The herald., 1895-03-10

Pail Mall Budget many years ago. AS the CIR
been long out io Of print. the tale is hero re,
printed US answer to those who have clamorsd
for sight of 1.-THE Body snatchers."l
Every night in the year four OF us sat
together in the small parlor OF the George
at Dcbenham--the undertaken and the
landlord and Fettes and myself. Some
times there would be more but blow
high, blow low, come rain or snow or
frost, we four would be each planted in
his own particular armchair. rcttes was
aan old drunken Scotchman, man of
education obviously, and man OF some
property, since he lived in idlenass. He
had come to Debenham years ago, while
still young; and by mere continuance OF
living had grown to be an adopted towns
imam. His blue camlet cloak was local
antiquity, like the church spire. His
place in the parlor at the George, his alb
'sence from church, his old, crapulous,
disreputabe vices, were all things of
course in Debenham. He had some vague
|" Radical opinions and some feeting in
tidelties which he would now and again
set forth and emphasize with tottering
slaps upon the table, He drank rum
five glasses regularly every evening, and
for the greater portion of his nightly
visit to the George sat, with his glass in
his right handy in state OF melancholy,
alcoholic saturation. We called him the
Doctor, for he was supposed to have some
special knowledge of medicine, and had
: been known, upon pinch, to set frac-
ture or reduce dslocation but beyond
these slight particulars we had no knowl-
edge of his character and antecedents.
One dark winter night it had struck 8
some time before the landlord joined us.
% There was sick man in the George, a
great neighboring proprietor suddenly
struck down with apoplexy on his way
to Parliament and the great man S still
greater London doctor had been tele-
graphed to his bedside. 1t was the first
lime such thing had happened in Deban-
ham, for the railway was but newly open,
and we were all proportionately moved by
the occurrence.
= He's come" said the landlord, after
he had filled and lighted his pipe.
Her" said l.. 'Who-not the doctor?"
Himself replied our host.
What is his manner"
Or. Macfarlane,' said the landlord.
Fettes was far through his third tumbler,
2 stupidity fuddled, now nodding over now
staring mazily around him; but at the last
word he seemed to awake, and repeated
the same Macfarlae' twice, quietly enough
the first time, but with sudden emotion at
the second.
: name-Dr. Wolfe Macfarlane."
Fettes became instantly sober; his eyes
awoke, his voice became instantly clear
. loud and steady, his language forcible and
earnest. We were all startled by the
tranformation, as il a man had arisen
/. from the dead.
II beg your PARDON" he said; II am
AFRAID have not been paying much at
tention to your talk Who is this Wolfe
Ma s Ia And then, when ne had
cannot be, 3" he added; land yet l would
like well to see him face to face''
Do you know him, Doctor?' asked the
undertaken with gasp. ra 4
God Forbid" was the reply. And
: yet the name is strange one it were too
much to fancy two. Tell me, landlord,
is he old?' ~
!, "well," said the host, ''hes not young
man, to be sure, and his hair is white;
but he looks younger than you.'
: with slap upon the table, its the rum
you see in my face, rum and sin. This
man, perhaps, may have an easy con-
/, science and good digestion. Conscience!
hear me speak. You would think | was
some good. old, decent Christian, would
you not? But no, not l. never canted.
Voltaire might have canted if he'd stood
in my shoes; but the brains''-with
rattling flip on his bald head-"the
brains were clear and active; and l saw
Tand | made no deductions"
N'If you know this, Doctor" ventured to
4 Emark, after somewhat awful pause |
- 3rould gather that you do not share the
N%.ndlord's good opinion"
Fettes paid no regard to me. Yes he
-. u, with sudden decision, ! must see
hiiN face to face.
There was another pause, and then a
door was closed rather sharply ON the
first floor and step was heard upon the
first stair.
That's the DOCTOR cried the landlord
! "look sharp and you can catch him.
1T was but two steps from the small
parlor to the door of the old George inn
the wide oak staircase landed almost in
the street, there was room for a Turkish
rug and nothing more between the TIRES
hold and the last round Of the descent;
, but this little space was every evening
brilliatly lit up, not only by the light
upon the stair and the great signal lamp
. below the sign, but by the warm radl
ance OF the bar-room window. The
: George thus brilliantly advertised itself to
passers-by in the cold street. Fettes
: walked steadily to the spot, and we, who
were hanging behind beheld the two men
meet, as one OF them had phrased it,
, face to face. DR.. Macfarane was alert and
vigorous. His white hair set off his pale
and placid although energetic counten-
ance; he was richly dressed in the finest
OF broadcloth and the whitest OF linen,
with great gold watch charm and studs
and spectacles of the same precious metal;
, he wore broad folded tie, white and
speckled with lilac, and he carried on his
arm II comfortable driving coat OF fur.
Z There was no doubt but he became his
years, breathing as he did of wealth and
consideration; and it was surprising
contrast to see our parlor sot, bald, dirty,
y pimpled, and robed in his old camlet
a cloak, confront him at the bottom of the
stairs.
"Macfarlane!" he said, somewhat loud
: ly, more like herald than "A friend.
The great doctor pulled up short on
the fourth step, as though the familiarity
of the address surprised and somewhat
shocked his dignity. :
Teddy Macfarlunep' repeated Fettes.
The London man almost staggered; he
stared for the swiftest of seconds at the
man before him, glanced behind him
with sort of scare and then in startled
,4whisper, 'Fettes! he said, "youi" |
"Ay," said the other, rue. Did you
think was dead too? We are not so easy
4 shut of our acquaintance.
Hush hnsh'' exclaimed the doctor.
''Hush, hush! This meeting is so unex-
pected--I can see you are unnamed. / I!
hardly knew You, l confess, at first; but |