Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Black Doctor
Mycoolnessonlyirritatedhimthemore.Heraved,hecursed,heshookhisfistsinmyface,andthensuddenlyahorriblespasmpassedoverhisfeatures,heclappedhishandtohisside,andwithaloudcryhefellinaheapatmyfeet.Iraisedhimupandstretchedhimuponthesofa,butnoanswercametomyexclamations,andthehandwhichIheldinminewascoldandclammy.Hisdiseasedhearthadbrokendown.Hisownviolencehadkilledhim.
"ForalongtimeIsatasifIwereinsomedreadfuldream,staringatthebodyofmybrother.IwasarousedbytheknockingofMrs.Woods,whohadbeendisturbedbythatdyingcry.Isentherawaytobed.Shortlyafterwardsapatienttappedatthesurgerydoor,butasItooknonotice,heorshewentoffagain.SlowlyandgraduallyasIsatthereaplanwasformingitselfinmyheadinthecuriousautomaticwayinwhichplansdoform.WhenIrosefrommychairmyfuturemovementswerefinallydecideduponwithoutmyhavingbeenconsciousofanyprocessofthought.Itwasaninstinctwhichirresistiblyinclinedmetowardsonecourse.
"EversincethatchangeinmyaffairstowhichIhavealluded,Bishop’sCrossinghadbecomehatefultome.Myplansoflifehadbeenruined,andIhadmetwithhastyjudgmentsandunkindtreatmentwhereIhadexpectedsympathy.Itistruethatanydangerofscandalfrommybrotherhadpassedawaywithhislife;butstill,Iwassoreaboutthepast,andfeltthatthingscouldneverbeastheyhadbeen.ItmaybethatIwasundulysensitive,andthatIhadnotmadesufficientallowanceforothers,butmyfeelingswereasIdescribe.
