Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-18
CHATTER XIV.
HOW IT ENDED.

just as she was, with the poisoned
in one hand and the poison
Itself in the other, Scnsi forced Mrs.
Allcnby into the next room, step by
step. The wretched woman would have
screamed for help-her dread of him
was stronger for the moment than the
dread of discovcry-but with the fasci-
nation of those terrible eyes upon her
she could not utter Il sound.
AS he passed the landing he sent his
voice down the staircase, scarcely above
a whisper, but it went through the
house.
Mr.. Parker, Mr. Parker"
The student heard it, 50 did the old
gentleman, so did George Hyde. Fear
ing the worst, they went upstairs almost
together, but Mr.. Parker alone knew
the meaning of what they saw.
What is it," Mr.. Barkerasked My
darlng.-Arthur' wife! Is
she-?o
Safe, l hope" said Mr.. Parker,
quietly. land likely to recover now that
we know the cause of her disease. And
She he went on, crying bitterly, is
Margaret's mother. How can she be
told of this?'
So far they could understand nothing,
for Mr.. Parker could not say another
word. Sensi. however, did not lose his
presence of mind. Now that there were
witnesses present lie released Mrs. Al
lenby. and placed the glass of medicine
and the phial on the table. These told
their own story to Dr. Hyde.
Tell them Mr.. Parker said to the
muatto; Il cannot"
The mulatto told them, more clearly
perhaps than the student could have
done; and, through the horror which
had come upon him. Mr.. Barker could
only notice the singular stiffness which
had come upon his sistcr-in-laW. She
did not move or speak when he asked
her if the fearful tale were true. She
only replied with slow inclination of
the head.
When Mr. Barker rose to his full
height Mrs. Allcnby knew him at once;
he was. in nothing, like the stumbling,
high-shouldercd figure she had seen
once or twice going up and down the
stairs. The hidcouS blue SpeCtacles
were in his pocket, and he no longer
made prctcnce of being afflicted with
the govt, and, in spite of her stricken
faculties. she saw that Mary'S eccentric
lodgcr and Michael Allcnby We're the
same man
What he might have saidno one could
tell. but he began in way that showed
the full measure of his anger. George
Hyde stopped him, however, and lifted
the heavy figure of Mrs. AIlrnhy in thi
chair. She fell back again limp and
helpless.
You need not say word" he saic
to Michael. "IIeayen has punished
her.
"What is the matter with her:
"Paralysis -hoprlroS and incurablc.
And SO it was. The Sudden shock q
the two swift and silent hands Whc'
nrasptd her own. when she thought her
self alone. and the deadly i.rocity .
the muatto's terrible" eyes had don't
their work. and Mrs. Alleuhy was para
Used from head j. foot; the brain wa
clear and active, and that added to hel
| punishment,
And she is Margaret's mother, Mr.
Parker said again. "lloW can we tel
herr"
"Shc never must be told sale
Michael. gravely. This is secret t.
be kept 10y ourselves, | can trust yol
and George. and can answer for SenSl
You have behaved with rare good sens
and discretion, Mr.. Parker Does tina
wretched woman understand me
George, when tell her for her child
ren's sake, no one will ever know how
this happened.
The Wretched woman made sig
that she did understand.
Her motive he went on, "thoug
it must ever be a matter of conjecture
can easily be arrived at by me. lie
hatred of Mary, and her desire to tax
possession of Arthur's boy and m
money led her TO TO this
Though he had not spoken to her
Mrs. Allenby responded with the sam
sign, a slow trcmulousanI forward III.
ton of the head.
"Shc nursed Mary through the fever,
he continued, THE better to throw l
off our guard, and prepare the way tC
the present diabolical piece of treacl
cry ! GU see now II mas lerplleu upo
herself Hhoulu Mary i've l oo"i' Il
most forgive her' o .,...
should Mary i've. George sIoie i'l'
the room, ana came pack III lilolneii
Mary is asleep ne SAD ~
And without that cruel poison in hi
. VEINS Saia the ora man: Nay lleaee {
help us III our WORK Oh bringing l'el p'c
, to health l nave loln YOU ueolSe,
+ was through tlllS WON III > letters " Il
iirSt conceived the luea oil comm
here IN disguise TO see Tor myself WIZ
: Arthur Wile was IKE Sle' anu !
> pointed TO the stricken nSure III u
l char, tod me thlS gu was loMlS-
and lll-bred, Inc child Oh hllSelap,
drunken, literary mack ana tllav 81
| herself was suspected ol oeiiS "olSo'
3 Dr' llyde Siluunficu'
' III course, Mlc'l'Pi etlu' l uiu ~
Know oliy hilfW tl"t Mllcn I uu
= EhSi"i'u my oIT lIls''u i-oi'li"t fa,
Scliol'ilS Nch''o'i'''' ,'oSo ~ ~, ~ h
y.