, 1872-02-29
DR.. Spencer's Great Crime.
A STORY TOLD BY A PHYSICIAN.

| -
over an interminable article on defective
nutrition, in the last medical review.
The fire in the CRATE was low, the nigh
was stormy and the clock was on tht
stroke of eleven. I was just about te
turn off the gas and retire, for, being {
bachelor, I slept in room connected
with my Office, when there was pull al
the bell. 4ss #4Ef Nf-
started up suddenly, for this was
something new. Middlebury was a dec
orous sort of place, and people usually
managed to be taken sick at seasonable
hours.
Old Mrs. Jerome had been threatening
to die for the past five years, and at ev
cry visit 1 paid her she solemnly inform
ed ME that when the decisive momen
did come she desired me present. Blu
as nothing allied the old lady beyond nov
and then an indigestion from too mucl
high living, had never yet been called
upon to be present at her death.
Now, thought, it must be old Mrs
Jerome is going: %
took up my night lamp, and went tt
the door. A strong gust of damp, sleet,
wind nearly extinguished the light, but
shading it with my hand, I dimly dis
cerned the form of a woman.
"Come in," said I, holding open tht
door, but she declined with gesture O.
Impotence.
"You must come out" she said in {
sharp, incisive tone, Sand be quick abou
| it,"
I put on my overcoat without demur
locked the surgery door, and stepped in
to the storm. AS did so the woman
laid firm hand on my arm, AID putting
her face close to mine, said
CDR. Lockwood, can you keep q Sc
cret ?''
81 think so, madam"
"Swear it."
''Is this secret of yours Of profes-
sional character That is,. is it any
thing you wish to confde to me as &
medical man ?''
"It isl
"very well, then, I swear it,"
"That is right
A man respects an oath, though why
he shonld Is a mystery, since mems
mouths are running over with them.
"Whither are you taking me and fol
what purpose p
ITO the Clifton houseito see the mis-.
tress.' F
started.
Clifton house was the old mansion re-
Gently taken by DR.. Spencer, a stranger
to every one in Middlebury. Spencer
was tall, dark, rather distinguished
looking man, who had hung ont his sigr
in the village, only few doors above
mine, but as yet he had got no practice
He was unsocial in the extreme, avoid.
ing his neighbors persistently, and wher
he did speak it was in such curt, half
savage way, that one was not likely tc
attempt prolonging the conversation.
The doctor had wife it was said, but
no one ever saw her. She was an inva.
lid, and Miss Melrose, a friend of the
family, presided over the establishment,
and sat at the head of his table.
Miss Melrose was yet beautiful, and
won the admiration of all who visited
Clifton house by her grace of manner
and her fascinating conversation.
GAS we walk along" said my com.
panion, "let me explain to you just what
it is necessary you should know. My
mistress is very ill.,"
II beg your pardon--is it Mrs. Spen
Ger or Miss Melroso ?''
She laughed bitterly.
"Miss Melrose Iwould stab her te
the heart sooner than own her as mis-
tress. My mistress is a lady-noble
royal and of gentle birth. 1t is an hon
or to serve my mistress"
"And is she i'll +? How long since p
ever since she married him-curst
him." she muttered in fierce tone
but must not get excited. I must tel
my story, or rather hers. Two year.
ago, through the desire of her dyins
father, Alice Herndon became James
Spencer's wife. Before that she was {
healthy, blooming girl ediately af
ter this marriage she began to fail. Dc
you see anything strange in that ?"
"Not necessarily"
"Let me enlighten you further. DR.
Spencer was as one time engaged to Mis-:
Lucille Melrose, but he broke the en-
gagement and married my mistress in
stead. Miss Melrose was as poor al
Jobs turkey; Miss Herndon was al
heiress, and DR.. Spencer was deeply il
debt, and hard pressed by his creditors
Do you see9anything strange in that p
"Perhaps. Go on"
"When my mistress married Spencer
she was only seventeen, and she had
been taught to obey her father IN every
thing. She was very affectionate child
and il would have been easy for Spencer