl What nonsensel You are not dying man. You are pale, but you appear perfectly healthy. You
 "Hush" he interrupted; 'I know all this. You cannot be more convinced of my physical health than am myself; yet know that before the clock tolls the first hour after midnight shall be dead man."
 "But"-
 He shuddered slightly; but stretching out his hand commandingly, motioned me to be silent. II am but too we'll in- formed of what 1 affirm," he said quiet ly; ''I have received mysterious sum- mons from the dead. No mortal aid can avail me. I do not come either to seek your advice or to argue the matter with you, but simply to buy your serv- ices. l offer you e1 ,000 to pass the night in my chamber and witness the scene which takes place."
 The words, strange as they were, were spoken calmly enough, but an expres sion of such wild horror again passed over the strangers face that in spite of the immense fee hesitated to answer. / He placed before me a parchment document, and following the indication of that white, muscular hand read the words, "And to MT. Frederick Read, of IA High street, Alton, I bequeath the sum of e1 ,0OO for certain services rem dered to me-" .
 "I have had that will drawn up with in the last twenSy-four hours, and signed it an hour ago in the presence of competent witnesses. 1 am prepared, you see. Now do you accept my offer or not?"
 My answer was to walk across the room and take down my hat, and then lock the door of the surgery communi- eating with the house.
 It was dark, icy cold night, and somehow the courage and determination which the sight of my own name in con- nection with thousand pounds had given me Jagged considerable as found myself hurried along through the silent darkness by man whose deathbed was about to attend.
 He was grimly silent, but as his hand touched mine, in spite of the frost, it felt like burning coal.
 On we went-tramp, tramp, through the snow-on, on. till even grew weary, and at length on my appalled, ear struck the chimes of church clock, while close at hand 1 distinguished the snowy hill locks of churchyard.
 Eleven" groaned the doomed man. Gracious Godl but two hours more and that ghost messenger will bring the summons. Come, come: for mercy's sake, let us hastenr'
 There was but short road separating us now from wall which surrounded a large mansion, and along this we has | tened until we reached a small door.
 Passing through this we stealthily as | cended the private staircase to splen | didly furnished apartment.
 All was intensely silent, however through the house. My companion | glanced at the clock on the mantel shelf and sank into large chair by the side of the fire with shudder.- "Only an hour and half longer" he nut tered. Great heaven! thought I had I more fortitude. This horror unman: me-"
 | I put my hand on his wrist, for there was now 8 fever in his sunken eye' which checked the superstitious chil which had been gathering over me anC made me hope that after all my frs suspicion was correct and that my pa tient was but the victim of some fearfu hallucination, and, watching my oppor tunity, slipped sleeping powder whicl had managed to put in my pocket be fore leaving the surgery into the tum bier of claret that stood beside him.
 It was with sincere satisfaction l say
 him drink the wine and then stretcl
 himself on the luxurious bed.
 "Ha," thought I, as the clock strucl 12, and instead of 8 groan the deeI breathing of the sleeper sounded througl the room, "you won't receive any sum mons tonight, and I may make mysel comfortable"
 Noiselessly I replenished the fire poured myself out large glass of wine
 and, drawing the curtain so that the fire
 light should not disturb the sleeper,
 put myself in position to follow his ez
 ample. How long I slept know not
 but suddenly aroused with start am
 thrill of horror.
 Something-what, l Ew not-seem sdnaae, ssultaius nanaslsss, but unaI