Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-06

ample. How long l slept / know not,
but suddenly aroused with start and
thrill of horror.
Something what, knew 1iot-seem-
ed near, something nameless, but unut-
terably awful.
The fire emitted faint blue glow,
just sufficient to enable me to see that
the room was exactly the same as when
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 breath from
the bed, and 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 saw an awful shape-ghastly
mockery of what had been humanity
1t stood there in visible death clothes;
ruption, and the sunken eyes cleaned
with a green, CLASSY glare which seemed
q 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. heard
nothing except low, stifed, agonized
groan, and / saw the shadow Of that
CHASTITY 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 shrek rang through the
room.
am not given to fainting, but l GER
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-
oring to understand the chilly horror
which still possessed me.
Thank Godl the room was rid Of that
awful presence. saw that; so, gulping
down some wine, lighted a wax taper
and staggered toward the bed.
But one glance was sufficient.
Even as ] 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, q 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
exceptionof tiny pimple on one tenn
| pie beneath a cluster of hair not mark
appeared.
AS noiselessly as I could 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 / 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 insisteds upon leaving her
splendid mansion.
I was too mystified with the whole
affair to risk my reputation by saying
what knew, and should have allowed
my share in it to be forever buried in OBJ
livion had 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
mysterious summons.
On this went to the lawyer and sent
message to the lady that, as the last
person who had attended her husband,
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.
| was ushered into a splendid room,
and there, standing before the fire, was
the most dazzlingly beautiful young
creature had ever seen.
She was very small, but exquisitely
made. Had it not been for the dignity
Of her carriage should have believed
her mere child.
/ 81 come on a strange errand," be-
gan, and then started, for 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
II conclude you are the Mr.. 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 !
knew not, for my eyes were fixed on
that hand.
| Horror! White and delicate it might
be, but it was shaped like a claw, and
the third finger was missingl
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" I said sternly; and the next instant
had left that beautiful sinful presence
That will was never disputed. The
next morning, too, l received check
for Thousand pounds; and the next
| news I 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.