Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-11-01

waning lOff why ulu tncy not aflcSJ
her immediately She would make one
more attempt, como what would OF it,
The woman was now desperate. She had
gone too far to recede. Yes, she would
| make one more attempt -would finish her
diabolical work at one fell stroke. and
then, in the dead Of night, she would go
forth from the place forever, and shifting
her disguise defy them all TO find her
out.
Thus she reflected late one after
| noon in the seclusion of her chamber
She determined to wait until midnight.
and then in spite of the doctor, in spite of
Albright, Mrs. Bascombe, or the house,
hold combined, she would finish the aw-
full work she had begun.
She sat at the window looking out into
the darkness as the hours flew on. The
air was growing sultry, but the wind soon
began to rise, and the moon became OBJ
scured, and the stars hid themselves
away behind the gathering clouds and in
q little while the rain began to patter
among the leaves; and the trees to surge
in the rising wind. Soon thunder passed
grumblingly through the sky, and the
lightning flashed out here and there, and
the rain came rushing down with gath
cred force and fury. The storm was fierce
anu Wllu anu llsiluTt uGlllltfN cIdckeu
and roared in the black sky, up to which
Mrs. Vickory gazed through the dripping
panes Of her closed window.
The dark spirit of this woman exulted
as she listened to the fierce and rolling
thunder and beheld the lightning's livid
streaks flashing across the sky-thus she
sat for hours, until, striking n light, she
glanced at her watch and then proceeded
to mix something in tumbler, which she
afterwards transferred to n small vial,
which she placed in her bosom.
Then, blowing out her lamp, she pro-
ceeded with n cautious step to the door;
this she silently opened, then she peered
forth into the hall, black and desolate.-
Two doors below her room, she descerned
dim light burning, the door being slight
ly ajar, with cautious, stealthy steps. she
advanced in the direction of the light,
and having reached the room paused for
moment outide TO listen.
EVERYTHING was silent within the sick
chamber. Nothing could be heard save
the thunder which rumbled without
She pushed the chamber door open
making not the slightest noise--and then
again She paused, and still no sound from
within. Again she pushed the door, and
this time it swung sufficiently wide for
her to enter She peercd into the apart
ment.
Everything was still rs death. Moth
ing but the soft breathiugs Of the sleepers
fell upon her ears.
She looked around. Upon lounge,
near the bed, the new nurse was fast
asleep. Gertrude, with her white face
turned to the wall. also slumbered sweet
ly.
In moment the would-bc murderess
was in the room. With the light step of
an animal approaching its prey, she
moved over to the table wherein the med
icine bottles lay, and, Selling them, she
poured into each part of the contents OF
her viol.
Her hand was steady and her blood
was cool. not drop of the deadly liquid
was spilled-but her hand would have
oeen less steady and her blood less cool
had she at that moment looked over her
shoulder-outside the door with white
CHASTITY face, and gazing full upon the di-
bolical act performing before him, was
Tom Albright who had followed Mrs.
Vickory from the moment she left her
room until the instant she had mixed her
poison with the medicine of the invalidl
When the woman had finished her foul
work she turned around and crept steal
thily and swiftly as before from the sick
room.
Tom let her pass by him in the darkness
and when she had entered her own room,
and he heard her door locked, Tom en-
tered Gertrude's chamber, and waking the
nurse whispered few words in her ear,
and taking the medicine with him he left
the room, and went over to that OF the
doctor. The physician was awake when
L. Al. Il. IL "a
he had Witnessed. and handed him the
bottles.
The doctor smelled of one of them and
tasted the Notwithstanding done so he
said:
"Yes. it's Just what l cxpected-but
never mind I'll examine this particularly
tomorrow. | am glad she did not see
you"
While the doctor was speaking he was
mixing medicine which he handed to
Tom, saying -
Here, carry that to the nurse and tell
her to be watchful-but there is no dam
ger now. She will not return 6again to-
night. This" pointing to the bottles twas
intended to be the final dose! But what
an awful night it is-tiuly Albright this
is the hour and night for the perpetra-
tion of crimes as foul and deadly as this!'
$50 was thinking as / saw the fiend
pouring out her poison. l tell you Doc
| tor ut one time l was almost inclined to
spring upon and stranglc her"
Don't be rash my friend-we have her
| fast and can take her when we need. At
! present / do not wish her to he arrested;
! If it came TO the ears of my patient that
\ she was being poisoned. would not give
that for her life," and the doctor snapped
! his fingers.
| you're right sir" returned Tom as he
bid the Doctor goodnight, and vanished
l with the medicine.
ITO be Co.. ied