The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-12-24

as trifling to you and to me, and only
of consequence to near friend of the
lady who Is dead. ] am astonished that
it is sufficient to cause you any emotion
and / repeat that shall on no account
take the articles In question, but shall
leave the lady's friend to call for them
at such time as may be thought best"
Doctor, / insist on you hearing me-"
Mrs. Burkhardt said, in tone more
entreating than peremptory. You
have no right to state an errand so odd
ly, and then leave me in this abrupt
manner because am surprised and an
noyed. i request you to do me the favor
to resume your seat.
1t was impossible for a gentleman to
refuse. Doctor Thayer returned to his
seat, and waited for the lady to speak.
You know some reason why this
subject should agitate mel" she said,
abruptly, fixing her piercing eyes on
him with a look which she tried to
make defiant, but which quailed in
spite OF her.
do not know of any reason why
you should he offended at my request"
he replied, evasively, determined If pos
sible to solve the mystery which he per-
ceived existed. Rose had no friend but
him, and if this lady was seeking to
wrong her in any way, it was his duty
to shield the child.
81 He knows about the poison" the
lady thought. Perhaps did wrong"
she said, aloud, assuming grieved and
deferential air; 4" but am not acquaint-
ed with the law in such cases, and hav-
ing once arranged to conceal the matter
of the poor creatures death, it was i'm
possible to change my course afterward.
have been sorry ever since; and yet
what could do ?'' Looking at him ap-
pealingly.
"What was the cause of Mrs. Pau
lier's death 2' asked Doctor Thayer,
looking steadily in the lady's face.
"You do not know ?" she said, in
trembling voice.
81 do not know" the doctor replied,
decidedly.
Mrs. Burkhardt dropped her eyes, and
the blood rushed over her white face
She perceived that she had made capi-
tai blunder.
I" 1 should not have mentioned it to
you had / not thought that you knew
something about it," she resumed pres
emily, in suppressed voice, which
gradually cleared, and grew more assur-
ed as she went on. But am not sure
that / would not rather you should
know it. tell you in confidence P'-
Looking at him inquiringly.
4" / shall not betray your confidence,
unless my sense or honor would oblige
me to-" he replied. " You have thus
far told me nothing. Perhaps you had
better not tell me. If the affair is of
any Importance, ought not to make
any promise in the dark, particularly
as l am committed to Mrs. Paulier's
ly, then ask no further explanation. "
The apothecary made mistake in
the prescription she said hastily, in a
whisper.
Ali"
at was Mr.. Somes, you knew him,
and it almost killed the poor man. In
deed, / do moi doubt that it caused his
death. Doctor Marston had ordered
morphia and don't know what horrid
thing the apOthecary put up. She died
in few hours. OF course we were ter
ribly shocked and frightened, and our
first impulse was to say to the servants
and visitors that Mrs. Paulier had been
taken violently ill, and to avoid all the
talk and gossip we could. Then, on
second Ihought,i lit seemed as well to con-
ceal the whole matter, since Mr.. Somes
was in such distress, and promised to
give up business Immediately and never
to put up another prescription; and
since really no one could be benefited
by complaint. If any friend of Mrs.
Paulier's had appeared, L should have
told the whole, and let matters take
their course. In such a case, the bust
ness would have been taken quite out
of my hands. But under the circum-
stances, and since the only end TO be at
tanned was revenge on that poor apoth-
ecary, who would do no more damage to
any one, and since L dreaded the pub
licity of the affair, why, concluded to
keep it among ourselves"
4 l. u 4