Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-07-25

/ .~~@N.
enc circumstances which have led me to
believe it, for we are almost at the door
1t is never the case that Miss Melrose
and Spencer are out at the same time, or
l should have called physician before
but tonight they are both called away
by the death of Miss Melrose's sister and
will not be back until tomorrow. With
the consent of my mistress 1 came for
you, and oh, DIR. Lockwood. | pray you
save nv dear mistress. nursed her
when her mother died and left her
a helpless infant all through her inno-
| cent youth she was like an own child to
me; and now to see her fading hour by
hour before my eyes. Good heavens
If knew beyond doubt that he was
guilty, his life should pay the forfeit"
was already beginning to feel deep
intei esS in Mrs. Spencer, although l had
never seen her, and like her own nurse
was beginning to feel great animosity
for DR.. Spencer.
Mrs. Spencer received me in her bed
chamber. 1t was on the second floor,
and was furnished with exquisite ele-
gance.
| EVERYTHING in the room bespoke the
delicacy an. .aste of the occupant. The
warm air was fragrant with the faint
odOr of heliOtrope; and glancing around
| / saw the purple blossoms and green
leaves in an alabaster case on the edge
of the south window.
| She was a woman who, when once
seen, could never be forgotten. l have
met i'm nv life mary beautiful women
but never one so lovely.
She was tall and straight, with a purely
oval face, liquid brown eyes, and dash
of hectic in her cheek, which is never
seen in perfect health.
She received me, as | know she did
everyone. gracefully. and though there
was slight embarrassment in her man.
ner when spoke of her illness. she an
swered my professional inquiries with
out hesitation.
As for myself, l laid aside all false
delicacy and questioned her plainly as
to her symptoms. Mrs. Hurd, her nurse
remained in the room, and added many
important little items of information.
When she spoke of her husband, il
was with a sort of hopeless sadness
which distressed me greatly.
Not breath of suspicion against him
in her answers to my questions, and
felt sure that at present she knew moth
ing of what Mrs. Hurd had such serious
apprebensiOns. | was glad it was so, fol
with her finely strung organization, il
might have produced serious results.
made my examination of the patient as
closely as could, and drew my own
conclusions. ] could have sworn that
Mrs. Spencer daily swallowed arsenic in
small quantities, and the deadly drue
was telling fearfully on her constitution
She said, answering my questions, thai
she had no physician except her hus
band He thought himself better &C
quainted with her case, and therefore
better qualified to treat her. He never
left medicine with her to take he always
brought it fresh from his office, and ad
ministeIeJ it promptly.
There was little enough could do il
such a case Anxious TO do everything
the very circumstance of the affair lef
me nearly powerless.
/. A charge of such nature of course
|, could not make out against DIR. Spencer
without the amplest proof. i'll hinteC
suspicion, everyone would set it dOwr
to my professional prejudice; and if
could not substantiate my statement, The
doctor could make me pay dearly fo
such slander uttered against him.
The only d, pendeDce seemed to be il
Mrs. Hurd. To her unbosOned mysel
freely. rold her without reserve tha
| | thought DIR. Spencer was killing hi
wife with slow POISON, and l besough
her to constantly watch to save the vic
tim, and discover some proof by which
: we could fasten the guilt unon him.
She smiled g-imly and promised ODE
dience, and gave her powerful anti
dote for the poison | suspected, and wen
hone perturbed and anxious in mind.
r did not sleep that night and all the mex
day was in high fever of excitement
A ring at the bell made me tremble-
step on the gravel outside my offic
stopped my breath, and / hardly knew
what | exoected to hear. felt sure be
fore | slept should hear something.
And now l must tell the story rs
was told me.
DIR. Spencer returned home the morn
ing after my visit TO the Clifton HOUSE
q He looked wretchedly, the nurse said
appeared gloomy and depressed. Mis-
Melrose came with him and looked de
| corously sad over the death of her sistel
}, Women of her stamp always do mour
to perfection. They neither overdo nc
/, underdo the thing, as women of f: elm
are likely to do.
DIR. Spencer came at once to his wife
r chamber. He thought she looked il
o and prescribed cordial at once, sayin
he would go aud fetch it.
"You are always ordering cordials ft
her." said Mrs. Hurd, musingly. "Wh
r. not take something yourself? You loo
,s like ghostp
He eyed her keenly, but replied con
posedlv:
l. 81 think will take some of the cordi;
s Alice, dear, shall bring it here an
: drink yodr healtb?"
ii Mrs. Spencer smiled sadly in assent
q she never disputed her husband and /
u went out. Presently he returned wit
two glasses. Both contained liquor CO
orless and odorless. Mrs. Hurd WI
watching him with her heart in h,
IL throat, for she told me that she felt Il
N decisive moment had come. There W;
@. something in the gray pallor of IL
a doctors rigid face told her of a despe
ate purpose in the mans soul.
70 He lifted the glass to the right of Il
re tray and gave it to his wife.
a. Drink it, DEAR" he said. ats
., panacea for all evils l am also going