Litchfield enquirer., 1874-07-16

I IaiCC. Al Ol d |Oultk uktt1k O1 abont twenty-two, and who had evidently
 been marveiously good looking <
 70, heayensi he is deadi'
 Her clear agonized voice was ringing in my ears. as they led me back into the darkness of the night. felt bank note pressed int" my hand as entered the car riage once more.
 Doctor, you have done your best; #
 is not your fault that your efforts have not been more successful Remember that
 yonr are pledged to seereey.''
 The next moment was whirling along thro' the November midnight, with the strange unquiet feeling of one wakened suddenly from g startling dream. Yet it was no dream alas! 1t was q startling re- ality.
 The carriage stopped at cross road near the village.
 "Please to alight here, sir,' said the driver. ''You are not far from home"
 I obeyed, and stood listening in the middle of the road, while the noise of the carriage wheels died away, losing it's dis tlnctness in the shriek of the restless wind. And the clock in the village tolled ont the hour of one.
 Late as it was, however, my surgery was still open and lighted up; the servant from Haddenleigh Hall had just ridden up to the door.
 'If you please, doctor, you are wanted immediately at the Hall. The Colonel said you were to ride my horse, if yours were got already saddled, and can walk, so there will be no time lost"
 l mechanically mounted the noble ani- nal that stood waiting for me, and rode on rather glad of an opportunity to re- l volve in my mind the singular adventure that had befallen me during the evening. 1 Haddenleigh stood a little back from the road, on magnificent knoll crowned with century old chestnuts and beeches: and reached the broad stone steps in about half an hour by dint of rapid strides.
 l As entered the vest1bule, Colonel Had den, who had been pacing mp and and down the hall in a perfect agony of impa- 1 tience. came to meet me.
 1 els that you, Dr. Meller? thought you would never come. We are in a pret- ty state of confusion here! Burglars in the house-my wife's set of diamonds gone-nobody knows what eIse-but old Hopkins-left his sign manual upon one of the fellows. They must be caught; they
 'Yes, but Col. Hadden-"
 "Oh, ay-I understand you-you want to see your patient? '.It's Hopkins, the butler; he got an ugly blow on the left armand afterwards my wife vent her self to Dr. Maynard-no offence, Meller, but he lives nearer than you-but he was out. She has only just returned. couldn't very we'll leave Hopkins-and Mrs. Hadden is such kind, good soul. she insisted on going herself to fetch Maynard"
 'But, my dear sir" Il
 "Ah, truel Come along to Hopkins room.''
 Hopkins, the butler, was as voluble as hls master, and ten times as circumstasIs tial; and by the time had set his broker forearm, was pretty we'll ill possession of all the particulars of the attenns sz hnHFffififf nHFfff 'rhfhKIhga Of 1i my midnight patient whose life had ebbed out upon a pile of straw, felt strange guiltiness as list ened to Col. Hadden's eager coniectures as to tho whereabouts of the desperadoes who had fled.
 'And, now, Doctor, you'll take glass of wine," said the hospitable old gentle man, ushering mo into his library.
 It was brilliantly lighted, and warm with the crimson glow of genial fire, be- fore which, in a singulariy graceful atti- tude. sat lady, wrapped iii tho gorgeous folds of an Indian shawl.
 ''My wife, doctor. Isabel, my love, this IS Dr. Meller."
 We stood before one another in silence. I could not speak, for knew that was looking into the startled, agonized eyes of tho woman who had knelt scarcely an hour ago by the dying couch in the deso- late cottage-Col. Hadden's new wife, of xr1,<> 1~nnr ho1
 The Colonel talked on, but heard not word that he said. could not but marvel at the wonderful possession of the woman, who smiled and looked grave, and said ''Yes" and ''No" in the right places.
 ''To be sure," the Colonel was saying, as awoke into sort of consciousness of l his voice, ''the loss of Isabel's diamonds 1 Is something serious, but of course wei shall recover them again. Only, my love, it was rather careless of you to leaye them on the drawing room table"
 cit was careless" replied Mrs. Hadden. calmly. Doctor, you are not going? Co- lonel, you havo forgotten that curious old book you were wanting to show Dr. Nell ler" AS the door closed behind the honesti old gentleman, Mrs. Hadden glided up toI me and placed her cold hand in mine-itl was like tho touch of an icicle. "Doctor, you have my secret-you sure-I ly will not betray it?'
 "I am pledged to silence, madam" n returned coldly; "but this deceit-"
 ''Is not my fault, doctor" walled theI woman, cit is my fate. How endure it l scarcely know; were I to pause andI think I should go mad. The man whoI died tonight was my son! Col. HaddenI knows nothing of my first marriage, nort of this dreadful secret of my sons crimi- nal life that has. weighed me down fori years. Over and over again I hayeI thought to escape from it, but it has f0l1 lowed upon my footsteps like doom.I Tonight closes that chapter of my ife- oh heavenl how dreadfuliyl but my se- cret is safe-the diamonds provided forI 1 that" .But your husband, Mrs. Haddenr' She covered her palid, beautiful faca with her hand. "I know what you would say, Dr. Nell Ter, I love and honor him beyond all men1 but what can do? Believe me. I hayei never willingly wronged or deceived him. never dreamed of-of-'' | She paused abruptly. Col. Hadde, was entering the room, and the smiling | casual remark she addressed to him fila | | my heart with amazement- almost adm 1 ration. | rode home to my blue eyed little E. eanor, feeling as entered the snng si- | ting-room as if were returning to tb ! homely, happy atmosphere of every-dS 1 life. But never forgot the terrible O. | citement. the fearful suspense of that N | vember night. The desperadoes who had attempted t | rifle Haddenleigh Hall were never detec- | ed or taken-all tracks of them seemed b l have utterly vanished out of the earth. | And were it not for the bank note whiCa most literally recompensed my service. 1 and the everlasting witness borne by Mr. Hadden's lovely, startled face. I shoul I almost have been tempted to fancy th4 all the events of that marvellous Noyen- Der midnight were the fragments of ! dream. 1 This was my adventure first ani