Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-11
CHAPTER II.
PHYSICIAN IN LOVE WIN THE DAUGHTER =


coming to learn his fate. As he approached the
house he overheard the voices of mother and daug-
ter engaged in close conversation and drawing near
to the window and meanly listening, he had OBJ
tanned full possession OF the terrible secret of Mrs
Blakes life. Madly in love, and utterly unScrupu-
lous, he at once determined to make any use which
might be necessary of his newly acquired advantage
to secure the hand of Hester.
On that very evening DR.. Macon was engaged to
take tea with Mrs, Blake and her daughter; but
their Old house Keeper returned fom the village with
the intelligence that shocking railroad accident
had occurred IN the vicinity, and the doctor had
FASTENED off to the assistance OF the wounded.
ON the return of DR.. Macon he called upon Mrs.
Blake and surprised her with the information that
among the hurt was Armand Landry mOrtally in
jured! de was accompanied by his daughter, the
half-siser of Hester, and she had been stunned by
blow on the head. They were both living at farm
house near by, and Mr.. Landry knowing that he
must die had requested that Hester should visit
him the next morning, that he might inform her
OF the pecunlary provision which he had made for
her support.
And now was connected one of the most iendsh
plots ever devised by the human mind. 1t was
suggested by Mrs. Blake, and acquiesced in by Or.
Macon and Hester, that the half-sister, who was
still unconscious, should be kept state of im-
beciity by drugs which the doctor should skillful
y administer TO her fer that purpose, and Hester
whose resemblance to her was so close as to defy
detection-shoud usurp her place as heiress of the
immense estates entailed upon the hali-SiSter
through her mother
The inducement to DIR. Macon was Hoster's prom
Use, on the accomplishment of the scheme, to be-
come his WIFE
But when Hester came to read over the letters
which lay concealed in the bottom of her half-ss-
tcr's trunk, she found among them several from
Raymond DeLOrme, a handsome young man whom
she remembered as her own first lover at the south,
when she was little more than mere child. These
letters were written in n most imprisoned strain,
and showed that between him and his lair CORE
spondent-Estelle Landry, Testers now stricken
hall-sister-a marriage engagement existed.
No sooner had Hester discovered this fact than
her old love for De LOrme was rekindled, and she
resolved at once to have him also, as well as Es-
tele's fortune, let whatever obstacles might be in
the way. He was now absent in Europe, to remain
year or two, and her purpose must he most care
fully concealed from Dr Macon; but, come what
would the young man should vet be hers
Mrs. Blake's honsekeeper, Mrs. Muller, a German
woman with an American education, was a great
gossip, and cunning, selfish, evil-minded woman
Hester at her mothers suggestion, had turned the
key on the outside of Mrs. Mulers sleeping-rOom,
while their internal plot had been planned but the
suspicious woman happened to be awake and She
had risen, and emerging through window. crept
around where she could listen to ali they said She
too, now. meant to have her profit out of the scheme
the secret of which she had obtained unknown to
them.
On the following day Mr.. Landry felt his end
rapidly approaching He had forbidden peremp-
toriy that Mrs Blake should be admitted to his
presence; but Mrs. Blake had determined to see
him before ne died He was very anxious for a com
fessor; and was finally told that although there was
no priest accessible sister of charity might be OBJ
tanned. This assurance afforded MIN great relief
and he desired that no time might be lost IN send
ing for her.
Mrs Blake determined to improve this opportun-
ity to see him. without his recognizing hpr and 10
visit him in the Disguise of sister.
1t was arranged that after night when the room
was dimly lighted by a single candle She should go
in and listen to such confessions as he wished TO
make. Iu them, if he spoke OF her tenderly COM
passionately, she wOnld fOrego the dire vengeance
She had planned to inict on him when he lay help
less before her, breathing his soul away in doubt
him. If he judged her hardly and cruelty at the
last, she would have no mercy on him.
When Eunice, deaf and dumb servant girl at
the farmhouse, was safely asleep, Mrs Blake made
white handkerchief was drawn low down on her
forehead, and folded over her face in such manner
as to conceal the greuter portion of it, and Macons
black silk cravat was smoothed ont and tied over
| that, in the form of the hoods worn by Catholic
| nuns when walking abroad. She then entered the
| feebly lighted room, and sat down in the chair
! which Hester resigned at her approach. At the
movement, the dying man Enclosed his eyes, and in
faint voice, said;
GLOW good you were to come to me in this ex-
tremity. This young girl has explained to me that
You consented to do so as soon as you heard that
subtle power must have conveyed to him the knowl-
edge that something inimical had approached him
for he suddenly seemed to struggle with some
deadly oppression, and sinking back he muir
INJURED:
TOO late! fear that shall die before can say
what wished. must cOnfess-must have absolu-
non, for have sinned: But have sufered-how
bitter cup have drained in atonemept of the one
act of my life which brought unhappiDess TO one
who thought she had the right to aYenge herself
upon me-"
| said:
"lfy son, forgive as you hope to be forgiven, and
| all will be well with YOU"
"Ah! that is what cannot do; for there ia ono
sin and one sinner that | have not forgiven. But
| for that / could die in peace"
"Was the wrong against You SO unmerited that
| Won feel thus bitterlyg"
| "Unmerited! Yes l assert that and beliave II
| She who committed it was one I did moi love
| u -. =
| In faltering voice Mrs Blake said:
"You did not Tore her? Are you quite sure Of
| thatg" "
landry was too deeply absorbed in his ovr
thoughts to notice the menaepg tone that thrilled
through The munled voice of the sneaker
NO, never loved her"
sis it just to lay all the blame upon the woman
who risked so much 10 gain legal claim unon Won
To those who have loved truly much should be for
| given and she, you say, loved you"
| my hands-and had she so wiIIed # I ,yonid bav
sent her from me as free from reproaeb as in tb
| hour of our first unfortunate meeting 3ut gb,
would not 60. | vas very young. loved the child
| If were tree again 10 Nip me bacl md @
cannot tell you what She did in return for the for
bearance ] had shown toward her II il her secret
and will not reveal it even in this hour but n 4
| that which now find il impossible TO forgive n
| you can give me absolution Knowing thai I viii
| accept 1t gladly at your hands sIth6ugb Won ara
not enc of the accredited ministers n our Hciy
| Church." 10y
| The heart Of Mrs Blake hardened a. qhe IfstaDsd
| She felt The blood surping fhrongb bar ,i,s -
fiery swihness and an fhe passIon Of he tr;si
| nature burst forth ~ ''NP'o1'
She tore the shroudipr folds from, ber h,.d and
face, and started to ner aet .tandiog 49, 10 81 y
menaeing tate, as she mockingIy saiJ. MN a.
"such consolation as ! can ,,ive va, s,o ,.sl.,,.,
| 70, Armand Landry. Whether il will fsciiitat,
| your entrance to the paradise in which vonr h..
| Ellinor dwells or into Inc H3des in ygbjct; r ~,
| hereafter claim you leave YOU 10 imagine il,
| Al the woman Won cast on IA Iiyhtls a. ,y,,
| ,ybs b,i;oyaJ az ~, 80. To- ~ - lHiltis lht ~onai
wi' ye,.eseu tas 5"u lofea Hgr ana cover Dfior
~ INC Omuirotcnt RITZ ,b Iii IN i, De'Yle wa
| " NV ''i"il'Veu' Deins VIM WIZ Jadse OetWeei
| 7.xr ,,,
| , 'u w hYIe' he PAelallheu5 III lonh, harsl
| ,otos, ~, ~" ~ uaI. YOU approach mef How dhr
Sou roiane te earfei character you nave assufne'
1T tne lns purpose OF iutfndlsg upon prcsehc
tilat wa lorDla1eh your llagar Blake you hay
Deh We eufss OF my me, ana IN death you persecu
le I'M. 20! command you to leave this roou
unPolluusl py 'he pre1sehce OF anurderesE"
IassI eyes Diizsu oacE dsh9hce, aud she iauni
| nl ny, saiu' .,..
~ ~ a. N ~ posi'lon roe 20 enforce your viii
-, o. ~ h hJ pg ~, uo1 ~ 4oui ahd inten
w pay sou paoh Eop ior uIop tor an ihe bitgrnea
a Az n Nv Pouieu INTO my cup and forced me 4
ui I'm f.c
81 I ids'ures ~ Lah9ry were Dancaed 70 the lu
H. Ii; am ~ piaok eyes Rieame1 hercey iron
MN IN Pa, i o'sl,ne' az ne loaFsely asked;
t pr UT ~ Were y2u permitted 70 cf