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

table with nice and costly dishes, and
put it in his power to keep Miss Mel
rose robed like queen. And all this
time my mistress has been slowly, but
surely, sinking, and look you, DR..
Lockwood, I believe she is not dying
of disease, but Of" she lowered her
voice to whisper as she spoke the
word-'poison."
Impossible; this is grave charge.
"Of poison given her by her hus-
band, who at her death will have sole
control of her property and be free to
marry Miss Melrose. There is no time
to explain the details of the thousand
aud one 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 | should have called
a 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 con-
sent of my mistress [ came for you,
and oh Mr.. Lockwood, [ pray you to
save my dear mistress. I nursed her
when her mother died, and left her a
helpless infant; all through her limo
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 you'd pay
the forfeit"
I was already beginning to feel a
deep interest in Mrs. Spencer, al
though [ had never seen her, and
like her own nurse, l was beginning
to feel a great luminosity for Mr.. Spen-
Ger.
Mrs, Spencer received me in her
chamber. It was on the second floor,
and was furnished with exquisite ele-
gance.
Everything in the room bespoke
the delicacy and taste of the accu~
pant. The warm air was fragrant
with the faint odor of the heliotrope;
and glancing around | saw the purple
blossoms and green leaves of the ala
baster vase on the edge of the south
window.
She was a woman who, when once
seen, could never be forgotten. have
met in my life many beautiful women
DuG never one SO lovely.
She was tall and straight with
purely oval face, liquid brown eyes,
and a dash OF hectic in ner cheeks,
which is never seen in perfect health.
She received me. as [ know she did
every one, gracefully, and though
there was slight embarrassment in
her manner when I spoke of her i'll
ness, she answered my professional
Inquiries without hesitation.
AS for myself, | laid aside all false
delicacy and questioned her plainly
nurse, remained in the room, and
adding many important little items Of
information.
When she spoke of her husband, it
was with a sort of hopeless sadness
which distressed me greatly.
Not a breath of susr cion against
him in her answers to my questions,
! and [ felt sure that at present she
| knew nothing of what Mrs. Hurd had
such serious apprehensions I was
glad it was SO, for with her finely
strung organization, it might have
| produced serious results. I made my
| examination of my patient as closely
as | could. and drew my own con-
illusions. I could have sworn that
Mrs. Spencer daily swallowed arsenic
in small quantities, and the deadly
drug was telling fearfully on her CON
| stitution.
She said, answering nay questions,
that she had no physician except her
husband. He thought himself better
acquainted with her case, therefore
better qualified to treat her. He never
left medicine with her to take; he all
ways brought it fresh from his Office
and administered it promptly.
There was little enough I could do
In such case. Anxious to do every
thing, the very circumstances of the
affair left me nearly powerless.
A charge OF such nature of course
could not make against DR.. Spen>
Ger, without the amplest proof. II [
limited a suspicion, everyone would
set it down to my professional preju-
dice; and if [ could not substantiate
my statement, the doctor could make
me pay dearly for such SANDER ut
tered against nina.
The only dependence seemed to be
in Mrs. Hurd. To her I unbosomed
myself freely. I told her without re-
serve that thought DR.. Spencer was
killing his wife by slow poison, and I
besought her to constantly watch to
save the victim, and discover same
proof by which we could fasten the
guilt upon him.
She smiled grimly and promised
obedience, and | gave her powerful
antidote for the poison I suspected,
and went home perturbed and anx>
ious in mind. [ did not sleep that
night. and all the next day was in
| a high fever of exitement A ring at
the bell made ME tremble-a step on
| the gravel outside my Office stopped
my breath, and I hardly knew what
I expected to hear. I felt sure be-
fore slept I should hear something.
And now l must tell the story as
it was told me.
DIR. Spencer returned home the
morning after my visit to the Clifton
House. He looked wretchedly, ssthe