The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-30
'POTHECARY'S FOLLY.
Tho Clergyman Satisfactory So
luton of Strange Case.

Thecountry town of Twentyford was early
in the century the scene of the spasmodic eff
fort of local patriotism, which produced the
Folly" building which, perhaps, only
owes it survival to the need of a historic
fact to mark that such patriotism ever ex-
listed.
A wealthy apothecary, being persuaded
that certain spring in the neighborhood
contained all the principal ingredients of the
pharmacopnia, built bath-house on a scale
that should have proclaimed to far and near
the natural attractions of Twentyford HAY
ing done so he slept with his fathers, and
his heirs and assigns were left to discover
that it takes other ingredients besides those
OF chemical nature to assure the reputation
of a spa.
The apothecary had Travelled. and in so do
ing had acquired a taste for Moorish archi-
lecture. The bath-house profited by many
minaret. But he was also of a frugal
mind, and having launched out in an I'M
wonted Indulgence of his favorite tastes in
design, 1t became necessary to steer his
course somewhat differently in the matter
OF the intended material. which he changed
from stone to wood, painted dull red for
the sake of a erich and quiet effect" The
result did not appeal as it might have done
to the minds of the inhabitants who I'M
gratefully styled it "'Pothecary's Folly"
That solitary bath-house however was to
become the scene of one strange event in
the commonplace history of the town.
The cider apples were red on the trees
the hop gatherers singing in their loaded
wagons, and wholesome smell of brewing
in the air lent an additional hospitable and
comfortable feeling to our usually comfort
able county on the morning in question.
which rose, as like its fellows as nature
could make it, when Twentyford awoke,
hearing rumor, pricl,ed its ears rubbed its
eyes and listening again discovered that a
shabby and unobtrusive Frenchwoman had
been murdered in one of the bathrooms Of
the 'Folly."
She was a sort of amateur commercial
traveller who sold French flowers to shops
and had passed the previous night at a small
inn in the town. She had been heard to
complain of "le rheumatism being, as the
landlady said, ''about the only Christian
thing she had said"
But she had proceeded to cure her ailment
by bath in the saline spring, an act which
the worthy landlady would by no means
have approved. Perhaps it was the com
mercial failure and general neglect by the
great world of the "Folly,n which had
brought the springs into such discredit that
every inhabitant who respected himself
would have endured the racking and twing-
ing of every joint rather than have recourse
to the baths. Perhaps so; greater minds are
Influenced by like considerations. "Any-
how, the woman died-what else could one
expectF' Ny aunt and l, quiet folks as a
rule, even for Twenty ford, were mixed UP
in it, in so far as there was but the length
nf .ctr hot, L
was appreheuded. We saw but the backs
OF the only two policemen for miles round
and chow they came to be there at that mo-
ment no one knowsD with something or
somebody between them, and were told that
we should receive subpoena as witnesses.
To my aunt this information was full of
terror "My dear" she said, II shall never
forget how your poor uncle's nerves were
upset by the unprincipled young counsel
who examined him about that most disa-
greeable soap boiling business He said
your poor uncle, mean-that we were in
undated by 'bluebottles' from the horrid-
smelling works, and they asked him if he
was quite sure it was not black bottles or
brandy bottles ne meant, and, if So wherein
they differed from bluebottle! Disgrace
ful treatment it was, and what we had suf-
fered from those insects no one knowsl |
think Ellice, we will just turn into Slatter's
for that pink ribbon wanted; we may per-
haps hear what really has happened"
Mr.. Slater said "the prisoner was young
lady OF 'prepossessipg appearance it was
thought, by one of his young ladies' that
perhaps the prisoner was flower hartist,'
too and that perhaps professional jealousy
afforded motive for the crime,'" but the
opinion did not find favor; the young LADY,
ranlyad nrOfpSsional zaal of a
high figure.
We gathered at last that the police had
taken her up because there was no one else
they could take up-a very sufficient reason
that is to say, no one whom they had not
''known from baby" and were therefore
able to vouch for any thing they might do
or say in reason of course; ''gettin' a bit
lively Saturday nights, burning ricks, break
ing into shops" etc, ''but this ERE amt
reasonable The police were probably
right; they had not Imagination enough for
tho Kind of crime.
The police had been summoned, instantly
too, it appeared, by the cries of the ATTEND
ant who, unaccustomed to duty in that
capacity, had returned-soon after admitting
the murdered woman to the bathroom
from the washtub, which habitually claimed
her attention in her own cottage.
ASLDnlSned AT the silence winch greeted
the application of her car to the key-hole,
she opened the door, which was guiltless of
lock or bolt, and found the unfortunate
woman lying on the floor with her throat
cut, and queer big kind of knife lying
beside of her, and all her rattle traps and
them big red and yellow flowers out Of her
pack all strewu about; lor bless We, they
did Aatter the natural flowers, they We're
that beautiful; thinks | to myself she've
Filled herself sure, but the perlice ought to