The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-11-15

an try half first" replied the other
swallowing the dose.
SNOW, step down to the kitchen, Ronald
and bid them hurry supper. We won't
wait for Flora she's gone on visit"
Ronald obeyed.
| And now," said his uncle rs the young
man returned, "here's glass Of wine I've
poured for v"u. I'm warm you up after
your chilly walk"
Ronald drank health and long life to his
benefactur.
at has queersh taste,n he remarked,
setting down the empty glass.
81 guess it's the medicine said Mr.. Mac
| 5owens.
"The-the what ~ exclaimed Ronald.
"The medicine repeated his uncle; "you
see put some of it in the wine tor even
you are not too young to catch rheumatism
after being out in such raw weather as
this"
Ronald's face was blanched
"Wc-we're both dead men ~ he gasp
ed
Dead men what do you mean 2" cx-
claimed the elder MacSowens, starting up
as much frightened MS his nephew.
there's no use hiding the truth now
taltered Ronald. "Instead of telling CALI
pots assistant to fill up the prescription
| asked for an ounce of arsenic to xii! rats
You know the rest and can guess my mo.
tive"
81, too, have confession to make while
] have strength to do it," whined Dunstan
MacSowens. "rhe fortune willed you is
not my own. 1t belonged to Arthur Ken
dali, Flora's father. | was his confidential
secretary and when he died in strange
land, appropriated his wealth, and with
his infant child, whom claimed as my own,
not having the heart to abandon as well as
rob her, | came hither, and have since en-
joyod possession of what rightly belongs to
her. l had intended leaving her all at my
death, and am now justly punished for hay
ing swerved from so just purpose"
Mr.. MacSoweus sank on one sofa and his
nephew on another, both beginning to feel
deathly sick.
Run run call a doctor quick !
quick !" cried Mr.. MacSowens, as the SER
want entered to announce supper.
With speed lent by terror, the command
was executed.
"In the name of goodness, what's the
matter ~ exclaimed DR.. Drycnpps, rushing
poison poison" shriekcd both patients
atsonce.
"Rat poison-we've both taken it," ex-
planned Ronald.
"Have you any of it left ?" inquired the
doctor.
Mr.. MacSowens handed him the paper
containing the residue.
DR.. Drycupps, after first inspecting and
then tasting the contents broke into hear
ty laugh.
"Where, in the name of absurdity, did
you get this ?" he asked
"From Gallipot's boy" said Ronald
she sold it to me for arsenic"
He did, the young blockhead? Why
its nothing but cream Of tartar"
But the sufferers whom nothing allied
but fright, began to feel better immediate
ly, and entered on n confused explanation,
to which the doctor paid little heed, of
how they came to take the supposed pois-
on by mistake.
Ronald MacSowens left his uncle's house
the next day. Mr. Feetail was again call
ed in, and a new will drawn in Flora's fr-
vor. The embargo was forthwith remov-
ed, and, in due time, her marriage with
Richard Hartley was celebrated with all
the hono1s. The bulk of her own fortune
was made over to her rs a dowry but it
was not till Mr.. MacSowens was on his
death-bed that she learnt that it had been
hers all the whitley. Y. Ledger.