The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-06
HIS UNCLE'S GHOST.

light in the study of anatomy. So much
attached was l to this branch Of my pro.
fessional studies, and so much did pride
myself upon making nico dlsseotions TINT
was frequently employed by our profess
or of anatomy to prepare the subjects for
his morning lectures, and in order to have
them in readiness 10 sometimes became
necessary for mo to continue my labors to
q late hour.
Ono night was thus engaged. l re-
member I had to dissect and lay bare a
particular neive-and 1t required a cau-
tious and skillful handling Of the scalpel,
which detained me in the hall till a late
hour.
Hour after hour was counted of by the
city hall clock, and yet my task remained
uncomplctcd. AT length, after midnight,
completed my dissection, and carefully
returning the soft intcguments to their
natural position rose from my stool, and
drawing Off my long black gown spread
1t over tho table, completely hiding from
view tho body on which ! had been en-
gagged i
Scarcely had finished this last duty OF
the night and was about to leave tho hall
when was startled by sudden gust OF
wintry wind. The next moment a shower,
of sleet and rain fell heavily upon the ROOF,
warning mo that wild storm was sweep
ing over tho city.
fairly trembled at the thought Of ven,
turing out in the cold night, without UNI
brella or oyercoat as l was, in the dircc-
ton of my distant boarding house, Draw
ing therefore cigar from my pocket and
seating myself in the chair the janitor had
been occupying l concluded to make my
self as comfortable as circumstances would
admit till the storm had subsidized.
II had been some time enjoying my cigar
and listening complaccntly to the storm
d. without, when / examined my watch
Almost o'clock" said l to myself,
aloud.
{. almost 1 o'clock" was repeated in a
; voice l thought not altogether unfamiliar.
"Why, John, you work late tonight"
j Was that voice only the echo of my own
, thoughts, or was some person really con
!. cealed in tho rooms
Neither in the hall or in the little ante
; room could any one he concealed, and l re
. turned to my seat and my c!gnr, convinced
=; that the words must have proceeded from
my own lips.
!, You are never alone here, John, said
. the same voice in plaintive tone. Tho
:, dead arc always hore''
a i was not in the least alarmed at the
voice. but pocred earnestly into every cor
!. ncr of the room where any one might pos
> sibly be seGrgted.
!, Presently 1 noticed rustling of the
dissccting robe l had spread over my
ID nights work.
!, Then CHASTITY facc looked ont from un-
8 der 1t; then hand appeared; then foot
= and finally tho body sitting upright upon
the table, adjusted tho dress about itself,
and slipping to the floor stood upon its
u feet, a tall, commanding figure.
l.. Then, turning its leaden eyes with q
" fixed stare upon me, 1t moved totteringly
a toward the vacant chnir by my side and
seated itself In it. As il gathered its feet
:, up upon the stone hearth in imitation OF
. my own position, it placed one OF its cold
,r hands upon me.
= John, don't you remember mef' sale
" this strange apparition
Remember your Mol l never saw yor
~ till you We're brought here from the city
l.. hospital yesterday"
"Ah, l am glad of It'll thought so my
=, ~ self all the time, for I'm sure, my boy, has
> you recognized me you would not have ST
nj cruelty lacerated my poor body with then
=, odd looking knives yonder."
81 began to gather courage and answered
w. I'm sure would not have done what
l. have II l had been aware that it woul'
~ have given you any uneasincss. l though
ct the dead were lost to all earthly sense
n, tions But who are you3'
49, Who am II I'll tell you. I'm you
mothers brother-your uncle.
~ Il never had but one uncle / replied
and his body, I'm sure, lies quietly Il
the old home churchyard where mysel
SAW 1t deposited years ago-when l was
boy"
81 tell you, John, you nevor SAW you
uncle buried 1t was u stranger, seafai
ing man, who came to your fathers hous
and died. He had been for years my shiI
mate, and being on shore and sick an
having no home to go to passed himse
Off upon you all for Inc, his old friend, {
". whom he had heard the whole history
your family.
\ "See here, John, do you remember II
time when you gave me this" ard the al
partition, laying bare his right arm, expo
ed to my view rough, ugly scar.
1t was precisely such a scar MS remon
Der my uncle John had received from
s0 Fourth Of July pistol, with which I h.
~ accidentally wounded him. Boylis. -
u" loaded the weapon, which was ~
Il. from him, to the muzzi. VIZ Pc,
of SMALL peculiar Ehapes o.. - . iasnu !.
sd. la,arta.: - Is which had SO sevel
49,. N"W ..iy boy, II have satisfied y
.al e,."' Im indeed your uncle, have a
~ est to mako of you. Will you see Il
body of mine decently buricdf''
"'' turned to reply to this mob unnatul
lille request, but the chair by my side was ,
=, cant, and my unclo II indeed 1t was |
"' body had been working at so indifferel
sta " all night, lay precisely as had left hi
mi upon the table, with the dssecting GOV
a.1s' still covering his proportions.
80 OF one thing I am eertain-I had be
ulssoc.ing my .s;ei4 Dor the next MORAN
whom the professor was dcmonstfati
what he was pleased I? call my "mt
skillful tracing of this beautiful, nerve
d30 he CHANGED to draw the blade Of his sutlll
across the little tumor, to which the APP
ritiqn had directed my attention, when,
mar hold, out dropped one Of those identio
q IA curiously shaped buttons with which ]
Fourth of July pistol had been charged
Boston Globe.
ON
III.