Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-06-06
Established December I5 1850 t3iaST aaEARFWFILE TENNESsEE


-, 80. - - =.
onel Hadden, who had been pac-
ing up and down the Hall, in a
perfect agony Of impatience, came
to meet me. 'iaas S5e as. @. ',e
as that you, DR.. Meller? /
thought you never would come.
We're in pretty state of confus-
sion here, Burglars in the house
my wifes set Of diamonds gone
nobody knows what else-but
old Hopkins left his sign manual
on ono of the fellows. They
must be caught; they can't es-
cape far. For you, see - ''-. .y,,.a 7,
Yes, but Colonel Hadden--"
"Oh, ay--I understand
want TO see your patient 2 A's
Hopkins, the. butler; he got an
ugly blow on the left arm and
afterwards my wife went herself
for DR.. Maynard--no offence, Mel
Ter, but he lives nearer. than, ,you
but he was out. She has only
just returned. / couldn't very
well leave Ilopkins--and Mrs.
Hadden is such kind, good s)ul,
she insisted on going herself to
fetch Maynard"
'But, my dear sir-" @
"Ah, true +! come along to Hop
kins' ROOM"
Hopkins, the butler, was as
voluble as his master, and ten
times as circumstantial and by
the time | had set his forearm, [
was pretty well in possession of,
all the particulars Of the attempt
ed burglary at Haddenliegh. !
z"And now. .doctory you'll take a
glass of wine," said the hospita-
bic old gentleman, ushering me in
TO his library. -....... ,.l--
1t was brilliantly lighted, and
warm with the crimson glow of a
genial fire.. before which, in a sin,
gularly- graceful attitude, sat a
lady, wrapped, in the gorgeous
folds of an Indian shawl.
my wife, doctor, Isabel, my
love, this is Doctor Meller." 4
We stood before one another in
silence II could not speak, for Il
knew that l was looking into the
startled, ,agonized eyes Of the wo.
man who had knelt scarcely an
hour ago by the dying couch in
the desolate cottage = Colonel
Hadden's new wife, of whose
beauty | had heard SO much. 1
The Colonel talked on, but |
heard not word that he said. /
could not but marvel at the won-
derful self,possession of the wo-
man who smiled and looked grave
ard said ''Yes" and "No" just in
the right places.
"To be sure the Colonel was
saying, as | woke into a sort of
Of his voice, "the
loss Of IsabeIs diamonds is some
thing serious, but of course we
shall recover them again. Only,
my love, it was rather careless OF
you to leave them on the drawing
room table" K"
"It was careless" replied Mrs
Hadden, calmly. doctor, you
are not going? Colonel, you have
forgotten that curious old book
you were wanting to show DR..
Meller."
81 had entirely forgotten it,
calculated the Colonel. "Pll get
it, in half minute, and you can
take it-home with you, Meller." |
AS the door closed behind the
honest old gentleman, Mrs. Had
den glided up to me and placed
her. cold hand OH mine; it was
like the touch of an icicle.
"Doctor, you have my secret;
you will surely not betray meT
al am pledged to silence, mad
am," | returned, coldly; ). ss.but
this deceit SS3A- AA'-
cit is not my fault, doctor, re
piled the woman, sit is my 5dte.
How | endured it | scarcely know;
were Ito pause and think | should
go mad. The man who died to-
night was my son! Colonel Had
den knows nothing of my first
marriage, nor of this dreadful Sc
cret of my sons criminal life, that
has weighed me down fer years.
Over and over again ! have thought
to escape from it, but it has toll
lowed upon my. footsteps like a
doom. Tonight closes that chap |
ter of. my life; oh, heaven how
dreadful! But my secret is safe,
the diamonds provided for that"
"But your husband, Mrs. Had
den
She covered her pallid, beauti-
full face with her hands.
81 know what you would say,
DIR. Meller. i love him and hon.