The Republican journal., 1872-03-28
Or. SpencerTs Great Crime.
A STORY TOLD B4 A PHYSICIAN.

nutrition, in the last medical review
The fire in the crate was low, the night
was stormy and thu clock was on the
stroke Of eleven | was lust about to
turn off the gas and retire, for, being a
bachelor, | slept in the room connected
with any office, when there was Il pull at
the bell. .,. -...4
| started up suddenly, for this was
something new. Mdalebnry waSa deco
rouS sort OF place and people usually man
aged to be taken sick at seaSonable hours
Old Mrs. jerome had been threatening
TO die for the past five years. and at every
visit paid her She solrmnlv informed me
! that when the decisive moment did COME
She desired me present. But as nothing
allied the old lady beyond now and then
IN indigestion from too much high living.
| had never vet been called upon to be
present at her death
Now thought, it must he old Mrs
Jerome is going. . .....
\ took up my night lamp and went to
the door. 4 strong gust OF damp, sleetv
wind nearly extinguished the light, out
shading it with my hand, dimly discern
ed ;he form of woman
Come in," said |, holding open the
door but she declined with gesture Of
impatience.
"You must come out" she said in
sharp incisive voice, "alfd be quick about
it ~
/ put on my oyereoat without demur.
locked the surgery door, and stepped into
the storm. AS did SO the woman laid
firm hand on my arm, and putting her
face close to mine, said:
..nr | pnl-unn1 c., war, l-aa,, ca
cret ,"
II think so, madam
Swear it,
al character? That is, is it ANYTHING vou
wish to contitfe in me as a medical man ~
\ 1T is" ..
/ Very well, then. | swear it,
That is right
man respects an oath. though why he
should is mystery, since mems mouths
are running over with them.
"Whither are you taking me and for
what purpose ,"
Ito the Clifton house to see the mis-
Jress
started
Clifton House was the old mansion re-
Gently taken by DR.. spencer "a stranger
to every one in Middlebury. Spencer
was a tall, dark. rather distinguished
looking man. who had hung out his sign
in the village, only a few doors above
mine, but as yet be had got no practice.
He was unsocial in the extreme, avoid
ing his neighbors persstently. and when
he did speak it was in such curt. halt
savage way, that one was not likely to at
tempt prolonging the conversation
The doctor had a wife, it was said, but
no one ever saw her. She was an invalid,
and Miss Nlelrose, Il friend of the family,
presided over the establishment and sat
at the head of the table
Miss Melrose was yet beautiful. and
won the admiration OF all who visited
Clifton House by her grace of manner
and fascinating conversation.
"As we walk along" said my compan-
| ion, ''let me explain to YOU Just what it is
| necessary you should know. Ny mis-
tress is very i'll
81 beg your pardon is it Mrs. Spencer
or Miss Melrose ?'~
She laughed bitterly.
Miss Melrosei | would stab her to
the heart sooner than own her as mis-
tress. Ny mistress is a.lady noble. royal
and Of gentle birth. 1t is an honor to
serve my mistress" ..
And is she i'll +? How long since ?"
Ever since she married him--curse
him." she muttered in fierce tone; ''but
must not get excited. | must tell my
story, or rather hers. Two years ago,
through the desire Of her dying father,
Alice Herndon became James Spencer's
wife. Before that she was healthy,
blooming girl Immediately after this
| marriage she began to fail. Do you see
anything strange ia that p
Not necessarily" a. -r--.-,
Let me eniigMen you further. DIR.
Spencer was at one time engaged to Miss
Lucille Melrose, but he broke the engage
| ment and married my mistress instead.
Miss Melrose was as poor as Jobs turkey;
Miss HerndOn was an heiress, and DR..
Spencer was deeply in debt. and hard
pressed by his creditors. Do you see
| arythin gstrange in that"
'tPerhaps.o Go on" -.--'.-.' E. .+
| "When my mistress married Spencer
she was only seventeen, and had been
taught to obey her father in everything
i She was a gentle, affectionate child. and
4 it would have been easy for Spencer to
have won her love. But he did not care
\ for that. 1t was her money he wanted
\ 1t paid his debts and bought him fast
\ horses; it set his table with nice costly
/ dishes, and put it in his power to keep
4 Miss Melrose robed like queen. And
| all this time my mistress has been slowly
but surely sinking, and look you, DR.
/ Lock wood, l believe THAT she is not diving
of disease, bat Of she lowered her
voice to a whisper as she spoke the word
H -..poison." ..- s.~..... 49,. ....e...
4 '.Impossihle J.. This is a grave charge" :"
4 "Of poison given her by her husband.
4 who, at her. death, will haYe. sole control
4 of her property and be free to marry Miss
4 Melrose. There Is no time to explain to
4 you in detail the thousand and one cir
i cumstances which have led me to the be-
1 lief, for we are almost at the door It is
4 never the case that Miss Melrose and
i Spencer are out at the same time, or
4 should have called another physician be
Il fore;' but tonight they are called away
Il by the death of Miss Melrese's sister, and
\ will not be back until tomorrow. With
the consent of my mistress, came. for
/ you, and OH DIR. lockwood. Il pray you
save my dear mistress. / nursed her
/ when her mother died and left her help
less infant all through her innocent youth
she was like an own child to me; and
4 now to see her fading hour BY hour be-
fore my eyes! Good heavens if 1-knew
/ beyond doubt that he was guilty, his life
1 should pay the forfeit ~ -..--"'
/ was already beginning to feels deep
interest in Mrs. Spencer, although I had
never seen her, and like her old nurse, Il
was inclined to feel great aninesity for
| DR.. Spencer. ia - '~--.--' -.~A ~-,-.~~'-.
Mrs. Spencer. received me in her bed
cha uhnr II WAC on the Soo0nd Anor a ~ a
was furnished with exquisite elegance.
| Everything in. the room bespoke the