The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-05-30

rong ~ ArHrsr1AS


stroke u eleven. was about 70 tarn on
he eas and retire, ior being a bachelor !
slept 20 room connected with my office,
whch there was pun ai ny bell.
took nay night lamp and went 70 ihe
door 4 strong gust Of damp, sleety
wind nearly extinguished tho light, butt.
shading it with my hand, dimly dis
5oucd Tie form Of a woman.
Come III, / said, holding open the door
bat sho declined with gesture ofim-
patience
You must come out, she said, in
sharp, ineisive tone, and be quick about
IT,
i rat on ms oyercoat without demur,
locked the surgery door, and stepped into
tbc storm. As ala so the woman laid a
( firm band on my arm, and putting her
face close 20 mine said;
Dr.. lockwood, can you keep a secret!
think So, madam.
Swear il.
j. this secret Of yours Of a professional
eharaeterY That IS, is it anything you
wish to confide to me as a medical man
tits.
Very well then, ! swear IT,
That is right
whittier are you taking me and for
what purpose!
To Clifton House to see the Mistress.
Clifton House was the old mansion re-
Gently taken by DR. Spencer stranger
to every one IN Middlobury. Spencer
was tall, dark, rather distinguished
looking man who had hung ont his sign
In tile village only a few doors above
mine, besides yet he had no practice,
He was unsocial in the extreme, avoid
ing Ills ncighbors persistcntly, aud when
he did speak, it was in such a curt, half
savage way that one was not likely to
attempt prolongng the conversation.
The doctor had a wife, it was said, but
no one ever saw her. She was an inya-
hid and Miss Melrose, friend of the
family, presided over the establishment
and sat at the head Of the table. She was
vet beautiful, and won the admiration OF
all who visited Clifton House, by hel
grace of manner and fascinating conyer'
sation.
As we walk along said my compan'
ion, let me explain to you just what it Il
necessary you should know. Ny mistress
is very i'll.
beg your pardon-is it Mrs. Spencer
or Miss Melrose2
She laughed bitterly.
Miss Melrose would stab her to thu
= heart sooner than own her as a mistress
Nv mistress is a lady--noble, royal, anC
of gentle birth. II 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 a fierce tone but ! mus
not get excited. must tell my story, o
rather hers. Two years ago, through
the desire Of her dying father Alic
J Herndon became James Spencer's wife
Before that she was healthy, blooming
girl; Immediately after this she began t
+, fail. DO you see anything strange i
Is that?
Not necessarily.
Let me enlighten YOU farther. Docto
Spencer was at one time engaged TO Mis-
Lucille Melrose, but he broke the engage
ment; and married my mistress instead
Miss Melrose was as poor as Jobs turkey
X Miss Herndon was an heiress, and ID
r Spencer was deeply in debt, and yer
hard pressed by his creditors. Do yo
see anything singular in that?
d Perhaps. Go on.
When my mistress married Spencer sll
was only seventeen, and she had bee
taught TO obey her father in everything
u She was gentle and atlectlonate chile
and IT would have been easy for Spence
to have won her love. But he did ne
care for that. Il paid his debts an
bought him fast horses; 1t set his tab
with nice costly dishes; and put 1t IN b
power TO keep Miss Melrose robed like
50 queen. And all this time my mistre
II has been slowly but surely sinking. An
look you, DR.. Lockwood, | believe tn
she in not dying Of disease, but Of ----
here She lowered her voice to whispr
as she spoke the word-poisonl
-
IL Impossibley That il grave charge.
- OF poison given her by her husban
who on her death win have sole contr
Of her property and be free to marry Mi
N Melrose. There Is no time to explain
YOU In detail the thousand and one ci
=. cumstances which have led me TO the b
lief. we are almost at tie door, II
III never the case that they are both out
the same time, or should have called a
! other physician before but tonight th
are called away by the death Of Miss MI
roses sister, and will not be back till |
morrow With the consent Of my m
~ trees came for you, and oh Dr. Loc
wood save my dear mistress.
Mrs. Spencer received me Ia her BE-
chamber. Il was on the second floor; a.
was furnished with exquisite elegan'
Everything iu the room bespoke the ta'
] and delieacy ~ the occupant. The wal
j. sir was fragrant with the faint odor
heiiotrope, and glancing around ! saw
N, purple blossoms and the green leaves
an alabasteg vase on the ledge Of
south window
She was a woman who once seen 90,
never be forgotten. have met In my
many beautiful women, but never one