Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-06-28

HOlllDlC CRY, luSncu across inc lanulnT.
II was the cry of n most awful fear.
1t made Ada feel sick, and she longcd
to sit down on the stairs, for her legs
gave way beneath her. But she would
not. She remembered her patient,
and, getting out the key of the room,
opened the door and let DR.. Browne in;
then she closed it behind them and
locked it. Agatha Mertoun lay rigid,
like lovely statute, on the bed. Her
eyes were staring and fixed, and on her
lips was Il foam. Nurse Harcourt
looked at her with sinking heart
was it too late? But she quickly threw
aside her cloak and prepared to wait
upon DIR. Browne, who soon became
absorbed in his task. He used strong
measures, and watched their effect with
aXicty, Nurse Harcourt saw, with Il
curious sort of satisfaction, that he was
acting upon the same idea with regard
to the case which she had offered him.
He did not reject it rs impossible now.
For two hours this fixed attention con-
tinued, neither left the bedside.
| At last DIR. Browne went to the win
dow and beckoncd Ada to him.
"Tho servants will be up now," he
said; task them TO get you some cof-
fee; you look perfectly worn out" "
II believe | am rather tired she
said; "but was right, wasn't IPn
"Quite right" he said; "and you
have saved her life by your pluck"
Thus comforted, Ada went away in
search OF the servants, On the landing
outside the door she found the man
servant whom she had seen the night
before. He was standing still, with a
face full of pcrplexily.
"Nurse," he said, II believe masters S
gone out of his mind. He has been
queer for some time past, but not like
this"
"What is it" asked Ada
"lIc is sitting on his bed laughing;
and then every now and then he stops,
and shricks ont suddenly that the house
is full of gray and white ghosts.
don't like tits awfu!'
Then Ada remembered that cry of
i'tlls llO llNlsl liNN SNNll llli DllllI III
DR.. Browne early this morning She
said; "ho is in his boating llanncls
Mrs. McrtOun was much worse in the
night and | went for Il doctor DR..
Browne had better see your master.
The man looked u good deal bcwil.
dercd, but recovered himself sufficiently
TO agree, and DR.. Browne heard his
tale. While the servant was gone he
turned to Ada and began: You know
the house better than do, perhaps
you can tell me"
"Better than you do!' exclaimed
Ada; mot much. | only 90! here last
night ut eleven"
Last night at clevcn!" repeated DR..
Browne "Why, what u night of ad-
venture you have had! No wonder
you look worn out. Well, can you tell
me to whom TO send, because there is
evidently somcthingycry wrong hcroP'
"Ycs, | can tell you that" she
answered. II have the address of
Mrs. Mcrtoun's sister, who sent me
down, and to whom was to telegraph
il necessary"
THAT is all right, said Dr. Browne;
"haye you ordered any brcakfaSt?n
"Nut YETI she answered.
al will send the man to see that it is
got ready for you, and brought to your
room. Now go straight to bed
"Thank you, SIR said Ada, "but
how can leave Mrs. Mcrloun?'
II am not going away just yet; you
know did not travel from town yes
terday. | will have her attended to-;
and YOU shall be called in four hours. :"
"Thank you, sir" said Ada again;
and went away down the now sunit
staircase, on which her room opened.
"Thank you, sir repeated Dr.
Browne to himself. "What IN extraord-
mary little woman it is! And what
eyes! BY Jove, it has been night OF
adventure.
Ada got into bed, drank some warm
coffee, and then fell suddenly into Il
deep, dreamless sleep 1t was the re-
pose of complete weariness. Four
hours later the maid Knocked at her
door; Ada started up broad awake in
an instant, and rs fresh rs n flower.
In very short time she was dressed
and at the door of her patients room.
The maid was in charge; DR.. Browne
had left her with instructions what to
do, and Mrs. Mertoun seemed to be Il
little better. Agatha was lying on u
heap Of pillows, looking very white,
and wild, and strange. But she was
evidently in less suffering.
"My dear little nurse, she whispered
when Ada bent over her. II know
you have saved my life. They will not
tell me where my husband is, but you
will Is he mad?"
81 don't know anything" said Ada
81 have been asleep all this time
ale must be-" she went on. 81 am
sure he was not in his right mind or he
would never have attempted what he
did-you believe me, don't you? He
loved me when he was himself; but
sometimes chad awful fits of jealousy,
when | have thought before now that
he would try TO kill me- 1t was in one
of those fits that he brought me here;
and it has been growing on him. When
we were married | was thought a
beauty; and he was always fancying |
should get tired of him. Oh, nurse,
am sure ho was not in his right mind.
You will tell the doctor so, won't youP'
"Yes, yes, | WILL" said Ada, land
indeed Think sol should have said
so in any case, And the servants told
me this morning that he was not in his
right mind"
"Ah! then it will be all right" said
Agatha, with sigh of relief. Ada I'M
derstood then that this beautiful wom-
an still loved the husband who had at
tempted her life, and that her great
dread was lest he should be held ac-
countable for his attempted crime.
Late that night Zoe Conington ar
rived with her husband; they brought
with them ''mental" attendant, who
Immediately took entire charge of Ed
ward Mertoun. The dreadful thing
which Ada had discovered and pre-
vented was kept secret among tho
few who knew of it.
Every day, after Zoe arrived, Agatha
insisted that her dear little nurse, as
she always called Ada, should go for a
walk. The country around the Old
Hall was exceedingly beautiful; to
wander about in it was the keenest
/, | nlaosura nossihla tn tha onuntry- horn