Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-10-18

drawing room, the folding doors Of which
were open.
1t was the face of Mrs. Vickory, who
could both see and hear all that was go
ing on.
1t was a malignant face overshadowed
with scheming thoughts, and looking,
among the green leaves which surround
ed the white head, very pale and aged.
The face grew eager and was pushed
further forward, so anxious did it seem to
hear the answer to Mr.. Arkrights ques-
ton.
Sometimes think am improving. dear
Tom, and then suddenly comes a change,
! grow languid, / hardly care to move
and feel-forgive me darling-but i feel
as il death would be welcome! 1 am
quite well to-day, but know it will not
last am certain that tomorrow will
bring the usual change-I cannot account
for it Tom, for i am naturally OF strong
constitution"
81 think we had better change your
physician. Ii strikes me that that board
ing house doctor is n charlatan. L am
going to Boston tomorrow, and will
bring DR.. Warren down with me. We
have had no diagnosis of your case yet,
and do not know what is the matter with
YOU
The livid pallor of the cruel face be-
tween the leaves, was now something
fearful to behold. The brows grew corro-
gated, and startled anxious expression
came into her face. Mrs. Vickory at the
mention of DR.. Warren's name seemed ter
ribly uneasy.
III have no objection to that Tom, if you
should 60 to Boston, for / have no wish
to die no,e, the world is too brighton,
darling, am too happy to die-the world
is heaven and happiness to me, must
live, oh Tom soiU livev
The poor girl was weeping as she utter
ed the words we have set down-for she
was very weak, but Tom put his arms
about her neck and kissed her and COM
forted her with tender words.
When she was more composed, he rang
the bell and Mrs. Bascombe came in
"Why, Gerty, what is the matterl Oh,
Tom, you wicked fellow you have been
plaguing her with your nonsensew
"Ah, no he has not, but / am very weak
and foolish"
"Yes, you are foolish-for sitting up 30
long. Come, we will go up to your room
My Heavens, Tom, what are you about7"
She might well ask, for Tom had quiet
ly gathered the invalid in his arms and
was walking away with her up to her
chamber. A tender expression on his
handsome face, and a sweet smile on Ger
tIude's as she looked fondly up at him.
They encountered Mrs. Vickory outside
the door as they went forth, and she re-
marked as she saw them coming towards
her.
"Ah, knew the dear child would do
herself harm by coming down--poor
deary, poor deary," and the tender heart
p ed old woman followed Mrs. Bascombe
and the others up to the chamber of our
heroine
Her lover placed his happy burden up
on the bed, and ignoring the presence OF
his sister and Mrs. Vickory, he pressed q
kiss on the feverish lips Of his darling,
and made his way from the room.
Mrs. Bascombe then made glass Of
cool lemonade with her own hands, and
administered it to Gertrude, who declared
that she was greatly refreshed by the de-
licious draught.
Marion then sat herself down by the
bedside, and finding that Gertrude felt no
desire to sleep, took up volume of Jean
Ingelow at hand and began reading to
her.
Mrs.Vickory tacitly understanding that
she was not wanted left the chamber, and
entered her own room, where for mo-
ment we will follow her.
She softly closed the door of the room
behind her, and then stood silently in the
middle of the apartment, her hands clasp
ed and the white head bowed on her bo-
som.
She stood thus for several minutes with
out movement or n word. AT last she
raised her head, while determined ex-
preston took possession of her face and
muttered:
"a new doctor, chi DR.. Warren-then
indeed l must hurry, or we are lost! All
is lost.-should he come now or within a
day or two-the labor of weeks is wasted
and my crime will bear but bitter fruit
/ have gone too far to hesitate now-I
will strike the final blow-and leave this
place forever But / must see Mm-I
must see him; let me see where did he APP
point to meet me- and the old woman with
the soft voice took letter from her bosom
and opening it, read it carefully TO her.
self.
"Yes, near the sumac trees-I know the
clump well; I'll be there! I'll be there!"
and she put the letter back in her bosom
and went to table, drawer of which
she unlocked and took therefrom three or
four tiny boxes. from these'boxes she took
with an ivory pick, an atom of powder
an atom from each box and mixed them
together in few drops of water. Having
seen them thoroughly dissolve she covered
the tumbler with book over which she
threw handkerchief, and then hastily
left the room, and moved towards that Of
Gertrude-the door was ajar, and upon
looking in she found our heroine asleep
and the apartment empty. She quickly
and quietly darted back to her own room,
seized the tumbler. and re-entering that
of Gertrude, turned the contents into the
lemonade at the bedside to disappear.