The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-02-01

was no light in the room, save what
came from the street gas-lampj out
side, through the muslin curtains
and the white blind. Even in the
uncertain light L could see the traces
of sufering-his pale face, his dis
ordered hair, and his swollen eyes.
ooh, Hester, Hester!' he exclaim-
ed, coming forward, and taking both
my hands, ''this is dreadful
cannot remember all that passed
L believe [ asked to see her. i asked
particulars about her death, and T
cried with him. The inquest was to
be held on the following day, but it
was already known, beyond doubt.
that the cause of her death was
poison. She had dined at l O'Clock.
and had lain down on the bed after
1t to sleep, as was usual since her
illness. Some toast-and-watcr stood
at the bedside; and when she awoke
thirsty, and asked for drink, the
nurse gave her this. She drank it.
complained of its bitter taste, fell in
to cohvulslve pains, and soon after
died.
Gould anything have been put
INTO the toast-and- water?' l ex-
claimed
50 it would appear he on
swered; ''but it is a great mystery, ;,
Then, Matthew Goring," 1 re-
Joined, peering steadily ut him, ''who
could have put it in?"
4 know not" he answered, car
nestly. GAS the Lord liyeth and
iooketh upon me, Hester, I am as
ignorant and innocent of this bust
ness as you are.'
"Whcre was Miss Howard at the
time?"
Hester he gravcly said. "you
are preludiccd against Miss Howard:
but for tho love of justice do not
CARRY it so far us to cast this suspicion
upon her. A gentlewoman Of cha
racter, of refined feeling, and you
would point to her as being guilty OF
q crime black as night.'
1T is you who are blindiv prcju-
diced i'll her favor" l replied to him.
Il do think, if she we're proved
guilty of this, you would not believe
''I should not j." was Matthew s
avowal. ''Not from any reason that
You hint at, but because / feel her to
be utterly incapable of even thinking
OF such crime, much less commit
ting it. But pray do not continue to
suspect me Of any undue preference
for her, Hester If, Us You once
limited. she caused Uncasiness to my
dear wife, L wish to my soul she had
never come inside the house."
ttAy,, that's always the ease-rc-
pentance when it's too late. Many a
man would be more careful not to
give his wife cause for anxiety, if he
thought he was soon to lose her." L
could not help saying that; it was in
my thoughts, so out it came.
The sick nurse, Mrs. Gill, gave me
the most explicit account of tins aw
full business, and L will repeat it in
her own words. She had nursed nv
sister in all her illnesses, and was a
good old soul, but very unsuspicious.
My poor missis had dined sump
tuously, ma'am, for her appetite was
coming back to her TIE wing
and breast OF q fowl, and a bit of
bacon, and parsley and butter, and
some porter. DIR. Goring ran MP,
when he had done carving for them
in the parlor, with decanter of
port wine in his hand Some glasses.
Mrs. Gill, he said, and [ brought 'em
to him, and he poured out the wine.
My missis drank one glass, and he
drank two. He wanted her to have
another, and said it wouldn't hurt
her; but she said, No, not rs she
had taken the porter SO he left
the decanter on the mantelpiece.
and told me to be sure to give her a
glass about7 in the evening, if he
was not in himself Then she laid
down on the bed for her afternoons
sleep, and he leaned over her and
gaze her hiss-for If he did-ahem! !
If he did admire othcr faces, he
was q most atfectionate man to his
wife Aand went down stairs. 1 fol-
lowea him, to go to my dinner, only
stopping to !pour out a glass of toast
anAswater and put it by my missis, as
l always did in the afternoon. Some
times she would not drink any, and
sometimes she'd drink it all, but she
liked it to be there Well, ma'an, /
went down, shifting the bedroom
deor after me to keep out the noise.
| di!n'ss hurry over my dinner, AMI
that's the blessed truth, for I thought
4 my missis would be asleep, and
wouldn't want me, and [ know il