The Van Buren press., 1869-12-21
DECEMBER 21, 1869

,"For my sake, DEAR" ] heard her
whisper to him, as, stepping lightly
across the room, she picked up the re-
spirator and brought 1t back.
"Well, there get out the sherry, then.
he said, pettishly, as he took back the
instrument.
"No, no dear; Sir Ealing said'-
"Confound Sir Ealing! Ii | am to die,
let me die comfortably, and not be tor
turcd to death Get out the sherry, say
the port too"
/ saw a tear trickle down Mrs, Ross's
cheek as she fetchsi a couple OF decant
ers from side boad where they stood
with glasses.
Haven't you some cake, or did you
send it DOWN. he said impatiently.
81 have it here, dear" said Mrs. Ross
softly; and she placed portion of a
small pound cake upon the table
"Givc me glass Of sherry" he said,
impatently. "No, not that glass 1.-The
otler-Mr.-I don't know your name
try that sherry He slipped litila.
"You'll find il very good"
al thank you,' said quietly " but
| never take wine in business hours
"Won't you try the port, then % he
said. esa E
~ would much rather not l replied.
"a little cakeY" suggested the lady.
bowed and declined, when Mrs. Ross
readjusted her husbands respirator,
leaning over the while.
"Now, let me see that bracelet said
Mr.. Ross, pointing to one upon the ia
bic. But are these all you have
broughtl"
Yes, sir" | said, "but ! can easily
bring fresh selection"---though i had
brought over two thousand pounds
worth
=" Hem, yes" he said "of course! Do
you like that bracelet, Llla?"
Eyes," said Mrs Ross; 81 picked it
out particularly yesterday. That enc
raid is so beautiful"
Put it on" he said, curtly and she
clasped it upon her arm.
"How much p he said shortly.
Thirty-fve guincas," replied.
"Dear," he said, every dear. The
bracelet we bought at the shop was far
more handsome, at the same money"
mo love; it was sixty guincas,' said
Mrs. Ross
"Ah! was it' forget" he said care
lessly. "Well, lay that aside; l don't
want you to come for nothing"
He turned over the various rings, ask
ing the prices Of nearly every article l
had brought, when, suddenly throwing
himself impatiently back, he exclaimed
Good heaven, Lila, this room is insult
ferable; throw some Of that vinegar
about"
Mrs. Ross smiled family and taking
u flexible tube from the mantlspiecn, che
n scented aromatic vinegar dnrssa 9ps'
treshing perfume through the room.
"That's BETTER" he cxclaimed,-"Now
show me those pearls. How much did
you say they wersT'
-Four hundred guincas the suite" !
said, Fastening to lay them before him,
',There, take them away! he sxclaim-
ed. II can't afford four hundred guine-
as four hundred shillings more likely.
That COMPOUNDED doctor is running me.
Let me look at the watches; or stay, let
me look at the pearls again. No; never
mind. won't have them unless you take
half the money Show me the Watches
j was Fastening to place the half doz.
en- / had with me In his hands, when he
exclaimed again: +" lnsutierable Have
you any mere of that vinegar, Lila"
Mrs. Ross nodded, and taking cut.
glass bottle from her pocket, she placed
It with handkerchief by his side.
"No, no." he said, giving me back the
watches. "Sprinkle the room with an
other of those tubes. Now, you! I'll
have that little plain watch. I'm getting
tired of this. Let mo have chain to
mntch---a fine one, mind--the thinnest
you have; and that will do tor to-day.
As selected four or five chains, after
putting the watch aside, Mrs. Ross took
up another tube, unscrewed it. and then
appeared to be taking especial notice OF
the chains which bore across to the in
valid.
Those are sweetly pretty" she ex-
claimed.
As she spoke she stood close to my
side, when the invalid exclaimed, impa-
ticntly "Thero, pray DO quick, dear"
and at one and the same moment he
poured out the contents of his bottle up
on his handkerchief, and l felt fine
spray of a peculiar odor playing right in
my nostrils. ! started back. gasping and
nstonished, when, leaping from the couch
the invalid exclaimed GOOD heavens,
sir, you are unwell; :" and he covered my
fase and nose with the wet handkerchief,
forcing me backwards into chair.
l believe that l struggled, but only
feebly; for strange, delicious, cnerva'
ting languor was stealing over me saw
things mistily, but still with an under
standing mind, seeing, though unable to
move hand or foot, that the invalid was
bending over, while Mrs Ross was hssti.
ly placing the various articles Of jewelry
in her pocket. | saw all that, but in a
dreamy, untroubled way, tor II seemed
then not to be Of the slightest conse
ouence--not to concern me. Then have
some recollection of an intensely cold
sensation as of water bsing poured upon
my face, while my next impression is OF
hearing closing door and the click sf n
lock. How long remained in that con
dition never knew but by degrees l
swoke to q feeling of deadly nausea; my
head swan, my temples throbbed, aud
everything ! gazed upon was seen
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