Connecticut western news., 1892-09-29

the TOOm was 6AdCIly tue Sdlle dS Wucu I fell asleep, but that the long hand of the clock wanted but five minutes of the mysterious hour which was to be the death moment of the summoned" mani
 The silence was intense.
 could not even hear a breath from the bed, and I was about to rise and ap- proach, when again that awful horror seized me, and at the same moment my eye fell upon the mirror opposite the door, and I saw an awful shape-ghastly mockery of what had been humanityi
 It stood there in visible death clothes; but the awful face was ghastly with cor ruption, and the sunken eyes gleamed with green, glassy glare which seemed veritable blast from the internal fires below.
 saw that horrid shape move slowly toward the bed. What was the awful scene enacted there know not. I heard nothing except low, stihed, agonized groan, and I saw the shadow of that ghastly messenger bending over the bed.
 For an instant the shadow of claw like hand, from which the third finger was missing, appeared extended over the doomed mans head, and then, as the clock struck one clear silvery stroke, it fell, and wild shriek rang through the room. ..-.. -..-l
 am not given to fainting, but cer- tainly confess that the next ten minutes of my existence was cold blank, and even when did manage to stagger to my feet gazed around, vainly endeav- f0 fhn oh which still possessed me.
 Thank Godl the room was rid of that awful presence. saw that; so, gulping down some wine, I lighted wax taper and staggered toward the bed. But one glance was sufficient.
 Even as I gazed the expression of the face seemed to change, the blackness faded into deathly whiteness, the con- vulsed features relaxed and, even as if the victim of that dread apparition still lived, a sad, solemn smile stole over the pale lips.
 was intensely mortified, but still I retained sufficient self consciousness to be struck professionally by such phe- nomenon.
 Again scrutinized the dead face, and even the throat and chest, but with the exception of tiny pimple on one tenn pie beneath cluster of hair not mark appeared.
 As noiselessly as I could I made my way out of the house. No one met me on the private staircase; the little door opening into the road was easily unfast- ened. and thankful indeed was to feel again the fresh wintry air as 1 hurried along the road by the churchyard. There was magnificent funeral soon in that churchyard; and it was said that the widow of the buried man was in consolable; and then rumors. got abroad of horrible apparition which had been seen on the night of the death; and it was whispered the young widow was terrified and insisted upon leaving her splendid mansion.
 T was too mystitied with the whole affair to risk my reputation by saying what knew, and I should have allowed my share in it to be forever buried in ob- livion had I not suddenly heard that the widow, objecting to many of the legacies | in the last will of her husband, intended | to dispute it on the score of insanity, and then there gradually arose the rumor of his belief in having received a 1 mysterious summons.
 On this went to the lawyer and sent message to the lady that, as the last person who had attended her husband, l I undertook to prove his sanity, and besought her to grant me an interview. The same evening received an invita- | ton to go to the mansion. | ryoo ,,ohoro1 into cy,Ior5id ,-oo,,, and there, standing before the fire, was the most dazzlingly beautiful young creature I had ever seen.
 She was very small, but exquisitely made. Had it not been'for the dignity of her carriage I should have believed her mere child.
 | "1 come on a strange errand," l be- gan, and then started, for I happened | to glance full into her eyes, and from them down to the small right hand | grasping the chair. The wedding ring | was on that hand.
 ! Il conclude you are the Mir. Read who requested permission to tell me some absurd ghost story, and whom my | late husband mentions here" And as she spoke she stretched out her left
 hand toward something-but what l
 knew not, for my eyes were fixed on
 that hand.
 Horrorl White and delicate it might
 be, but it was shaped like a claw, and
 the third finger was missing!
 One sentence was enough after that.
 Madam, all can tell you is that the
 ghost who summoned your husband was
 marked by singular deformity. The
 third finger of the left hand was miss
 ing" said sternly; and the next instant
 had left that beautiful sinful presence.
 That will was never disputed. The
 next morning, too, I received check
 for thousand pounds; and the next
 news heard of the widow was that she
 had herself seen the awful apparation
 and had left the mansion immediately. | A B. in New York News