The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-12-16
CALLED BY A GHOST

- anC6u, sra patent.
1t was in the early days of my profess
| sional career when patients were scarce;
and though i was in the act of sitting
down to my chop, l hurried instantly
into my surgery.
entered briskly; but no sooner did
catch sight OF the figure standing lean
ing against the counter than l started
back with strange feeling of horror.
Never shall 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 L was to
scenes of terror.
"You seek advice" l began, with
some hesitation.
mo; am not ILL"
"You require them
"Hushp he interrupted, approaching
more nearly and dropping his already
low murmur to mere whisper. 81 be-
lieve you are not rich. Would you be
willing to earn thousand pounGsY'
az should be thankful, If / could do
so honestly" l replied with dignity.
"What is the service required of me?'
A peculiar look of intense horror
passed over the white face before me,
but the blue-black lips answered firmly.
ITO attend deathbed."
"a thousand pounds to attend death
bedi Where am l to go, then-whose
is it?"
mime"
The voice in which this was said
sounded so hollow and distant that in
voluntarily shrank back. "Yoursl
What nonsense! You are not a dying
man. You are pale, but you appear
perfectly healthy. YOU
"Hush!' he interrupted; Il know all
this. You cannot be more convinced
of my physical health than am myself;
yet l 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 affirm" he said quiet
ly; 81 have received a mysterious sum-
mons from the dead. No mortal aid
can avail me. l 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 81, 900 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 expires
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
81 %kx,
of that white, muscular hand l read the
words, "And to Mr.. Frederick Read, Of
IA High street, Alton, l bequeath the
sum of 81 900 for certain services rem
dered to me-"
81 have had that will drawn up with
In the last twenty-four hours, and
signed it an hour ago in the presence of
competent witnesses. l am prepared,
you see. Now do you accept my offer or
not?''
Ny 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.
1t was a dark, icy cold night, and
somehow the courage and determination
which the sight of my own name in con-
nection with a thousand pounds had
given me tagged 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, 1t
felt like burning coal
On we went-tramp, tramp, through |
the snow-on, on, till even i grew weary,
and at length ON my appalled, ear struck |
the chimes of a church clock, while close |
at hand distinguished the snowy hill |
locks of churchyard.
Eleven" groaned the doomed man. |
Gracious God! but two hours more |
and that ghost messenger will bring the |
summons. Come, come; for mercy's |
sake, let us hastenp
There was but a short road separating |
us now from a wall which surrounded a |
large mansion, and along this we has
tened until we reached 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 a shudder. "Only |
an hour AMI half longer" he NUT
tered. "Great heavenl l thought had
more fortitude. This horror humans
me-"
put my hand on his wrist, for there
was now a fever in his sunken eyes
which checked the superstitious chill
which had been gathering over me and
made me hope that after all my first
suspicion was correct and that my pa
tient was but the victim of some fearful
and, watching my oppor
tunity, slipped sleeping powder which
had managed to put in my pocket be-
fore leaving the surgery into the tum-
bier of claret that stood beside him.
1t was with sincere satisfaction saw
him drink the wine and then stretch
himself on the luxurious bed.
"Ha," thought L. as the clock struck
I2, and instead OF q groan the deep
breathing Of the sleeper sounded through
the room, "'you won't receive any sum-
mons tonight, and may make myself
comfortable.
Noiselessly l replenished the fire,
poured myself out a large glass of wine,
md, drawing the curtain so that the fire.
light should not disturb the sleeper,
put myself in a position to follow his ex-
ample. How long l slept know not,
put suddenly 1 aroused with start and
/ thrill of horror.
Something-what, l knew not-seem-
ID near, something nameless, but unut-
;erably awful.
The Ere emitted faint blue glow,
lust saf1loient 10 enable me % SEQ thas