Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-08-22

breathing OF the sleeper sounded through
the room, ''you won't receive amy sum.
mons tonight, aud may mako myself
comfortable"
Noiselessly rcplonishod the fire.
poured myself out large glass Of wine.
and, drawing the curtain 30 that tho fro.
light should not disturb the sleeper,
put myself in position to follow hisex.
ample. How long slept know not,
but suddenly | aroused with start and
n thrill Of horror.
Something-what, knew not--seem.
ed near, something nameless, but unut.
terably awful.
Tho fire emitted faint blue glow.
Just sufficient 10 enable mo to see that
the room was exactly tho Same as when
fell asleep, but that tho long hand OF
the clock wanted but five minutes OF
the mysterious hour which was TO be
tho death moment Of the Summoned"
mani
The silence was intense.
could not even hear breath from
the bed, and was about 70 rise and up
proach. when again that awful horror
seized me, and mt the Same moment my
eye fell upon tho mirror opposite the
door, and saw an awful shape CHASTITY
mockory Of whit had been humanity
It stood there In visible death clothes.
but the awful face was CHASTITY with cor
ruption, and the sunken eyes CLEANED
with groon. CLASSY glare which seemed
vcritablo blast from tho informal fires
below.
saw that horrid shape move slowly
toward tho bed. What WIS tho awful
scene enacted there know not. heard
nothing except low, stifled, agonized
groan, and | saw this shadow Of TINT
CHASTITY messenger bending over tho bed.
For an instant the shadow Of q claw
like hand, from which the third finger
was missing, appeared extended ovci
the doomed mans head, and thon, Ms the
clock stack one clear silycry stroke, II
fell. aud wild shrek rang through the
room.
am not given TO fainting, but Ger
tainly confess that tho next ten minutes
of my existence was cold blank, and
even when ! did manage 10 staggcr to
my feet gazod around, vainly ondeav.
oring to understand tho chilly horror
which still possessed mo.
THINK Godi the room wns rid OF that
awful presence. saw that; 80, gulpins
down some wine, lighted n wax tapoi
aud staggered toward the bed.
But one glance was sufficient.
Even ns gaxed tho expression Of the
face seemed to change, the blackncss
faded into deathly whitcness, the con.
yulsed features relaxed aud. even as II
the victim Of that dread apparition still
lived, sad, solemn smile stole over tho
palo lips.
was intensely mortified. but still !
retained sufficient self consciousness to
be struck professionally by such n phe.
nomenon.
Again l scrutinized tho dead face, and
even tho throat and chest, but with the
exception of tiny pimplc on one TEN.
pie beneath cluster OF hair not mark
appeared.
As noiselessly as could mado my
way out Of tho house. No one met M,
on the private staircase; the little dooi
opening into tho road was easily unfast
ened. and thankful indeed was | to fee
ngiip tho frcsh wintTy air as | hurried
aloIY tho road by tho churchyard.
THfre was magnificent funeral soof
In TINT churchyard; and 1t was said that
tho widow Of tho buried man was in
consolablo; and then rumors got abroad
of horrible apparition which had beer
seen on tho night OF the death; and 4
was whispered the young widow wa
terrified and insisted upon leaving hei
splendid mansion.
was too mystiilcd with tho who'll
affair 10 risk my reputation by sayini
what knew. and should have above,
my share init to be forever buried in oh
livion had not suddenly heard that tn
widow, obiecting TO many Of the legacie
In the last will Of her husband, intended
10 dispute 1t on the score OF insanity
and then there gradually arose tn,
rumor OF his belief In having received
mysterious summons.
On this went to the lawyer and sen
message 10 the lady that, as the las
person who had attended her husband
undertook TO prove his sanity, and
besought her to grant inc an interview
Tho same evening received an invita-
ton to go to the mansion.
was ushered into splendid room
and thore, standing before the fire, wa
tho most dazzlingly beautiful younl
creature had ever seen.
She was very small, but exquisitel,
made. Had it not boon for the dignit,
OF her carriage l should have believe,
,, her u mere child.
81 come on q strange orrand," be
, gan, and then | started, for happene,
/, TO glance full into her eyes, and iron
/, them down to tho small right han,
I grasping the chair. Tho wedding rim
was on that hand.
, II conclude you are tho Mr.. Roa
, who requested permission TO tell IN
SOME absurd ghost story, and whom IN
late husband mentions here" And q
' she spoke she stretched out her LEI
/, hand toward something-but what
a knew not, for my eyes We're Fixed o
that hand.
Horror! White and delicate II Nigh
be, but 1t was shaped like claw, an
!, tho third finger was missingl
q One sentence was enough after tina
: "Madl n, all can tell you is that III
ghost who summoned your husband va
- marked by singular doformity. N
: third finger OF the left hand was mis-
! ing" | said sternly; and the next instal
/ had left that beautiful sinful presenc