Year: 1872

full results of which could have been so
easily prevented had it not been for neg
hgence on my part, that l have never
ceased to blame myself for the horrible
death that occurred


A rich trader from the interior called at
the consulate to transact some business in
regard to the shipment of hides and tai
low, and as he came bringing q letter OF
introduction from an old friend Of mine, l
extended to him the hospitality OF my
residence.


He was sociable, well-informed man,
had been engaged in the cattle trade, both
in California and Australia, and could re-
late thrilling incidents by the hour, and
so interested me by his conversation that
forgot an important business transaction,
and found myself compelled to make my
excuses aftertea for the purpose O. attend
ing to it, leaving the trader on the veran-
dah to enjoy his smoke. l was absent
longer than | had intended to be, and re-
turned to find my guest had retired for
the night. as SO


Ialso found upon my table, a bottle,
accompanied by a note; but supposlng 1t
to be some present of wine or other drink,
which 1 was the daily recipient Of. left
it to be examined, and perhaps tested by
my guest and myself at the breakfast ia
Bile next morning, andiretired.


The weather being very warm, 1t was
my custom to leave the inner doors Of my
residence all open for free circulation OF
air; but this night I retired, feeling an
unusual oppression from the heat, and
there seemed to be some strange influence
acting upon me; some forebodlng of fear
that held me in wa2efulness until far into
the night; and then when sleep came to
me it was in ftful starts, filled with hide
Gus dreams, from which I would awake
with cold perspiration on my brow.


1t was perhaps 2 o'clock when L was
aroused by a most unearthly groan, and,
sprlnging up in bed, saw the most fearful
sight that ever I beheld, almost freezing
the blood in my veins-a hideous form
robed in white, with its mouth and cloth
ing all heeked with bloody foam, each
hair seeming to stand separate from the
other upon its head, andits eyes deathly
glarjng as it came towards me with out-
stretched hands, uttering the most pnearth,
" groans Inhorror, splang out of bed
and Tan, pursued BY the awful form, as I
crouched here and there to escape it; but on
.itcame, growing more fearful as itapprca h.
ed. Atlast thought of the latticed closet
in the adjoining room, and fed for it, my
very knees knocking with fear, reaching 1t
and closing the door as my ghostly pulsuer
put MS hands through the broad lattice
work reaching far in after me; but / was
safe from pursuit at least, and in the feel
ing Of security my strength all gave way,
and there lay upon the floor in helpless
ness, as stared out at the fearful form
that was clinging to the lattice, trying to
reach me, while it uttered the most pltiful
means.


The excitement had been too much for
my weak frame, as I had only recovered
from an exhausting illness, az. s@<.7aea
away under it. How long II
sensible condition l knew nc ~ 49,
revived. The horrible form


but it had fallen by the. doc - =
ing still, with its face upt7r ~ -
Sves fixedl in d deathly glaF


Oh, heavens, what could


no phantom of air, and ye


i,elieve it to be human fol-. .df~
victim OF premature bl


plague that had torn away @o':' IL =.
prisonrent of the coffin, ana colne 70 pur.
sue me with its deadly contagion? l
shuddered to think it; and then | was
forced to remain in my fright and weak
ness within reach of the fearful and ghast-
" form, visible from the dim lights | al
ways kept Burning in my rooms at night.
The moments dragged by like hours, and
hours seemed like ages, and still day would
not come


Again swooned away, and when l next
revived the broad daylight was streaming
in on the stark, stiff form lying at the
door,


Oh, heavens it was the trader And
vet it was difficult in those fearfully dis
torted and foam-covered features to re.
cognize him but yetit was my guest, and
such host What an unintentional turn
my hospitality had taken And what
pitiful appeal my guest was making to
me, had / but known it


| rang for the inmates Of the house, and
they came and gazed on the fearful, yet
pitiful sight.


Ny servant came, and threw more light
upon the matter by telling me that the
trader had gwen him the bottle and note,
and particularly insisted on his 6 living 1t
to me and calling my attention to it on
nv return. The note was brought, l
read it, and all was explained, alas too
late.


The trader was subject to fearful fits,
and the bottle contained the only medical
preparation that would restore him; and
his note explained all this, and requested
me in the event of his being tskcn. to give
him wineglassful, and bathe his face
and hands till he recovered.


Poor fellow genial. Lut unfortunate
guest of mine, we placed his body in
vault to wait his family. and have never
ceased to blame myself for the mishap that
sent him into that long eternity.