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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1886)
THE WEST SHORE. 020 all I could Bay, was that she was a beautiful widow with a Biuall income, aud that she and Claud wore devoted to each other. " Yes," said Mrs. Morton, soorufully, " like all other men, the niomont yon see a pretty fnw you iuquira uo f urthor. I quite tremble tor Claud" When I reflected how little 1 really know obout Mrs. Despard, I felt abashed and guilty. However, Claud was a full grown man, aud uo fraternal counsel was likely to turn him aside from his dosiro. In the course ot a tow days he wrote mo that ho was to be married on the 5th of the next month. I made ar rangements which would euablo mo to go to the wed. ding; but three days before the dato named I hoard again from him. Tho wedding was postponod for a fortnight He gave no reason for the delay; but ho said ho was anxious to see mo; aud to-morrow he should run down to my home. He came as promised. I was aghast when I saw him. He looked worn, haggard, wrotohod. My first thought was that business had gone wrong with him. His hxks might well be those ot a man on the brink ol rum. Alter the first greeting 1 at once took him to my study in order to bo put out of suspense. Just as I was alout to begin my anxious questions, he turned to mo. " Frank, old follow," ho said, imploringly, and with a faint attempt at a Bmilo, " don't laugh at mo." Laugh 1 That was the last thing that I was likely to da I pressed his hand in silonco. " You won't believe me, I know," ho continuod " I can't believe it myself. Frank, I am hauutod." " Haunted ! " I was bound to smile, not from any dis position toward merriment, but in order to show tho poor boy the absurdity of bis idea. " Yes, haunted. The woru sounus nuiouioun, uu w. use no other. Haunted." "What haunts you?" He came closer to mo and graspod my arm. H voice Bauk to a hoarse whisper. A horrible, ghastly, grewsomo thing. It is killing me. It comes between mo and my happiness. I have fought and struggled against this phantom terror. I have reasoned calmly with myself. I have laughed my f.dlv to scorn. In vain-in vain. It goos, but it comes again." . . Overwork," I said, " insomnia, too many cigars, lato hours; and had you ben a drinking man I should add, too much stimulant, too little food, anxiety, pwll Havo you anything on your mind-any special worry? ' 01 course I have," he sai.l. pettishly. " Did " tall you it is killing me?" "What is killing you?" He rose and paced the room excitedly ; then suddenly he stopped short, end once more ciuu!i ... from the hood. Every cord in tho throat standing out, strained as by mortal struggle. Ijong, dark hair lying tint and wet Thin lips moving and working -lips that are cursing, although I hoar no sound Why should tLiouUiO loiue why U iuo? Who is this dead man whoso faoo wrecks my life? Frank, my brother, if this is disease or madness, euro mo; it not, lot mo die." His words, his gestures, sent a cold thrill through me. Ho was worse, far worse, than I had feared " Claud." I said, " you aro talking nonseuso; ouro youl of course I moan to cure you. Now sit down, collect yourself, and tell mo how this hallucination comes." " Comes! How does it oomo? It gathers in oorners of the room; it forms aud takes shape; it glares at me out ot the wall; it looks up at mo from tho lloor. Kver the same tearful, white, dying face, threatening, cursing, sometimes mocking. Why does it oomo? " I had already told tho poor fellow why it came, pui u was no nso rotating my words. "Toll mo when you aoe it," I askml; " at night-ln darkness? " Ho hesitated, and seemed troubled " No, never at night In broad day light only. That to mo is tho crowning terror, tho ghostlinoaa ot it At night I could call it a dream. Frank, believe mo, I am no weak fool. For weeks I havo borno with it At lost it has conquered . U.....1 11 wnv! nr I ahull ffo'madl" " I'll send it away, old lxy, never foar. Tell me: can you see it now?" " No; thank flod, not now." " Havo you seen it to-day?" " No; to-day I havo boon free from it" " Well, you'll bo free from it to-morTow, aud the next day, and tho next It will bo gone forever More you loavo me. Now oomo and see Mary aud tho babic. I havou't oven asked you how Mrs. l)oaard Is. A curious look crossed his face. " I thluk she grows more beautiful every day," ho said Then ho sli my hand. " Oh, Frank," ho exclaimed, " rid mo of this hor ror, and I shall be tho happiest man In tho world" " All right," I answered, wrha with more oonfl. donee than I felt Although I made light of It to my patient, his state greatly alarmed me. 1 hastened to put l.lm.ui.dor the trletest and most approved treatment I enforced the most rigid sumptuary laws, mode him live on plain fund, and docked his consumption of tolacco unmercifully. In a few days I was delighted to And that my diagnosis of the case was correct Claud was rapidly recovering tone. In a week', time he seemed restored to health. I ti.. .1..,. t.v. As vet Claud had said nothing about leaving; yet, nnlos. the date wa. one. more ad- i i.- ... t.i t married on the I'M. I did not ..........I l.im L n.toone the happy day. He was by now oouiii ...... r t i ... , - -,, sioppeu ...... . ' . . i W1)j thnt I thought ho OoUUI Nil uo ueiwr u..... . A face." ho said wildly-" a man ace; a fearf u , so well im i g white face that come, to mo; 'JT ZSfJT feature, drawn a. in 2w. cure, and banish forever that grisly Intruder Death, or approaching death -lent deaths . n p. ww every line. Every leaiure u -
