Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-24
DIR. SPENCER'S CRIME.

| was sitting in my Office, half doz-
ING over an interminable article on
nutrition 10 the last monthly medical
review.
The fire in the CRATE was low, the
night was stormy and the clock was
on the stroke of eleven. was just
about to turn off the gas and retire,
for, being bachelor, slept Ia the
room connected with my office, when
there was pull at the bell.
started up suddenly, for this Was
something new Middlebury was a
decorous sort OF place, the people usu-
ally managed to be taken sick at sea-
soDable hours.
Old Mrs. Jerome had been threaten.
ing to die for the past five years, and
every time visited her she solemnly
informed me that when the decisive
moment did come, she desired me
present. But as nothing allied the old
lady beyond now and then an indiges-
ton from too much high living, | had
never yet been called upon to be pres
ent at her death.
Now, I thought, it must be old Mrs.
Jerome going.
| took up my night lamp and went
to the door. a strong gust of damp,
sleet wind nearly extinguished the
light, but, shading it with my hand, /
discerned the face of woman.
Come ia, said 7, holding open the
door, but she declined with a gesture
of lmpatlence.
"You must come out, /" she said in a
sharp, incisive voice, land be quick
about it.
| put on my overcoat without de-
muir, locked the surgery door, and
stepped into the storm. AS I did so
the woman laid a firm hand on my
arm and putting her face close to mine
said:
CDR. Lockwood, can you keep a Sc
cret?n
81 think so, madam"
E'Swear 1t"
Us this secret of yours of a profess
ional character? That is, is it anything
you wish to confde In meas a medi~
cal mans"
ct isl
every well, then, I swear it."
That Is right"
a man respects an oath, though
why he should is a mystery, since
mems mouths are running over with
them.
WHITTIER are you taking me and
for what purposes"
''To the Clifton House to see the
mistress p" I started.
Clifton House was the old mansion
recently taken by DIR. Spencer, a
stranger to every one in Middlebury
Spencer was tall, dark, rather dis
tinguished looking person, who had
hung out his sigh IN the village, only
few doors above mine, but as yet he
got no practice.
He was unsocial in the extreme,
avoiding his neighbors persistently,
and when he did speak it was IN so
curt, half-savage a way that no one
was likely to prolong the corversa-
ton.
The doctor had wife, it was said,
no one had ever seen her. She was
an invalid, and Miss Melrose, friend
of the family, presided over the fami-
ly and sat at the head of the table.
Miss Melrose was yet beautiful, and
won the admiration of all who visited
Clifton House by her ease of manner
and fascinating conversation.
"As we walk along" said my COM
panion. ''let me explain to you just
what is necessary for you to know.
NV Mistress is very sick"
II beg your pardon--is it Mrs. Spen-
Ger or Miss Melrose2"
She laughed bitterly.
Miss Melrose! I would stab her to
the heart sooner than own her for
a mistress. Ny mistress is lady
noble, royal, and of genuine birth. 1t
is an honor to serve my mistress"
land is she ill., How long since2'
s'Ever since she married him-curse
himi" she muttered In fierce tone
"but | must not get excited. | must
tell my story, or rather hers. Two
years ago, through the desire of her
dying father, Alice Herden became
James Spencer's wife. Before that
she was healthy, blooming girl; i'm
mediately after their marriage sh9
began to fail. Do you see anything
strange in that?"
mot necessarily"
"Let me enlighten you further. DIR.
Spencer was at one time engaged to
Miss Lucille Melrose, but he broke the
instead. Miss Melrose was as poor as
Jobs turkey. Miss Herdon was an
heiress, and DR.. Spencer was deeply
in debt, and hard pressed by his credi.
tors. DIS you see anything strange ia
that2"
perhaps SO. Go on"
when my mistress married Spen-
Ger she was only IL, and had been
taught to obey her father IN every
thing. She was gentle. afectionate
child, and it would have been easy for
Spencer to have won her love. But