Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-05-05
The HOUSEKEEPER'S STORY.
A Strange Compact With the Prince
Of Darkness.
HOW RICHES CAME TO AN OLD NAN
And How nj Last He DIED After an
Allotted Number of Years OF
Prosperity.

Mrs. Lavina Thompson, a native Of
Northumberland. N. H.. died recently
at the advanced age OF eighty-nine
years. From her youth up the good
woman has entertained her friends and
neighbors with u strange tale OF old
time superstitlons and the general be-
lief In them. The story descended to
her from an old maiden aunt who was
born. lived and died among the rock
ribbed hills OF northern New Hamp-
shire. The latter years of this aunt's
life was spent as housckeeper for n
mysterious old widower. and II is with
this old man that the story has TO
do. II runs in this wise This man In
his youth and early manhood was poor
and unfortunate. Hard luck seemed TO
be always his portion, and nothing he
undertook prospercd, His farm was
small and poor; his crops generally
iaued TO turn out well and his cattle
ana sheep would only sell under price.
He married; several children came, and
lie was beginning to feel more at peace
with the world In general, Then the
VIE died and one by one the children
followed their mother until the father
was left alone.
Then the old splnster came as house
Keeper, and the man sank into n set
tied melancholy. He Stunned his neigh
bors and avoided all Intercourse with
them as far as possible. This went on
for a score or more OF years. then came
u change which was naugurated by
an unusual occurrence in the gloomy
household.
For some days the old man had been
even more morosc and distract thun
usual, ana he seemed TO be In deep
study over something one night the
old housekorper heard her master arise
from his bed just before midnight and
leave the house. He was absent FOR
some time, and on his return seemed to
be In state OF the greatest excitement
ana uncaslncss. For The remainder
of the night and indeed, all OF the
next Jay and night, he paced the floor
OF his room, and the old housekceper'a
calls and raps az the door were UNI
Needed. The puzzled woman heard the
sound OF muttcrod words and curses.
and, not lnfrcquently stiucd groan.
When he emerged from his retirement
an indescrihable change had been
wrought In him, He seemed thorough
ly enveloped In an air OF evil and mys-
terry, His eyes shone with n bnleful
light and n restless, half desperate
HIS whole being.
From that hour prosperity attended
ON an his movements Money flowed
into his strong box. Yellow gold Seemed
almost 10 grow at his touch, and bis
rrmarR1blc good fortune was thr
theme Tor conversation and idle spec
ulauon throughout the neghborhond.
The old man was watched, and very
closely, too, but could not be detected
In wrongdoing OF any sort, aud hla
sudden riches and good fortune roe
malned uuoccounted for to his mystl.
ned neighburs. Hc bought lands and
cattlei he tore down his barns and
built greater, and had very comfort
able house erected for himself
But he was still mOrose and UNI
happy, and continued 10 avoid, as far
as possible, all Intercourse with his
fellow-bcings, The most NJ his time
was spent In counting and boarding
up hls continually Increasing riches
Strong box after strong box was added
TO his store. all filled with shining yell
low gold,
ITS tho devlrs own dolngs." NUT
tered the ncighhors. with solemn and
frightened expressions, and grave
shakes OF their heads
The old housekcepcr taxed him with
the charge. aud as n longing for
cOnildante, and glad to share hla Sc
cret, he told her the whole story OF his
strange prosperity.
He Ind rebelled and fretted and
cursed at the rate thnt had decreed
Tor him such a miserably hard and
joylesg existence. From his early boy
hood days she seemed to have selected
him az a special object on which to
vent her spite and deal her hardest
raps, and he ratallated with bitter
curses and deep hatred. This feeling
only Increased as the years went by,
and his loved ones were taken from
him, and left him Il soured and cmblt-
tered old man.
one night. in mis- dreams. he had n
strange vision. A frlghtful appnrtion
in human form stood at his bedside
and in deep and mysterious tones thus
addressed him;
m you would have great riches and
exceeding prosperity, go you unto n
square formed by the meeting OF four
roads, at the hour Of midnight. There
halt, and call three times In loud
voice FOR Your Satanic Majesty, the
King OF Devils" Al the third call he
will appear and viii grant unto you
whatsoever thing you desire"
Thrice were these strange directions
repeated TO him and with n mighty
rushing sound the vision vanished.
For week the man resisted the temp
tation to put these directions TO the