The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-03-18
CHAPTER ii.
THE DAUGHTER OF POISON.

THE DAUGHTER OF POISON
The reaction of nature brought to
Oscar Goldsmith the weakness of a
babe.
Amy Moore watched untiringIy at
his couch through the long hours of
the nights, and often felt that she
loved that pale and emaciated face.
He had gained place in her heart
which man had never filed before
which none other than he would ev-
cr fll.
One night, as Amy occupied her
post of duty, Doctor Vathek called
with bottle of wine, which he said
would greatly strengthen his pa
tient.
Amy had discovered the DOCTORS
jealousy, and watched him, as the
Indian watches traitor, for many
days.
She knew that some dark plot was
deep buried in his heart, and bided
her time to defeat it.
When the revengeful physician
placed the wire upon the table, she
felt the fearful time had come.
Amy" he said, handing her a
goblet filled to the brim with the
ruby fluid, to allay all suspicion,
'while Mr.. Goldsmith sleeps, let us
drink to his speedy restoration to
health"
She took the goblet with a smile,
and drank, with a zost that made
him frown, the health he proposed.
Now" said he, "ds you, Amy,
bring a cloth and we viii moisten
the lips of the young man with wine.
1t will be for his good"
Without replying, the girl rose, and
glided from the chamber.
She wen, no farther than across
the Threshold, and applied her eyes
to the key-hole.
Doctor Vathek stepped to the Ia
bic, and drew a tiny pbial from an in
ner pocket.
He bent over the goblet, which he
had filled with wine prior to Amy's
departure, ard permitted three drops
OF the contents of the phial to mingle
with the ruddy liquor.
A moment later Amy rejoined
him.
Nothing better than my handker-
chief is at my immediate disposal a,
this hour" She said extending her
handkerchief which be accepted.
He quickly saturated portion Of
the fabric with the poison, and mov-
ed toward the sleeper
"Otho," said Amy, seizing the
goblet. 81 am going to take a sip OF
Oscars wine He'll never know it;
look ?"
An icy chill fitted to Doctor Va.
thek's heart, and burrowed therein.
He turned, as though pierced by
an Ascestian arrow, and with a cry
of, Don't, for Gods sake, Amy y
rushed toward the girl.
He reached for the goblet, but the
rim had touched Amy's lips, and she
dashed it to the floor.
How strangely it tasted, Otho,' u
she said staggering towards her arm
chair. "It stings my heart! Can
this be death-death ?''
Thoroughly frightened, Otho Va.
thick dropped the handkerchief, and
sprang to the girls side.
"Rouse father" she said i'm q
whisper; but tell him not of my con.
dition."
The prisoner rushed from the
room.
The door was scarcely closed upon
his form, when Amy sprang from the
chair, and hid the handkerchief in
her bosom.
Saved !" she murmured, glancing
at Oscar Goldsmith, who slumbered
unconscious of the tragic scene en-.
acted at his side. "'Tis well, Ohio
Vathek, that l suspected you. To.
morrow, sir, you shall obtain a per.
manent leave of absence. But hark
they come"
She threw herself upon the chair
again, and admirably counterfeited a
deathy illness. She freely took the
restoratiyes the hated hands admin
istered, and slowly recovered!
Baffled the second time, Doctor
Vathek took leave, planning another
attempt upon his rivals life. He be-
lieved that Amy suspected nothing
but yet he could not quite satisfac.
torily account for the absence of the
poisoned handkerchief when he re.
entered the sick chamber
When he called the following
morning, be found a physician from
a neighboring town in attendance up.
on his patient, and Amy gently in.
formed him that his further services
could be dispensed with.
He became furious, and demanded
of the young girl the cause of his ab.
rupt dismissal.
Miss Moore;" he said, hoarse with
smo;hered passion, Il have been the
family physician for years. Why
therefore, l demand, am dismissed
and stranger called in my stead
l consider the action an insult, not
only to myself, but to the profession.
Doctor Vathek, by myself was
your dismissal brought about" re-
turned Amy calmly. "And does no,
this handkerchief tell you why ?n and
she drew the poisoned handkerchief
from her bosom, and held it before
his vision. 5la rf
He shrank from the siRht a9h.st