Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-03-09
DIR. sPENCEE,s CRIrE.
A STORY BY A PHYSICIAN.

NCCA ~ - - = - = 49,
70 th e door. A strong gust OF damp,
sleety Wlnd nearly eAalhs ulsheo
the light, but shading u with my
hand, dlmly alserheu the lorn OF
woman. ,,,,---
"Come IN, L said, noIulng open
the door; but she deelihed win
gesture OF impatence.
~ 0u must come out, hhe SAID,
in sharp lnelslYe tone, ana De
quick about IT.. --..r. I.
put on my oVercoat without de-
mur, locked the surgery door, and
stepped out into the storm. AS
did so the woman laid firm hand
on my arm and putting her face
close to mine said:
''Dr. Lockwood, can you Keep
secret!"
Il think so, madam
"Swear it.
els this secret OF yours Of q pro-
fessional character That IS, ls 1t
anything you wish 10 eonnde TO me
as a medical MANI"
sit is"
every well, then; / swear II.
g'That is right"
s'Whither are you taklag me, and
lOE -Hual plN1orcs
s'To the Clifton House TO see the
Mistress"
Clifton House was the old man
sion recently taken by DIR. Spencer,
a stranger TO every one in Middle
bury. Spencer was a 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 IT was in
such q curt, half savage way that
one was not likely to attempt pro-
long the conversation.
The doctor had q wife, IL was
said, but no one ever saw her. She
was an invalid, and Miss Melrose, q
friend of the family, presided over
the establishment and sat at the
head OF the table. Miss -MeIFose
was yet beautiful, and won the adj
miration of all who visited Clifton
House, by her grace OF manner and
fascinating conversation.
ftAs we walk along" said my COM
panion, ''let me explain to you just
what is necessary you should know.
My mistress is very III"
81 beg your pardon-ls II Mrs.
Spencer or Miss Melrose."
She laughed bitterly
'tMiss Melrose! l would stab her
to the heart sooner than own her as
a mistress. My mistress is a LADY
noble, royal, and OF gentle birth
| II is an honor to serve my mistress"
Sand is she ill2 How long SINGER"
Ever since she married him
curse him."
she muttered in a fierce tone; "but
must not get excited. L must tell
NV story, or rather her 5. Two
wears, ago through the desire of her
diving father, Alice HeTndOn be-
came James Spencer's wife Before
| that she was a healthy, blooming
| girl: Immediately after this marriage
She began to fail. Do you see any
thing strange in that!"
s.Not necessarily" .a
''Let me enlighten You further.
Doctor Spencer was at one time en-
gagged to Miss Lucille Melrose. but
| he broke the engagement aud mar
ried nv mistress instead. Miss Mel
rose was as poor as Jobs turkey;
! Miss Herndon was an heiress, and
\ Doctor Spencer was deeply IN debt,
/ aud very hard pressed BY his credi-
tors Do YOU see ANYTHING singular
/ in that?"
ssPerhaps. Go on"
ssWhen nv mistress married Spen-
Ger she was only seventeen, and she
1 had been tanpht to obey her father
in everything. She was gentle, af-
| fectiouate child, and IL would have
L - r.
her love But he did not care far
! that. Ii was her money that he
wanted. II paid his debts and
bought him fast horses: il set his ta-
Bile with nice, costly dishes; and put
| IL in his power TO keep Miss Mel
rose Pobed like a queen. And all
this time nv mistress has been slow
~ but surely sinking. Aud look
you. DR.. Lockwood, L believe that
she is not diving of disease, but Of"
here she lowered her voice TO a whis-
per as she spoke the word-"poi-
sonl'
s'Imposible! This j. grave
charge. -
fsOf poison given her BY her hus-
bsnd. who on her death will have
sole control Of her property and be
free to marry Miss Melrose. There
| Is no time to explain to you in de-
tail the thousand and one circum-
stances which have let me 10 belief,
for we ere almost al the door. Ii is
never the case that ne and Mslrose
are out at the same time, or should
have called another physician before:
but tonight they are called away by
the death of Miss Melrose's sister,
and will not be back till Tomorrow.
With the consent of my mistress,
came for you, and oh! DR.. Lock
wood, 1 pray you, save my dear mis-
tress.".
Mrs. Spencer received me in her
bed-chamber. 1t was on the second
floor, and was furnished with exqui-
site elegance. Everything in the
room bespoke the taste and delieacy
of the occupant The warm air was
fragrant with the faint odor of he
liotrope, and glancing around | saw