The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-06-11

: away-shall / ever forget it Ant
five minutes afterward the breathing
spasmodic and painful to hear, died t.
eternal stiffness.
The woman lifted the corner of tht
handkerchief and gszed into the ghast
ly face. Ii was that of young mar
of about two and twenty, and who
had evidently been marvelously good,
looking. eH
"Oh, heavensl he is dcad!"
Her clear, agonized voice was ring
ing in my ears as they led me back in
to the darkness of the night. felt a
bank note pressed into my hand as ]
entered the carriage once more.
/ doctor, you have done your best
it is not your fault that your efforts
have not been more successful. Re-
member you are pledged to secresy.
The next moment / was whirling
swiftly through the November mid
night, with the strange, unquiet feel
ing of one awakening suddenly from
a startling dream. Yet it was no
dream-aIas it was startling reality.
The carriage stopped at cross
road near the village
'sPIease to alfglft here, SIR" said the
driver. You are not far from home
obeyed, and stood listening in the
middle of the road while the noise of
the carriage wheels died away, losing
| its distinctness in the restless winds.
And the cleck in the village church
tolled out the hour of one,
Late as it was, however, my surge
ry was still open and lighted up; the
| servant from Haddenleigh Hall had
just ridden to the door.
fIf you please, doctor, you are want
ed Immediately at the Hall. The col
onel said you were TO ride my horse,
ii yours were not already saddled, and
| can walk so there will be no time
lost"
/ mechanically mounted the noble
animal that stood waiting for me, and
rode of, rather glad of an opportunity
to revoIve in my mind the singular ad-
venture that had that evening befallen
me.
Haddenleigh stood a little back
from the road, on magnificent knoll
crowned with century and chestnut
and beech trees; and l reached the
broad stone steps in about half an
hour. dint of rapid riding.
AS entered the vestbule, Colonel
Hadden, who had been pacing up and
down the hall in a perfect agony of
impatience, came to meet me.
as that you, DR.. Meller? Thought
you never would come. We're in a
pretty state of confusion hereI Bur-
glars in the house my wife's set of
diamonds gone-nobody knows what
else-but old Hopkins Left sis sign
manual on one of the fellows. They |
will surely be caught; they can't rs
cape far. For, you see"
''Y es, but Col Hadden-"
"Oh, ay-I understand-you want |
to see your patient? It's Hopkins, |
the butler he got an ugly blow on |
the left ARMAND afterward my wife |
went herself for DIR. May nard-no Of !
fense. .MelIer, but he lives nearer than
/ couldn't very well leave I
Hopkins-and Mrs, Hadden is such |
kind, good soul, she insisted on going |
herself to fetch Maynard"
''But, my dear sir"
'Ash, true! Come along to Hopkins
room.
Hopkins, the butler, was as his mas
ter, and times as circumstantial; and
by the time had set his broken fore
arm L was pretty well in possession of
all the particulars of the attempted
burglary of Haddenleigh.
And thinking Of my midnight pa
Lient whose life had ebbed out upon
the pile of straw, / felt strange
outlines as | listened to Colonel
Hadden's eager conjectures as to the
of the desperadoes who
lad fed.
"And now, doctor, you'll take a
glass of wine," said the hospitable old
gentleman, ushering me into his IL
0rary.
1t was brilliantly lighted, and warm
with crimson glow of a genial fire, be-
ore which, in singularly graceful at
itude, sat lady, wrapped i'll the gor-
yeous folds of a India shawl.
? MY wife. doctor. Isabel, my love,
his is Doctor Meller." II
We stood before one another in ST.
ence. I could not speak, for knew 4
hat was looking into the startled,
lgonized eyes of the woman who had
lnelt scarcely an hour ago by the dy- |
ng couch i'll desolate cottage-Col-l
,nel Hadden's new wife, of whose
)eauty had heard so much.
The Colonel talked on, but heard &
lot word that he said. could not |
)at marvel at the wonderful self pos
session of the woman, who smiled and 1
ooked grave and said eyes" and 'no" i
ust in the right places. |
sETo be sure" the Colonel was say
ng as woke into sort of conscious
Tess of his voice, EFthe loss of Isabel's
diamonds is something serious, but, of
course, we shall recover them again.
Only, my love, it was rather careless
If you to leave them on the drawing
'oom table" 4@ 81
81 ecas careless" replied Mrs. Had
len, calmly. "Doctor, you are not |
going? Colonel, you have forgotten
hat curious old book you were want
ne to show DR.. Meller." l9f esf
AS the door closed behind the hon
sst old gentleman, Mrs. Hadden giid-
ID up TO me and placed her cold hand |
IN mine-it was like the touch of an
cicle.
"Doctor. you have my secret-you !
surely viii not betray it ?" j
s'I am pledged to silence, madam" !" i
he returned, coldly "this deceit"
sIt was not my fault, DOCTOR" wall
ID the woman, sit was my fate. How !
endure it l scarcely know were to {
PAUSE and think, l should go mad. The c
nan who died tonight was my son
Colonel Hadden knows nothing of j
ny first marriage, nor of this dreadful !
ecret of my sons criminal life that f
las weighed me down for years. Ov- c
+ and over again l have thought to
scape from it, but ithas followed up /
IN my footsteps like doom. To. :
light closes that chapter of my life a
ii Heaven how dreadfully! But my c
ecret is safe-the diamonds provided 1
or that" s
''But your husband, Mrs. Hadden |" c
She covered her pallid, beautiful S
ace with her hands. Htt a
81 know what you would say, DR.. /
Teller. l love him, and honor him, t
eyond all men; but what can l do? c
Believe me, have never willingly a
or deceived him. 1 never t
Lrna m ed of. .nf.-n IL q