Year: 1862

packed in saw dust, and don't wan. to
make litter here


He lett the room, and soon returned
with piece Of coarse carpet. This he
laid upon the floor, aud then where the
end OF the box was raised slipped it un'
derneath, spreading it smoothly This
done, he continued his work, while /. not
wishing to be idle, lit a cigar. | offered
one to the Doctor. who accepted it, and
80 We smoked in silence At last he sue
ceeded in Ionscniny the lid, and was about
removing it. when q timid knock was
| heard ut the door.


Who's that Z" said I.


"The devil" exclaimed my com panion.


more likely the girl observed.
"Whats to be done p


Go and see wha, she wants"


The Doctor laid dawn his chsel and
stepped tc the door, Opening it on crack
he asked who was there. A short dialogue
ensued, and he returned.


IL never in my life knew people to be
so inconsiderate. said he. "There's a
man who has taken poison, and I'm senl
for to bring him back to life. Why couldn't
he just MS we'll have waited till to morrow
if he wanted to commit suicide, and not
make me go out on such night, and just
when we were about seeing something
wonderful. Blu. there's no use in talking
Go must. but Heaven knows when In get
back. You'll find in the closet some
cigars and q few bottles of real good wine.
Amuse yourself with them just as long as
you wish and when you get tired 90 hume.
III not omen the gentleman house till
see you again. Farewell. Good Heav-
| ens! why will people be such fools as to
poison themselves, especially when the
night is stormy!


Away went the Doctor. leaving ME sit
ting in my easy chair before the fire.
looked at my watch it was eight o clock.
| wondered at wha, kind of poison the un
happy individual had taken, and why he
wished to deprive himself Of the pleasure
OF paying taxes disappointment in love?
That could not be the reason. There is
no sense in using such certain cure for
broken heart since all the unhappy
wretch has to do is to fall in love with an.
other maiden. and will wager that in q
very shor, time he will be entirely cured.
Therefore it was settled that the poisoned
man had not been in love- Thus sat
meditating, when suddenly feeling thirsty
| went to the closet and brought forth
glass and corked bottle. Having re.
moved the cork, poured some of the
wine in the glass, and found it 10 be of
very good quality. Never did wine seem
more welcome than at that moment. Toss
ing off four glasses in quick succession,
suackrd my lips, resumed my seat, and
lit another cigar.


Having now "a companion to share the
hours would no doubt have to pass in
waiting for the Doctor, | cultivated its &C.
quaintance. Before was aware Of the
tact the bottle WAS empty. lprocured aud
uncorked another, aud pouring forth n
brimmin. glass held it to the light, ad-
mired the rch ruby color, and placing the
rim t" my lips permitting the grape blood
to disappear gradually. 1t was excellent
twas prime twas perfection ITSELF !
tel, pleased with my>el; for having visited
the Doctor. aud also with the poor man for
having taken pnison. since it gave me the
oppor unity OF tasting nectar. Nom did
not want the Doctor to return; he might
abou, rs we'll stay where he was-at least
till had finished the bottle.


| was reclining in the chair with one leg
thrown over it- arm, holding in one hand
a toll glass while the other took care OF my
cigar. As | pulled a cloud u: the big.
headed fellow Oh the mantel piece, |
glanced at the box, which was in the same
state ns when the Doctor left 1.-THE par
TALLY raised lid disclosing saw dust be-
meath. The fancy took me to have a
glance at the quiet gentleman. | was sure
of not being disturbed, and to maks doub.
y sure would lock the door. did. Then
| would take out the body and see what it
was like. There could be no harm, aud
certainly was not afraid.


removed the lid. | used the chisel
and scooped out the sawdust. A, las,
came to the body, which was clothed in
to b9tne remains of q man squeezed into
sitting posture. He must have died thus,
for his body was dried it tha. shape. |
arose and looked upon the objec. as i. lay
On the floor. Then stepped to the table
and drew a glass ii wine. Then occu-
pied my chair. still regarding the body.
Suddenly another strange fancy came into
my head. Wheeling u char 10 the other
side OF the fire opposite mine, raised the
body and placed it therein in a sitting po-
si,ion-which having done, again sat in
my chair


drank once more, and then lighting
another cigar, steadily gazed upon the new
conner. He was, no doubt, ut the time of
his death a yonng man, but his features
were terribly distorted. rs though he had
expired during intense agony. He was
drawn out in such manner that when
placed in the arm chair he appeared to he
sitting quite ut his ease, and apparently in
the attempt to be passing one leg across
the other. t1. while one was bent under
lae seat Of the chair, the knee Of the other
was considerably elevated. HIS eyes were
closed, the lids being blush in color.


There was nothing more for me to do.
had un cased the specimen, fixing it so
tha, when my friend, the Doctor, entered,
the first object visible to him would be the
man OF the box. fancied how surprised
he would be to see the subject sitting, Us
though alive, before shs grateful 6ra Ohi