South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-06-09

Bernard Brand, stout supporter of lie
noir, who had cured him by making hin
drink lemonade instead of port; "I don
believe word of il. It's some of tina
humbug Heathcote's nonsense"
But when the whist-tables were set 70
the evening, behold the tale was true, ant
the universal community of Bath wer
ringing with it But to the still create
astOnishment of every one, there was tn
Magnificent, looking more magniticen
than ever, seated in his accustomed place
and glancing benignly from under hi
swarthy eyebrows.
Magnificent" said Henshaw, "havI
you heard what people are saYing?"
Yes, Henry, | have heard it"
Well, what is the story?".
"They say you are not to have that plac'
in the Customs, because you can't keep
| secret"
Henshaw's face grew livid, for the plac'
in the Customs was life or death to him
although he thought no one knew of it
f-Hs PtEeked up courage, however, and re
torted: "They want to know what you
have done with Mrs DeGrey."
81 believe Mrs. DeGrey has gone to the
country for her health. OF course, Col
DeGrey is the best authority on that sub
ject."
"Lenoir," doubt not you are a villain,
said voice behind him; and, turning
round, he saw DR.. Heathcote. az have
just seen the Colonel, and he is raging at
the disappearance of his wife. He says she
went away last night, and no one knows
where. He was on his way to your house
when met him"
"Dr. Heathcote, you jog-trot practition-
ers judge by the most superficial symp-
TOMS" said LenOir, in the loftiest tone. &c
shall see the Colonel if he has returned,
and tomorrow l shall take occasion to re-
quest an explanation of the epithets which
you have used, and the impertinent sug-
gestiOns of the little lawyer"
Meantime, with your leave, shall fin
ish my rubber" ......r
But the party broke up and declined to
finish the rubber, and the Magnificent
took his hat and walked slowly from the
room. His faction retired home in great
discontinue.
Meanwhile Col. DeGrey, in the great
est perturbation, having found his wife
gone on his return, and no trace of her,
went on to the house of DR.. Lenoir.. 1t
was a large, gloomy mansion, with high
hdiAAo, ehnh ON .
light shone over the doorway
The Colonels knock was not answered at
once, and he thought he heard a window
opened by thick-set, powerful man with
one eye. 90 l-f
as DR.. Lenoir at home?" said the
Colonel.
"Yes, sir" said the man, abe kind
enough to walk in"
Colonel DeGrey entered and followed
the man upstairs. He thought he heard
the outer door locked as he went up.
He was ushered into Strengthening
room, with very little furniture, and
window at the roof, so high as to be be-
yond reach. The moment he was in the
room the door was violently shut and
he was left in absolute darkness.
He rushed to the door, ragged and
;tormed, beloved at the top of his voice,
put no answer was returned Half an
hour had elapsed, and at last a trap in the
ceiling opened, and a light appeared
through it.
"The master be cooml'' said voice.
You scoundrel, you and your master
hall pay for thisl'
"The master be COON. Wilt go quoit-
u"
Another volley of wrath was about to
.scape from his lips, when he bethought |
lin that his better plan would be at least |
o feign submission.
al shall be glad to tell your master |
What a blackguard he is shall do that |
uietly enough"
On this assurance the trap was closed;
nd in few minutes the same one-eyed |
nan, with companion of equal strength,
pened the door and invited the Colonel |
D emerge.
He saw at once that he would have no
hance in struggle, and determined to
ee the matter out, resolving to use violence
he could not otherwise escape.
Passing through narrow winding pas
age, door opened, and he was ushered
ito a well-furnished sitting room, and
here, seated in an easy chair, was the i'm
erturable Magni ficent.
The door was closed behind him, and
,oking round, he could not have told
here it was.
Lenoir motioned to him to sit down;
ut giving no heed to the invitation, he
"What is the meaning of this infamous
,nduct? Where amI?"
In a mad-house," said the doctor, COM
1sedly.
And on what pretense have you de-
'yed me here, you scoundrel, and where
my wife?"
" Don't you think" rejoined the Mag
fcent, in the same tone, "that should
,ur wife die, you had better be mad for :
tie ?" -
" What on earth do you mean" said the
olonel. But his face blanched, and he {
nix into seat. & @ '
" Col. DeGrey, knew you a long time q
o. Do you remember DR.. Geronimo {
,iretti at Padua?"
f" Gracious Godr' said the Colonel.
" / was his assistant when you studied T
'ison under him. was a lad of sixteen, a
it you have not changed. Now you (
low all" '
The wretched man for a moment nearly t
inted. He tried to speak, but could e
AXE no articulate sound. 4
" Don't glance at the poker Killing
2 would be your own death. Listen: q
"I knew you from the first, and 1 mis- 3
lsted you from the first, and but for the v
-eet woman who is linked to you and u
10 still trusts you, you should have met
2 doom you deserve, as far as | am con- h
med. But to expose you would kill a
r.
a 1 was certain, from DR.. Heathcote's ac-
mt, how the matter stood. / knew you c
'uld discontinue the doses while l was Il
ere. You thought that was the cause of "a
: recovery, and did not thing of Spi- d
it's antidote. Z,
knew the attempt would begin when
Fas absent. The nurse brought me the Ii
lsoned soup. have had it analysed in Ii
presence by two careful chemists, and f
} analysis, and the subject of itareso be- b
that he thundered, and
llt DeGrey such a blow on the arm as s.
lrly fractured it. He had attempted to II
re the poker. The pain of the blow was Il
ense for a moment, but Lenoir gave him
lass of brandy, and proceeded N
Your wife is where none of Spiretti's o.
ipes will reach her. She believes you
Te sent her there, and is content. You ta
/ now write two letters before you leave 81
room. One to tell your wife that you NJ
Obliged to go abroad for two months, ia
| requesting her to remain where she is
il your return; the other to request me "
attend her during her absence at her
v residence. G
shall send the two children to her.
the end of two months, unless the ii
dose was too strong for her shattered sc
tenn, she will be quite we'll, and you