Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-08-06
DR.. sPENcER's CRIME.

nutrition in the last 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 of the gas and retire,
for, being a bachelor, sleep in 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 and the peo-
pie usually managed to be taken sick
at seasonsble 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 pres
ent. But as nothing allied the old lady
beyond now and then an indigestion
from too much high living, had
never yet been called upon to be pre-
sent at her death.
Now, 1 thought, it must be old Mrs
jerome is 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 nv hand, |
dlscerned the face of woman.
Come in. said I, holding open the
door, but she declined with gesture
of impatience.
you must come out she said,
in a sharp, incisive voice, and be
quick about it.
/ put on my overcoat without de-
mur, locked the surgery door and
stepped into the storm. AS | did so
the woman laid firm hand on my
arm and putting her face close to mine
said:
Dr. Lockwood, can you keep Sc
cret?'
Il think so, madame
Swear it,
lis this secret of yours of 4 profess
aional character? That'is, isi anything
YOU wish to con6ne in me as a medical
man?
1t is
Very we'll, then, swear it,
That is right
A man respects an oath, though
why he should is mystery, since
mems mouths are running over with
them.
Whittier are you taking me and
for what purpose?
To the Clifton house to see my
mistress l started,
Clifton house was the old mansion
recently taken by DR.. Spencer, a
stranger to every one in Middlebury.
Spencer was tall, dark, rather dis
tinguished looking person, who had
hung out his sign in the village only a
few doors above mine, but as yet he
had no practice.
He was unsoclal in the extreme.
avoiding his neighbors persistently,
and when he did speak it was in such
curt half,savage way that no one
was likely to prolong the conversation
The doctor had wife, it was said,
but no one had ever seen her. She
was an invalid and Miss Melrose, a
friend of the family, presided over the
family 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.
My mistress is very sick
Il beg your pardon, is it Mrs. Spen-
Ger or Miss Melrose?
She laughed bitterly.
Miss Melrose! | would stab her to !
the heart sooner than own her for a
mistress. My mistress is lady
noble, royal and Of gentle birth. 1t is
an honor to serve my mistress.
sAnd is she i'll? How long since?'
Ever since she married him-curse
himR she muttered in fierce tone
sbut must not get excited. Imust
tell my story, or rather hers. Two
years ago, through the desire of "a dy-
ing father, Alice Herdon became
James Spencer's wife. Before that
she was healthy, blooming girl; i'm
mediately after their marriage she be-
gan to fail. Do you. see anything
strange in that?'
Not necessarily.
Let me enlighten you further. DR..
Spencer was at one time engaged to
Miss Lucille Melrose, but he broke the
engagement and married my mistress
instead. Miss. Melrose was as poor as
Jobs turkey. Miss Herdon was an
heiress and DR.. Spencer was deep in
debt and hard pressed by his creditors.
Do you see anything strange in that?
Perhaps SO. Go on
when my mistress married Spen-
Ger she was only seventeen and had
been taught to obey her father in
everything. She was gentle, affec-
tionate child, and it would have been
easy for Spencer to have won her love.
But he did not care for that. 1t was
her money he wanted. 1t paid his
debts and bought him fast horses; it
cot hic tahle with nice and COSTLY dishes