Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-06-07
THE DOCTORS GHOST.

In medicine at Bellevue hung OUT my
shingle in Twenty second street and wait
ed for patients. My first was an invalid
of some years suffering who had recently
started south from her home in Vermont
with the intention of passing the winter
and spring in Florida.
She had been seized with hemorrhage
when she reached New York and was
forced to remain at the Hotel Bartholdi. I
was sent for by the hotel clerk, with whom
had slight acquaintance. l saw ut a
glance that the patient was victim of
consumption, and that it had reached the
last stages.
After getting her what help could pro-
fessionally offered some personal advice.
told the maid, who seemed to be more
companion than servant, that the chances
of recovery were very small and II Mrs.
Stone wished to die among friends she
ought to return ut once to Brattleboro. 1
continued to visit her during the week she
remained in the city, and when she started
to leave for home she seemed greatly af-
fected.
Doctor, you have been very kind to
me" were her words as | recall them
now. IF did not know that l am a dy-
ing woman, would be tempted to make n
confession"
MY CURIOSITY Is uTOllSCu, NhCS. SlOuS.
Is there any secret that is worrying your"
Not that. +" was her reply. She hest
tated looked into my face with an appeal
ing glance, and putting both hands to her
eyes burst into tears.
was puzzled and almost disconnected.
"You have such Il strange influence over
me-" she finally said between her sobs. II
have tried to resist it, but l cannot. feel
as if l could be willed by you to do any
thing. If you look toward the table for
any bottle or instrument, l feel an irresiSt-
ible power moving me to reach out and
get it for you. :"
1T it nervousness, my dear woman,
said "You are weak and historical. You
need rest. With that l babe her goodby.
But before | LETT she begged from me
small gold ring which 1 wore upon my lit
tie finger with the promise that she would
return it, She wanted keepsake and
would be certain to send it back if the end
came If not, she hoped to see me again
next summer at her Vermont home.
Weeks passed, and l got reports from
time to time from the maid, who wrote me
that Mrs. Stone was sinking rapidly. Of
ten, the nurse said she would call my
name while III dclirium.
Winter passed, and the cold, raw winds
of March came. On the night of tho 18th
/ retired late, after a sick call on the east
side, which had fairly worn me out. had
scarcely dozcd off when / heard my name
called. reused myself, but heard moth
ing Again I was almost unconscious
when / heard distinctly: "Oh, doctor,
please come! Doctor! Doctorn'
At the same moment l saw vision as
distinctly Us see the desk before me now
7 writ + hn nf n iply
room with bed, couch, tables chairs and
pictures clearly outlined. In the bed saw
the form and face of Mrs. Stone At her
side stood the nurse who had been with
her in New York. Mrs. Stone was in the
throes of q hemorrhagc l noted each OBJ
ject in the room as distinctly as If / were
making list of the pieces OF furniture.
While l was yet gazing at the scene, felt
chilly breath of air upon my face. Grad
ually the outline of the picture faded and
only the figure Of Mrs. Stone remained
within sight. She seemed to come nearer,
and l felt an icy coldness rs she reached
for my right hand and tried to put some
thing in it. l thcn saw that she was try
ing to place the gold ring had given her
upon my little finger. Suddenly she van
ished. awoke trembling and in cold
perspiration. could not shake off the I'M
canny feeling and l still saw the SICK
room before my eyes. l rose, and taking
pencil made a careful sketch Of what
had seen, locating every object in the
room. After noting the time, returned
to bed and slept till morning.
AS slipped my coffee in the hotel cafe
the next morning l received telegram
announcing the death of Mrs. Stone some
time during the previous night.
went to the funeral. When the last
words had been said and the emaciated
body laid away returned with the nurse
to the house where my patient had breath
ed her last. l found that the room where
she died was an exact counterpart of the
one had seen in my vision. Every ar
ticc of furniture was placed just us had
seen 1t in my dream, yet had mover been
there before the day of the funeral.
asked the nurse the hour that death
came.
1T was exactly 1885, she said.
That was the hour l heard my name
called.
Ibid Mrs. Stone ask for me?' l in
quired, with a slight trcmor in my voice.
Indeed she did She begged us to send
for you, and her last words were:
oh, doctor, please come! Doctori
Doctor' New York Press