Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-10-26

| SCulDCuTCU SUOUc. OuC Ultt uOb SCCI IuOTC
than thirty but l afterwards knew that she
was at least ten years older. But, in spite
of her present anguish, how grandly bcauti-
full she was Large dark eycs-hair like
coiled gold, catching some strange CLEANS
from the shifting lanterns sand broad,
smooth brow-it was face you sec but once
in whole lifetime.
And yet in the midst of her distress, she
never spoke.
"At least you can do something for him
doctor 7" said my interlocutor, impatiently
"Don't let us waste time here"
AS proceeded in my ministrations, the
moaning grew fainter, the convulsiyc move
ments became scarcely perccptible. A faint
gleam of hope lighted up the face OF the wo-
man who knelt with clasped hands opposite;
she looked appealngly at me.
"IIe is better--hc is surely better 2"
"Ho will be better soon," l answered
moved to pity in spite of myself. "IIe can
not live half an-hour longer"
The horror of that scpuichral silence that
fell upon US as my accents died away-shall
ever forget it ~ And five minutes after
wards the breathing spasmodic 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 q young man of about
twenty two, and who had evidently been
marvelously good-looking.
"Oh, heavens, he is dead |"
Her clear agonizcG voice was ringing in
my cars as 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.
doctor, you have done your best; it is
not your fault that your efforts have not been
more successful. Remember you are pledged
to secrecy"
The next moment / was whirling swiftly
through the November midnight with the
strange, unquict feeling of one waking sud
denly from a startling drcam-alas ! it was
q startling reality.
The carriage stopped at cross-road neal
the village.
: "Pleasc to alight here, sir" said the driver
you arc not far from home"
/. obcyed, and stood listening in the mid
= die Of the road, while the noise of the car
riage wheels died away, losing its distinct
ness in the shrek of the restless winds
And the clock of the village church tolled
out the hour of one.
p Late os it was, however, my surgery wa:
: still open and lighted up, the servant from
lIaddcnlcigh Hall had just ridden to the
Il door.
# "If you please, doctor, you arc wanted
. Immediately at the Hail. The Colonel said
;. you were to ride my horse, if yours was moi
already saddled, and can walk, so there
q will be no time lost"
v l mechanically mounted the noble anima
n that stood waiting for me, and rode of
rather glad of an opportunity to rcvolve il
# mind the singular adventure that had DC
q fallen me during the evening.
Z Iaddenlcigh stood little back from tn,
e. ,t,it Il
century old chcstnuts and bccchcs; and
7 reached the broad stone steps in about halt
=. an-hour, by dint of rapid strides.
r. AS entered the vcstibulc, Colonel Iad
den, who had been pacing up and down tn
=, hall in perfect agony of impatiencc, cam
~ to meet me.
70 "Is that you, DR.. Mellcr2 thought yo,
would never come. We're in pretty stat
of confusion here Burglars in the house
- my wifc's set of diamonds gone-nobod
a, knows what elsc-but old Hopkins left hi
,s sign manual upon one of the fellows. The
n. can't escape far. For you sec"
"Ycs, but Colonel IIaddcn-"
r. "Oh, aye--I understand you--you wan
ce to sec your pationt2 It's Hopkins, the but
to Ter he got an ugly blow on the left arm
A. and afterwards my wife went herself for ID
40 Mayuard-.no cilcnsc, Meller, but he live
nearer than you-but he was out. She la
70 only just returned. | couldn't very we
D leave lIopkins-and Mrs. Iadden, is such
M kind, good SOUL she insisted on going he
ht self to fetch Maynard"
)" "But, my dear sir"
ut "Ah, true! Come alcng to llopkin
ROOM"
or Hopkins, the butler was as valuable MS h
al master, and ten times rs circumstantial; an
h, by the time | had set his broken forearm
No was pretty well in possession of oil the pa
ticulars OF the attempted burglary at liaC
in denleigh.
:" And, thinking of my indulgcnt pation
No. whose life had cbbed out upon the pile
q straw, felt a strange outlines as listene
TO Col. lIadden's eager conjcctures as to IL
whereabouts of the dcspcradocs who ha
%. fled.
~ "And now, doctor, we'll take glass
~ winc," said the hospitable old gentleman
nj ushcring me into his library.
NJ 1t was brilliantly lighted, and warm wit
II the crimson glow of genial fire, befo
in which, in o singutarly graceful attitude, 81
a lady, wrapped in the gorgeous folds OF q
Indian shawl.
ICE Ny wife, doctor. Isabel, my love this
III DIR. Meller."
'' We stood before one anther in silence.
could not speak, for knew ! was lookir
n into the startled, agonlZed eyes ot the W
co man who knelt scarcely an hour ago by Il
% dying couch in the desolate cottage-Ct
~. Iadden's new wife, of whose beauty hi
To-. heard so much.
DIS The Colonel talked on, but heard not
vas word that he said. l could not but marv
IVY, at the wonderful selfpossession of the W
MI man, who smiled and looked grave and sal
na 'sYesn and No" in the right places.
by ITO be sure" the Colonel was saying, a.
yly awokc to sort of consciousness of his volt
owe "thc loss of Isabel's diamonds is somethi
lm- serious, but of course We shall recover the
- again. Only, my love it was rather carcl'
the Of you to leave them on the table,"
lair SIT was careless" replied Mrs. Had6'
, or calmly. "Doctor, you are not going2 Co
5 of mel you have forgotten that curious old bo
Iich you were wanting TO show DR.. Mellcr"
lth, AS the door closed behind the honest c
, of gentleman, Mrs. Hadden glided up to
and placed her cold hand on mine-it v
as like the touch of an icicle.
heir doctor, you have my secret-you sur
fall will not betray itm
ly / 81 atn pledged to silence, madam"
=. | 4 u. kls,,& 10 ~