Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-05-02

reached The broad stone stops in about half
an hour hY dint frsrid strides.
AL entered tie vostlbule Colonel Had.
denle:eh. who had been pacing up end down
tho hali Ia a perfect agony Of iuaPahenee
came to meet me-
eIsthat you, Dr, heller ! thought you
never would cone. We're in pretty state
Of consusiou here. Burglars 10 the mouse
ny wifs's set Of diamonds gone-non1
knows what clse-but old Hopkins ie.s US
sien manuel upon one of the follows Anes
must be caught. Thsy can escape ia',
for you see" u.as.
.Oh. sye--I understand you-you want
to see your patient. It's Hopkins. the but
Ter he's got an ugly blow on the left arm
and afterwards my wife went herself for
DR.. Maynard--no offence. Aslier, but he
lives nearer than you--but he Vas out.
could not very veil leave Hopkins-and
Mrs. Haddsnlugh 10 such kind, good soul,
she insisted on lsoing hsrselfto fetch DR..
"But. my dear sis-"
"Ah, true. Come along TO Hopkins
room."
Hopkins. the butler, WAS - valuhls a.
his master. and tea times - cireumstantial.
and by the time had set his broken fore
arm was pretty well in possession Of all
the particulars Of the attempted burglary at
Haddenlsigh.
And thinking Of my midnight patient.
whose life had ebbed out upon the pile Of
| straw, felt a strange outlines as listened
10 Col. Hsddenleigh's eager conjectures M
to the Whereabouts Of the despsradoes who
had aed.
| "And now, doctor, you will take glass
| Of wine," said the hosptable old gentleman,
ushsring mo into his library.
Il was brilliantly lighted and warm with
the crimson glow Of = genial fire, before
which, in . singular graceful attitude. sat
ladv. wrapped in the gorgs folds Of On
| Indian shANl."
"My wife. doctor Isabel, my love, this
is DR.. Msller."
We stood before one another in silence
could not speak, for knew that va
looking into the startled, agonizsd eyes Of
the woman who had knslt scarcely an hsuf
ago BY the dying couch In the dssolats cot.
tage-Col. Haddsnlsigh' new wife, of who's
beasty had heard SO much.
The Colonel talked on, but heard not Z
word that he said. could not but mar
vel At tie wonderful sslf possessien Of ths
wemsn Who smilsd and locked grave, and
said "yss" and mo" in the right places
ITO be sure" the Colonel WAS sayin 6,
- ! awoke into . sort Of cenaciousness
of his voice, 1.-THE loss Of labels dia
n,onds IL something serious, but Of course
we shall recover them again. Only, ny
love, il was rather careless Of you "a
leave thsm ON the drawing room table. :"
ut was careless." replied Mrs. Hidden
leigh calmly. "Doctor, you are not going
Colonel, you have forgotten that curious
old book you we're wanting to show Dr.
Meller."
A the door closed behind the honest Ole
gentleman. Mrs. Haddenleigh glided up I,
me, and placing her hand ON MINE,
was like the touch Of al icicls.
doctor, you have my secrct-you sore
ly will not betrAy itf"
Il an pledged to silence, IN ,dam." re
turnsd coldly "but this deceit"
IT s not my fault" walled the poor wo
man, .'it is my fate. How | endure it
scarcely know. Were to pause and think
| should q mad The man who died to-
night was my son! Col. Hsddenleigh know!
bnt i Of ny first marriage, nor OF thil
dreadful secret OF my sons criminal life tina
a, been W, ighing me down for years Ovcl
an1 over again have thought of escap,
from 1t, bu. it has followed upon my foot
steps like doom. Tonight closes tina,
chapter OF my life oh, heaven how dread
! fll, Bat my secret is safc-the diamonds
provided for that,
! "Blt yonr husband, Mrs Ulddenleish L
She covered her pallId. beautiful face
| With her hands,
Il know what you would say, DR.. Meier
| love aid honor him above all men; but
what can dos Believe me. have never
willingly wrongsd or deceived him. nevel
dreamed of-of-"
She paused abruptly. Col. MADDEN wa.
entering the room, and the smiling, casus
remark which she addressed to him filed
my heart with amazsment.
| rode home tn my blue-syed little Flea
nor, feeling. As | entered the snug sitting
room, as il were returning to the homely
happy atmosphere Of every day life Bot
never forgo, the terrible excitement, tn.
fearful suspense Of that November night.
The despsrAdoes who had attempted t
rifle llsddcnlcigh Hall wsre never detected
or taken-all trace Of them seemed 10 hav,
vanished out of the earth.
And were it not for the bank note which
most literally compensated my services
and the everlasting witness borne by Mrs
Haidenlegh's lovely face, should almos
have been tempted to fancy that all tn
events Of that marvellous November mid
night wore the frag nents Of . dream.
This was my adventure the first ant
last that ever crossed the pathway Of my
| life