The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-05-04
A MIDNIGHT DRIVE.

practice for six months.
Arlington was picturesque little
place some five miles from the sea. The
people were most friendly and gave me a
hearty welcome Immediately. DR.. Sew
ard, whose substitute I was, kept a
smart little horse and buggy. The wealth
ar being unusually fine for the time of
year, immensely enjoyed the driving,
for the country was new to me.
One day as I was returning home,
when it was beginning to grow dusk,
my eye was caught by the glow of the
setting sun on the windows of house
standing on rather high ground near
the sea.
It was an old red brick house and
seemed much out of repair.
Turning to my driver I asked him
who owned the place. ut is called The
Laurels, was his reply. Twas surprised
at the curt speech, for usually he was
very talkative Just then we turned a
corner, and it was lost from sight. The
matter then passed from my mind en-
tirely. Soon after that the weather grew
wild and stormy, SO that my long drives
became nuisance instead of pleasure,
and on the evening of April I came in
at z, really thankful that my day s
work was over. This thought gave me
the greatest comfort, and after dinner
l settled myself in a large armchair
drawn up to the blazing hearth and re-
signed myself to cup of excellent coffee
and good cigar. The long, cold drive
had made me drowsy, and soon, in spite
! of my interest, / fell sound asleep and
dreamed of my school days.
was awakened by the violent ring
ing of the surgery bell-an agitated
sound, as though the ringer had been
kept waiting some time and was grow
ing angry.
The clock was just striking II, so l
must have slept for nearly two hours;
then, remembering that the housekeeper
must have gone to bed. reused myself
and went to the door.
The rain had ceased, but heavy clouds
were scudding across the sky, partially
obscuring the haloed moon. By the
Pickering light of the hall lamp I saw
young man, muffied in a dark cloak.
He looked about %, and his dark, hand
some face seemed pale and disturbed.
"You are surgeon?' he said abrupt
| ly, stretching out his hand
noticed that there was bloodstain-
ed handkerchief twisted round his wrist,
and SO concluded he had met with an
accident and needed my attention, so ]
said: "Yes, come inside. The wind will
extinguish the lamp, and I have no
matches about me.
Il want you to come with me at
once. My brother has met with an acct
dent. It is matter of life and death.
! Come.
"WhereP" I asked hurriedly, shiver-
ing with cold, for he would not come in
''To The Laurels implore you to
make haste, was the agitated answer
your manner" asked in despair, for
The Laurels was five miles away.
Guy Chilvers. Are you ready
Come
All could do was to step back into
the hall, put on my furred coat, and
ask him to wait while 1 harnessed the
horse. He agreed to this and accompa-
MED me to the stable, even offering to
! hold the lantern while 1 attended to the
horse, for my man had gone to bed with
a cold. By its light studied his face.
He had an almost faultless profile, with
hard mouth and dark, restless eyes.
He looked rather like an actor could
not say whether liked his looks or not
Seldom, if ever, have seen face which
30 attracted and repealed me at the same
time.
| had expected my tired horse to go
slowly, but to my surprise he seemed
unusually fresh, SHE'D and even at
tempted to rear when my impatient Wis
itor laid his hand ON him. It was with
difficulty that harnessed him at all.
The horse had always been perfectly
quiet and steady before, but several
times during that lonely drive thought
he would have landed us in ditch.
At last we reached a rusty iron gate,
where Chilvers leaped out, and, Selling
the horse by the bit, slipped the rein
over the post Then as I got down he
flung open the gate and pushed me in.
Quick" he said, "or we shall be
too latep'
The house looked dark and forbid
ding, but ray Of light shone through
the door, which was ajar. Ifelt strange
ly nervous and excited as / entered
What if this were a trap to rob and muir
der me?
My guide opened door and disap-
peared from sight, leaving me alone in
the uncanny place, which was quite
unlike any house was ever in before.
l believe had he been gone one instant
longer must have made the best of my
way out into the dark drive and left my
patient to his fate, so unnerved had ]
become. However, as l took one step
toward the door he reappeared, carrying
lamp which cast curious shadow on
the wall.
"Come up stairs, he said quickly.
"Harold is there. Step quietly" And
he led the way into large room, which
struck me as the most uncomfortable
bedroom ever entered. But instantly
my whole attention was fixed ON slim,
boyish figure lying ON the bed. fully
dressed, with the blood flowing from a
deep wound in his left side.
For minute l thought him already
dead, but he raised his head feebly as
we entered and whispered family:
"Guy, it was my fault I struck you
first
Chilvers leaned over him and raised
him in his arms, SO that the fair, curly
head rested on his shoulder, and said {:
1--WE were mad. Harold, both Of us.
She was not worth my brothers. life.
Here"-and he beckoned me to approach
the bedside "Save this boys life and
all my property shall be yours. -
was about to protest that doctors do
not take such exorbitant fees, but even
as / stepped forward the lad turned
from me with painful effort, chung to
his brother and sobbed out his young
life in his arms
was Mortified, although in my pro-
fessional experience l had attended
scores of deathbeds. In silence l ad-
vanced to help the poor young man, but
he laid down the lifeless form and came
to my side, saying coldly:
| You are too late, sir. Now CO.. And
he pointed to the door,
"But, Mr. Chilvers," began, sit is
necessary that My sentence remain
ed unfinished. Something, 1 know not
what, took possession Of me, and found
myself running like mailman down
the dark avenue, without any knowledge
of how or why ] left the house. A great