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 -