The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-06-27

not live half an hour longer"
The horror of that sepulchral silence
that fell upon us as my accents died
away--shall I ever forget 1t Aud FIVE
minutes afterwards the breathing, spas
modic and painful to hear, died into
eternal stiffness. The young woman
lifted the corner of the handkerchief,
and gazed into the ghastly face. 1t
was that OF a young man Of about TWEEN.
ty-two and who had evidently been
marvellously good looking.
Oh, heavens is he dead !! "
Her clear agonized voice was ring.
ing in my ears, as they led me baok in
to the darkness of the night. l felt
bank note in my hand as l entered the
carriage once more.
"Doctor you have done your best (;
it is not your fault that your efforts
have not been more successful. Re-
member yon are pledged to secrecy"
The next moment | was whirling
swiftly through the November mid.
night, with the strange, unquiet feel
ing of one wakened from a startling
dream. Yet it was no dream-alas !!
it was startling reality.
The carriage stopped at cross road
near TIE village.
Please to alight here, sir" said the
driver. "You are not far from home"
obeycd, and stood listening in the
middle of the road, while the noise Of
the carriage wheels died away, losing
distinctness in the shrek of the
restless winds. The clock in the vii
liage church tolled out the hour of
one. Late as it was, however my
surgery was still open and lighted up !;
the servant from Haddenleigh Hall had
jusS ridden up to the door.
IF you please, doctor you are want
ed Immediately at the Hall. The col
oncl said you could ride my horse. if
yours was not already saddled, and l
can walk, SO there would be no tire lost"
l mechanically mounted the noble
anima! that stood waiting for me, and
rode of, rather glad Of an opportunity
to revolve in my mind the singular ad
venture that had befallen Inc during
the evening. Haddenleigh stood lit
tie back from the road, on a magni6
cent knoll crowned with century old
chestnut and beaches, and 1 reached
the broad stone steps in about halt an
hour, by dint of rapid strides. AS I
entered the vestibule, Colonel Hadden
who had heen pacing up and down the
hall in perfect agony of impatience,
came to meet me-
" Is that you, DR.. Meller !? 1 thought
you never would come. We're in a
pretty state of confusion here Burg
lars in the house my wife's diamonds
gone-nobody knows what else-but
old Hopkins left his sign manual upon
one of the fellows They must be
caught They can't escape. For you
see"
Yes, but Colonel Hadden-"
" Oh, aye-I understand you-you
want to see your patient? ? It's Hop
kins, the butler, he got an ugly blow
on the lett ARMAND afterwards my
wife went herself for DR.. Maynard
no offense, Meller, But he lives nearer
than you but he was ou:. She has
only Just returned, and couldn't very
well leave Hopkins, and Mrs. Hadden
is such kind good soul, she insisted
on going herself to fetch DR.. May.
nard-"
But, my dear sir"
4" All true, come along to Hopkins
room"
Hopkins, the butler, was as volu.
BILE as his master, and ten times as cir
cumstantial, and by the time I had set
his broken forearm, I was pretty we'll
in possession OF all the particulars Of
the attempted burglary at Haddenleigh.
And thinking of my midnight patient
whose life had ebbed out upon the pile
of straw, l felt strange outlines as
| listened to Colonel Hadden's eager
conjectures as to the whereabouts of
the desperadoes who had fed.
" And now, doctor you'll take a glass
of wine," said the hospitable old gentle |
man, ushcring Inc into his library.
1t was brilliantly lighted, and warm
with the crimson glow of genial fire,
before which, in a singularly graceful
attitude, sat LADY, wrapped in the
gorg eous folds of an Indian shawl.
=" My wife, doctor Isabel, my love
this is DR., Meller."
We stood before one another in 81.
leuee: l could not speak, for I knew
that was looking Tito the startled ag-
gonized eyes of the woman who had |
knelt scarcely an hour before by the DIV, |
ing couch in the deso!ate cottage Col |
opel HaGden's new wife, Of whose
beauty had heard so much.
The Colonel talked on, but heard
not word that he said. l could not
but marvel at the wonderful self.pos.
session OF the woman, smiled and look
ed grave and said yes" and "no" in
the right places.
Z" To be sure" Colonel was saying
I