Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-09-20
Gales ann Skttfbes.
xaDsxE DucHEsSEs DAUGHTER.
III EDGARFAwcETT.


The twilight of raw, gruff December
evening had just fallen over New York
Earlier in the day there had been sharp
furry OF snow. succeeded by a piercing
wind from the north. which had left
crisp blotches of snow cleaning now
upon the lamplit pavements perilous to
the unwary pedestrian. just at this drear,y
hour it happened that yonDg Edmund
Pritchard, a physician of energetic aims
though limited practice. had entered bis
small, plain furnished Office with the GER
tainty that he would be permitted COM
| Portable evening before his FIRE and
an uninterrupted browse among the
medical volumes that lined his shelves.
| Perhaps Pritchard would have pre-
ferred facing the savage weather
outside if there had been any
chance of a professional summons but so
many milder evenings had left his services
unrequired that the prospect of being
called from his office-hearth tonight
seemed specially remote one.
| For this reason he started supposedly
when, about an hour after his return. there
sounded sudden. decisive peal at his
| bell. His office was on the basement
floor of one of our conventional, high
scooped houses, and its main door opened
directly upon the little lower courtyard.
Pritchard rose and answered the bell peal
himself; he had dismissed his serving-boy
some time ago. having no reason for re-
tanning him after eight O'Clock.
stout, middle aged woman stood on
the threshold as the door was opened.
She had on big, protective woolen
shawl. but her plump, dull face locked
almost purple by the rough winds as the
light now struck it. The face had a stupid
vet kindly expression, but some severe
anxiety had set an evident mark upon its
features.
Please. sir, are YOU the doctor ?' she
said, looking nervously at Pritchard.
while his own calm, direct eye swept her
face.
Yes he replied; what can do for
you ?'
MY mistress, sir-she's taken very
bad, think :" was the confused, hesitat-
ing answer. "It's just a block further
down. sir-I haven't lived there very long
she's French lady. sir, and | always
thought she was a little queer in her
head-but tonight she seems very bad.
and II thought doctor might help her
some"
Are you the only person in the house
besides the lady herself?' asked Pritch
ard
.'Well, no, sir-there's kind of body
servant of hers-a French woman that 5
lived with her for years-but she fell sick
the other day. and took to her bed-Jose
phine is her name. sir, and | didn't want
to rouse up the poor old creature when
the lady got so bad"
Pritchard refrained from asking any de-
tailed explanation of this ambiguous term
bad" He probably distrusted whatever
definition would be supplied him by the
frightened applicant whom he now ad-
dressed.
What is the name of your mistress ?''
he now inquired
Madame Duchesne,' said the woman,
with merclessly false accent.
"And your own name ?'' continued
Pritcbard.
Margaret, sir-Margaret Rodd."
"Well, Margaret, | will 60 with you to
the lady's house, said the young doctor
'I will 90 at once
Wrapped as stoutly as possible against
tho cutting gales that hurried through the
streets outside and made the yellow lamp
flames twist and writhe, Prtchard soon
atterward accompanied Margaret Rodd to
the door of her mistresss residence. 1t
was small, prosperous looking house.
situated but a block distant Margaret
carried latch-key, with which she
| opened the street door. They entered a
narrow hall, whose baroness was scarcely
saved from the suggestion of actual pow
| Ii h., -,
ing in dim parlor, where the linen
shrouded furniture looked like an assem-
blage of ghosts. She went upstairs, re-
manned some little time, and presently
Pritchard heard her descending.
| MADAME Duchesne isn't any better,
SIR" she said; "but didn't dare tell her
I'd brought doctor. Suppose. sir, you
should just go into the room, yourself. and
surprise her."
Pritchard followed Margaret upstairs.
| They paused before door that was
slightly ajar. Margaret motioned for the
young physician to enter. she herself
withdrawing several steps backward.
| And, n moment later, Pritchard did cross
| the threshold.
The room was brightly lighted. 1t had
an air of rather careless elegance, which
contrasted with a certain shabbiness of
detail. You felt it to be the room which
person of refinement must have occu-
pied. A woman, perhaps 30 years old,
was slowly pacing its floor. Her hair was
as white as snow. and her eyes were very
black. large and luminous. She wore a
look of haggard sorrow, which instantly
changed to one of astonishment as Pritch-
ard appeared. She stood perfectly still,
staring at the intruder. The dark folds
of her dress fell about her tall figure with
the majestic grace of garments cut from
marble.
"Who are you?'' she asked, with low
and naughty emphasis.
IL am DIR. Pritchald." was the prompt
reply. spoken in clear, gentle tones.
Your servant tells me that You are i'll.
and have come to see if can give YOU
any relief
The old lady continued staring at
Pritchard for several moments after
he had finished speaking. Relief y
she presently echoed, in voice of thrill
| ING sorrow She turned and pointe,i