The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-02-01

Il
twenty-five, and who had evidently been
marvellously good.looking.
"Oh, heavens, he Is dead J"
Her clear agonized voice was ringing in
my cars, rs they led me back into the dark
ness of the night. felt bank note press.
cd into my hand as entered the carriage
once more.
"Doc,or. you have done your duty; 1t is
not your faul, that your efforts have not
been moro successful. Remember, you
are pledged to secresy."
The next moment was whirlng swiftly
through the November midnight, with the
strange, unquiet feeling Of ono wakened
suddenly from q dream. Yet Il was no
dream-alas Il was startling reality.
The carriage stopped at cross road
near the village.
"Please to alight here sir" said the driy.
or. "You are not far from home"
Iobeyed, and stood listening in the mid
die of the road, while the noise Of the car.
riage wheels died away, losing It's distinct.
ness in the shrek Of the restless winds.
And the clock in the village church tolled
out the hour Of one.
Late rs It was, however, my surgery was
still open and lighted up the servant from
iiaddenlcigh Hall had just ridden to the
door.
-"If you please, doctor, you arc wanted
Immediately at the Hall The Colonel said
you were to ride my horse, If yours were
not already saddled, and l can walk, SO
there will be no time lost"
! mechanically mounted the noble ami.
NAL that stood waiting for me, and rode of
rather glad Of an opportunity to revolve in
my mind the singular adventure that had
bciallen me during the evening.
Haddenlcigh stood little back from the
road, on magnificent knoll crowned with
century old ches,nuts and bceches and
reached the broad stone steps in about
half an hour, by dint Of rapid strides.
As entered the vestibule, Colonel Had.
den, who had been pacing up and down
the hall ina perfect agony Of impa'ience,
to meet me.
Z" Is that you. DR.. Meller? l thought
you never would come. We arc In n pretty
state of confusion here Burglars in the
house-my wife's set Of diamonds gone
nobody knows what else-but old Hop
kin's left his sign manual upon ono Of the
fcllows.-They must be caught. They
can't escape Gar. For you SEQ"
Yes, but Colonel Hadden-"
aOh, aye-I understand you-you want
to sec your patient? It's Hopkins, the
bu,lcr; he got an ugly blow on the left
arm and afterwards my wife went her
self for DR.. Maynam-no offcnsc, Mellcr,
bu, he lives nearer than you-but he was
out. She has only just returned. couldn't
very well leave Hopkins MrS. Had
den Is such kind good soul, sho insisted
on going herself to fetch Maynard"
But, my dear sir"
'Ah, true Como along to Hopkins
room." Hr.
Hopkins, the butler, was as voluble as
his master, and ten times rs circumstantial |;
and by The time I had set his broken arm
! was pretty well IN possession Of all the
particulars Of tho attempted burglary at
iaddenleigh.
And thinking Of my midnight patient,
whose life had ebbed out upon the pile Of
straw, felt strnge outlines as . listen.
Cd to Colonel Hadden's eager coniectures
as to the whereabouts Of the dcsperadocs
who hal fled.
aAnd now. doctor, you'll take glass Of
winc," said the hospitable old gentleman,
ushering me into his library.
Il wns brilliantly lighted, and warm with
tho crimson glow Of a genial 6rc. before
which, in singularly graceful attitude, sat
a lady, wrapped In the gorgeous folds Of
an Indian shawl. ...
aMy wife, Doctor. Isabel, my love, this
Is DR.. Meller."
We stood before one another 10 silence.
I could not speak, for knew that I wns
looking into the startled, agonized eyes Of
the woman who had knelt scarcely on hour
ago by the dying couch In tho hesolate
cottage-CoL Haddcn's new wife, Of whose
beauty had heard 30 much.
The Colonel talked on, but heard not
word that he said. I could not hut marvel
a, the wonderful selfpossession Of the wo.
man, who smiled and looked grave, and
said .Yes" and "No" in the igh, pla-
ces.
"To be sure" the colonel was saying
M woke into sort Of consciousness Of
his voice, "the loss Of lsabel's diamonds
is something serious, but Of course We shall
recover them again. Only, my love. il was
mther careless Of you to leave them on the
drawing room table"
1T was carcless," replied Mrs Hadden,
calmly. CDR, you arc not goingl Col,
you have forgotten that curious old look
you were wanting to show Dr. Meller."
Al the door closed behind the honest
old gentleman, Mrs. Hadden slided up to
me and placed her cold hand on mine-it
was like the touch Of IN iciclc. "
ADr. you have my secret-you surely
viii not bctray it?" -r.. Ia
81 am pledged to silence, madam"
returned coldly "but this deceit"
"lt Is not my fiuk, Doctor" walled the
Il O.. q O..