Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-06-28
'P0THECARY'S FOLLY.
Tho Clergynan's Satisfactory So
luton of a Strange Case.

Thecountry town OF TwentyfOrd was earl
in the century the scene of the spasmodic eff
fort of local patriotism, which produced tn
Folly" building which, perhaps. onl,
owes it survival 10 the need of a histor
fact to mark that such patriotism ever ex
listed.
A wealthy apOthecary, being persuaded
that certain spring in the neighbOrhooC
contained all the principal ingredients of tn,
pharmacopGia, built a bath-house on a seal,
that should have proclaimed to far and nea
the natural attractions of Twentyford. Hav
ing done so he slept with his fathers. ant
his heirs and assigns were left to discover
that it takes other ingredients besides thos.
of chemical nature to assure the reputation
of spa.
The apothecary had Travelled, and in so do
ing had acquired a taste for Moorish archi
lecture. The bath-hOuse profited by many
a minaret. But he was also of a frugal
mind, and having launched out in an un.
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 a dull red fol
the sake of a rich and quiet effect The
result did not appeal as it might have done
TO the minds OF the inhabitants who IN.
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 gstherers singing in their loaded
wagons, and a wholesome smell of brewing
in the air lent an additional hospitabIe 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, pricked 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 "Follyr
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 landlsdy would by no means
have approved. Perhaps it was the com
mercial failure and general neglect by the
great world of the Folly" 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. "Apy-
how, the woman died-what else could one
expectr' My aunt and l, quiet folks as a
rule. even for Twentyford, were mixed up
in it. in so far as there was but the length
of Pear street between us when the prisoner
was apprehended. 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 he meant, and, if so, wherein
they differed from bluebottle! Disgrace
full treatment it was, and what we had s1f
tered from those insects no one knowsI I
think Eliice, we will just turn into Skaters
for that pink ribbon l wanted; we may per-
hsps hear what really has happened"
Mr.. Slater said 1.-The prisoner was a Young
Lady Of 'prepossessing appearance il 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,'n but the
opinion did not find favor; the young LADY,,
ranked professional zeal at a romanticaIlv
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' bit
llvely Saturi ynights, burning ricks. break
ing into shops" ETC., ''but this ere amt
reasonable The police We're probably
rignt; they mad not imagination enough for
the kind Of crime
Inc ponce mad been summoned, instantly
TOO, II appeared, by the cries of the attend
'-Ns wv, oooSCuSSuulcO I'd QuCN IN that
capacity, had returned-soon after ADMITTING
the murdered woman to the BATTLEFRONT
from the washtub, which habitually claimed
her attention in her own cottage
Astonished at the silence which greetad
the application of her ear 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 living
beside Of her, and all her rattle trsps and
them big red and yellow flowers out of her
pack all strewn about; lor. bless We. thew
did Halter the natural flowers, they were
that beautiful; thinks / to myself she,ve
killed herself sure, but the perlice ought to
see TO 1t, so oilers and screams with ali
my might, and We knows the rest, Miss
aunt" said, on my return from walk
ing on the afternoon of that day, s.hoyy can !
we give witness against this unfortunate
young creature. I would as soon suspect
myself. have seen, her."
"You, howfr
"Only passing glimpse in a close fiy;
they were taking her to W iail. But
the lace l saw was terribly sad, with a
scared look in it, and no wonder; but no
trace OF violent passion or mean cruelty: it
was delk ate, even beautiful young face. |
very pure in outline, ant. very pale
'She was unprecedented little way from !