The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-30
SELECTED STORY.
DR.. Spencer's Great Crime,
A STORY TOLD BY A PHYSICIAN

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 solemnly informed me that
when the decisive moment did come she de.
sired me present. But as nothing allied the
old lady beyond now and then an Indigestion
from too much high living, had never yet
been called upon to be present at her death.
Now, thought, it must be old Mrs. Je-
rome is going.
took up my night lamp and went to the
door. A strong gust of damp, sleety wind
nearly extinguished the light, but shading it
with my hand, dimly discerned the form OF
a woman.
Come in," said /, holding open the door,
but she declined with gesture of impatience
You must come out" she said in sharI
incisive voice, "and be quick about it.''
put on my overcoat without demur, lock.
ed the surgery door, and stepped into the
storm. AS did so the woman laid a firm
mana on my arm, and putting her face close
TO mine, said:
DIR. Lockwood, can you keep secret P''
II think So madam
"Swear it."
us this secret of yours of professional
character? That is, is it anything you wish
to confide in me as a medical man ?''
SIT is"
Very well, then, swear it,
THAT is right"
A man respects an oath, though why he
should is a mystery, since mems mouths are
running over with them.
whittier are you taking me and for what
purpose?'
''To the Clifton house to see the mistress. ~
started.
. Clifton House was the old mansion recent
ly taken by DIR. Spencer, stranger to every
one in Middlebury. Spencer was tall, dark
rather distinguished looking man, who had
hung out his sign in the village, only few
doors above mine, but as yet he had got no
practice.
He was unsocial in the extreme, avoiding
his neighbors persistently, and when he did
speak 1t was in such curt. halfsayage way,
that one was not likely to attempt prolonging
the conversation.
The doctor had wife, it was said, but no
one ever saw her. She was an invalid, and
Miss Melrose, 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 fascinat-
ing conversation.
'tAs we walk along" said my companion,
"let me explain to you just what it is neces-
sary you should know. My mistress is very
ILL.,"
81 beg your pardon-is it Mrs. Spencer or
Miss Melrose?''
She laughed bitterly.
Miss Melrose! / would stab her to the
heart sooner than own her as a mistress. My
mistress is a lady-noble, royal and of gentle
birth. 1t is an honor to serve my Mistress"
And is she ill?'' How long since?'
Ever since she married him-curse him."
she muttered in fierce tone; but must not
get excited L 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 in that?'
mot necessarily .--..
Let me enlighten you fupsher. Dr. Spen-
Ger was at one time engaged to Miss Lucille
Melrose, but he broke the engagement and
married my mistress instead. Miss Melrose
was as poor as Jobs turkey; Miss Herndon
was an helress, and DR.. Spencer was deeply
In debt, and hard pressed by his creditors.
DO you see anything strange in that?''
Perhaps. Go on
when my mistress married Spencer she
was only seventeen, and had been taught to
obey her father in everything. She was
a gentle, afiectionate child, and it would have
been easy for Spencer to have won her love-
But he did not care for that. 1t was her
bought him fast horses; it set his table with
nice costly dishes, and put it in his power to
keep Miss Melrose robed like queen And
all this time my mistress has been slowly but
surely sinking, and look you, Dr. Lockwood,
1 believe that she is not dying of disease, but
Of" she lowered her voice to whisper as
she spoke the word-Hpoison'
impossible! This is grave CHARGE s,.
"Of poison given her by her husband, who
at her death will hava colo &c how
property and be free to marry Miss Melrose.
There is no time to explain to you in detail
the thousand and one circumstances which
have led me to the belief, for we are almost
at the door. 1t is never the case that Miss
Nelrose and Spencer are out at the same time,
or should have called another physician be-
fore; but tonight they are called away by
the death of Miss Melrose's sister, and will
not be back until tomorrow. With the con-
sent OF my mistress, came for you, and oh !!
Dr. Lockwood, pray you save my dear
mistress. l nursed her when her mother
died and left her helpless infant all through
ner innocent youth she was like an own child
10 me and now to see her fading hour by
nour before nay eyes! Good heavens! if /
i hsew beyond doubt that he was guilty, his
life should pay the forfeit.'
was already beginning to feel a deem in
terest in Mrs. Spencer, although / had never
seen her, and like her old nurse, / was inclin-
ed to feel a great animosity for DR.. Spencer
Mrs. Spencer received me in her bed cham
Der. 1t was on the second floor and was fur
nished with exquisite elegance.
Everything in the room bespoke the taste
and delicacy of the occupant The warm air
was fragrant with the faint odor of heliotrope;
and glancing around L saw the purple bios
the ledge Of the south window.
one was woman who uhan onoa Saan
could never be forgotten / have met in nv
lie many beautiful women, but never one so
lovely. 'A' ~
She was tall and straight. with a nurelv
oval face, liquid brown eyes, and a dash of
hectic in her cheeks, which is never seen in
perfect health.
She received me, as know she did everv-
body, gracefully, and though there was a
slight embarrassment in her manner when I
spoke OF her illness, she answered my profess
soiiai inquiries without hesitation.
AS lor myself, laid aside all false delicacy
ana questloned her plainly as to her symp-
toms. Mrs Hurd, her nurse, remained n
the room, and added many little imnortant
items of information. ''''-'
When she spoke of her husband it was
with sort of hopeless sadness which distress
ed me greatly.
Not a breath of suspicion against him in
ner answers to my questions, and 1 felt sure
silat at present she knew nothing of what
MIS- us hurd had such serious apprehensions.
was glad that it was so, for, with her finely
s ss,ig organization, it might have produced
Ferrous ssn nn.; results. made my examination Of
rne p nn as closely as could and drew
that Mrs Snencer ans, could have sworn
small quantities, and the deadu d drSel'c Ill
telling fearfully on constitution never W." ros
bust never TO-
She said, answering my questions. that she
had no physician except her husband ~ ~
had thought himself better acquainted will
her case, and therefore better qualified "