The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-10-11

baster case on the ledge of the south win
dow.
She was woman, who, once seen, could
never be forgotten. / have met in my life
many beautiful woman but never one so
lovely.
p She was tall and slight, with purely oval
face, large, liquid eyes, and dash of hec-
tic in her checks, which is never seen in
any PERSONS countenance while in perfect
health.
She received me as now know she did
everything, gracefully, and though there
was slight embarrassment in her manner
when spoke of her illness, she answered
my professional inquiries without hesita-
ton.
AS for myself, laid aside all false deli
cacy, and questioned her plainly as to her
symptoms Mrs. Hurd, her nurse, remain
ed in the room, and, added many little i'm
portant items of information.
When she spoke of her husband it was
with sort of hopeless sadness which dis
tressed me greatly.
Not breath of suspicion against him in
her answers to my questions, and 1 felt
sure that at present she knew nothing of
what Mrs. Hurd had such serious appre-
tensions. was glad that it was so, for
with her finely-strung organism it might
have produced serious results.
made my examination of the patient as
close as could, and drew my own conclu-
sions. could have sworn that Mrs. Spen-
Ger daily swallowed arsenic in small guam
titles, and the deadly drug was telling fear
fully upon a constitution never. very robust.
She said in answer to my questions, that
she had had no physician except her hus-
band. He had thought himself better ac-
quainted with her case, and, therefore, bet
ter qualified to treat it. He never left med
icine with her to take he always brought
it himself fresh from his office, and admin
istered it personally.
There was little enough that l could do
in such case. Anxious to do everything,
the very circumstances of the affair left me
nearly powerless.
A charge of such a grave nature, of
course, could not make against DIR. Spen-
Ger without the amplest proof. If limited
suspicion every one would at once set it
down to professional prejudice; and if 1
could not substantiate my statement, the
doctor could make me pay dearly for such
slanGer uttered against him.
The only dependence seemed to be in
Mrs. Hurd. To her 1 unbosomed myself
freely. told her, without reserve, that /
believed DR.. Spencer was killing his wife
by slow poison, and besought her to be con-
stantly ON the watch to save the victim,
and to discover some proof by which we
could fasten his guilt upon him.
She smiled grimly, and promised obedi,
ence. gave her a powerful antidote fol
the poison I suspected and went home,
strangely perturbed and anxious in mind.
1 did not sleep that night, and all the next
day was in high fever of excitement
A ring at the bell made me tremble-a steI
on the gravel outside my Office stopped my
breath. hardly knew what l expected to
hear, and yet felt sure that before / slept
should hear something.
And now must tell the story as it was
told to me.
DR.. Spencer returned home the morning
after my visit to Clifton House. He look
ed wretchedly the old nurse said, and ap
peared unusually gloomy and depressed
Miss Melrose came with him, and wal
decorously sad over the death of her sister
Women Of her stamp always mourn to per
fection. They never oyerdo nor underdC
the thing as women with feelings are like
ly to do.
DIR. Spencer came at once to his wife
chamber. He thought she looked i'll, an,
prescribed cordial at once, saying h
would 60 and fetch it.
"You are always ordering cordials 70
: her." said Mrs. Hurd, musingly. "Wh,
not take something yourself? You lool
like ghost !"