Connecticut western news., 1882-01-11

another vial of sulphate of morphine. "I am an old physician, :" said he, "and know your husbands symptoms as well as you know his face. His possession of these articles should confirm my worlds His medical logic was inter- rupted by low cry from the stricken wife, and then she tainted dead away. Mildred stepped forward and carried the agents of their ruin to her room. "
 Opium slaves are subject to accidents like that which had overtaken MT. Joce- lyn, who through heedlessness or while unconscious, had taken heavy over- dose or else had punctured 8 vein with his syringe. Dr. Benton knew well that his patient was in no condition to enter upon any radical curative treat ment, and 1t was his plan to permit the use of the drug for g. few days, seeking meanwhile to restore his shattered sys- tenn, and then gain the mans honest and hearty cooperation in the terrible ordeal essential to health and freedom. Explaining this to the wife and daugh- ter the doctor took his departure. u...
 ca waking that Christmas morning, Jocelyn slowly and ftfully began to mature plans for deception, but his en- feebled powers rallied so slowly that he felt for time that silence and observa- tion were his best allies. He therefore affected to regard his condition as the result of severe illness and murmured that ''quiet and home life would soon bring him round" The physician thought he had given enough of the drug to satisfy his patient, but as the day declined MT. Jocelyn became very restless. In spite of his wife's remon- strances he rose and dressed himself. Although tottering from weakness, he said, irritably and almost imperiously, that he needed no help and wished to be alone. With sad foreboding, his wife yielded and waited tremblingly for his next step, for he had become to her an awful mystery. Her fears were full filled, for he soon lifted the curtain door and looked at her in strange and suspicious manner.
 ''I miss some medicine from my vest pocket" he said, hesitatingly. Her face crimsoned, and she found no words with which to reply.
 ''Did you take it out ?" he demanded, sharply.
 "No," she faltered.
 His manner grew excited. Anger, suspicion, fear, were all blended in his face, but he so far mastered, himself as to assume wheedling tone as he came toward her, saying: .... .. . ''Now, it is only little tonic that I found beneficial while in the South. You must know where it is. Please give it to me-" ...r .-
 The poor woman was so overcome by her husbands appearance and falsehood that she felt sick and faint and knew not what to say.
 ''Where is it 2" he demanded angrily, for unless he had the drug speedily he would lose his self-contrcl.
 ''Oh, Martin,'' pleaded his wife, "wait till Dr. Benton comes. He will l De nerS Gn1S evening.
 ''Why this ado about nothing? I merely wish to take little tonic, and you look as if proposed committing suicide.' ..-...-..... rt
 "Oh, Martin, Martin, it is suicide, of body and soul. It is worse than mur- der of me and your innocent children. Oh, Martin, my hearts true love, make me Christmas gift that I will prize next to him from whom the day is named. Give me the promise that you will never touch the vile poison again, '' and kneeling before him she sought to take his hand. For a moment he was overwhelmed. She evidently knew all. He sank into chair and trembled al. most convulsively. Then came the i'm. pulse to lie about the habit, even after it was useless.
 "Nan," he began, as he grew little quieter, ''you take cruel advantage oi my weak nerves. You must see that ] am greatly reduced by illness, and merely wish to take 8 little tonic, as any sane mau would do, and you treat me to scene of high tragedy. Give me my medicine, and I know that vii soon be better" r....
 "Oh, my husband, has it really come to this ?" and the wretched wife buried her face in her arms and leaned heavily on the table. He was growing desper ate, and for few minutes debated witt himself. Was he strong enough to gt out to the nearest drug store? Afte , one or two turns up and down the rcon he found that he was not. He migh fall in utter collapse on the way. H' therefore said to his wife in doggec way, "Nan must have that medicine. , She was goaded into burst of in dignation and approached him for hi , sin in such words that he sat covering
 and trembling before her, with his fac
 buried in his hands. In sudden re vulsion of tenderness she sank agai1
 on her knees before him, and pleade' } in tones of tenderest pathos that sh 7 knew alls but was willing to forgive al 3 if he would be true from that time for ward. "We will sustain your ever, n effort with sympathy and loving faith. B she said. "We will smile at cold an, t hunger that you may have time-Grea t God !" and she sprung to her feet, whit faint and painting. Her husband hat
 taken his hands from his face, an, : glared at her like famished wolf. Il l his desperate, unnatural visage ther f was not trace of manhood left.