Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-27
.'pOTHECARY'S FOLLY.



xL,ch produccd the Folly" building
81 srb;ch perhapS only owes its survival
.E 20 the need OF historic fact to mark
that such patriotism ever existed
"a a wealthy apothecary, being per
81 suadcd that a certain spring In the neigh
81 horbood contained sll the principal in-
gradients OF the phsrmacop@ia, built
81 hath-house on scale that should have
proclaimed 10 far and near the natural
4 attractions OF Twentyiord. Having done
% he slept with his fathers, aud hrs heirs
and assigns we're left 70 discover that it
fakes other ingredients besides those OF
r chemical nature TO assure ahe reputa-
ton OF a spa
Tue apothecary had travelled, and in
- doing had acquired = taste for Moorish
architecture The bsth-house profted
by many a minarct. But he was also OF
frugal mind. and having launched out
in an unwontod indulgence of his favor
ite tastes IN design. II became necessary
T. steer his course somewhat differently
in Ito matter OF the intended material,
which he changed from stone to wood,
rliutei n dull red for tho sake of
"r.ch and quiet effect" The result did
rot appeal as II might have done 10 the
minds OF tho inhabitants, who migrate
fully STYLED IL 'Potaecary's Folly"
That solitary bsth house, however, was
10 become the scene OF one strange
event IN the commonplace history Of the
town.
The cider apples were rcd on the trees
The hon CATERERS singing In their loaded
wagons. sud wholesome smell OF
brewing in the air lent an additionally
hospitable aud comfortable feeling to
our usually comfortable county on the
morning IN question, which rose, rs like
is fellows as nature could make 1t, when
wentvford awoke, hearing a rumor,
lricked its ears. rubbed its eyes, and
listening AGAIN discovered that a shabby
md un0bstrusive FreDchwOmsn had been
murdered ia one Of the bathrooms OF
thc "folly.'
She was q sort Of amateur commercial
traveller. who sold French 1Owors to
shops aud bad passed the previous night
ST. & small inn in the town. She had
lcon heard 90 complain OF "le rheuma-
t5u." being. - the hndiady said.
about the only Christian thing she had
taid."
But she hsd proceeded to cure her all
y1eut bv bath in the saliue spring. Sn
oct which the worthy lAndlGdy would by
ID means have approved. Perhaps 1t
vss tho commercial failure and general
neglect by the great world Of the Fol
.lv" which had brought the springs into
flch discredit that every inhAbitant who
, mocted himself would have endured
the rnchng and twingng OF every Joint
= 'her than have recourse 20 the baths.
IIhaus So; greater minds are IN
lnCuced 10y like considerations.
rAnvhow. the woman died-what else
c0nH one expect ?" Ny aunt and /,
Quiet folks rs u rule, even for Twenty
ford. were mixed up in 1t, in so far as
trale was bat the length Of Pear street
between ms when the prisoner was APP
r-aherlel 80 saw but the backs OF
ONLY two policemen for mules round,
fnl how they came TO be there ut that
romeut no one knows , With something
or somebody between them, and were
f.l6 that we should receive o subpoena
g. witnesses. TO my aunt thus lniormA-
ton was fall of terror. " Ny
dear she said, 81 shsll never
forget how yoOr poor uncle's nerves
we're uu-ct 10y the unprnGpled
vounc counsel who examined hun about
faut most dlsacrecable soap-bOIiiug bust
rcA He sGid-your poor uncle, !
,aefn-that Ve were inundated by 'biue-
bottles from the horrd smelling works.
and they asked him If ne was quite sure it
vus not black bottles or brandy bottlesho
r,ennl. and. If 80. wherein they differed
from a blue bottle? DisJraceful treat
r ont It Was. and what we had suffered
from those insects no one knows.
TANK, Eihce, We viii just turn into Stat
,or's for that pink ribbon ! wanted we
may perhaps hear what really has hap
psIed.
Mr. Slater said "the prisoner YVES
vOung lady OF progressing appear
sncs'; II war Thought, 10y one Of his
young ladies', That perhaps the prisoner
uasa flower harris TOO, and that per
hans professional Jcllousy afforded a mo-
tive for the crime" but the opinion did
not find favor the "young lady ranked
professional zeal at . dramatically hlSh
fUra.
We gathered ~ last that thepolice had
ken her up because there was no one
else they could takeup-a very sufficient
reason that * to say. no one whom they
lad not known from q baby" and
were therefore able 70 vouch for any
Ning they might do or say N reason Of
course: Cet,n' a lit lively Saturday
nights. burning Ticks, breaking INTO
t.ops," Sc. "but this ere amt rcasoua-
lie" The police were probably right
they had not Imagination enough Tor the
KIND OF CRIME.
Tho police had been sunmoned-in-
sanity, too. il appcsred-hy the cries
Il the "aitendant," who, unscsustomed
- duty ia that capacity. hal returned
fOon after admitting the murdered
woman % tine hslA roOm-trOm the wash
tlh. which habtually claimed her atten-
ton IN her own cottage.
AStOnished at the silence which greeted
the application OF her ear to the keyhole.
fle opened the door, which was guiltltss
al loci. OF bolt, and found the untortu-
nate woman lying on the floor with her
throat cut, and % queer bIg kind OF
lnifc living beside her, and oil her rattle
traps and them big red and yellow flow
ers ont oil her pack all streWn about
lor bless We, they did fstter the material
flowers, they were that beautiful ; thinks
10 myself shove killed herself sure.
hot the pcricc ought TO see to 1t, so /
oilers and screams with all my might,
AMI ye knows the rest, Miss.
Aunt. 1 said on my return from
walking on the afternoon Of that day,
chow can We give witness against this
unfortunate young creature? ! would
as soon suspect myself. l have seen
Lcr"
"Nou-h0w 2"
"Oaly passing glimpse in a close
fly: they were taking her to W Jail. |
lut the lace J saw was terribly sad, with
IL scared look IN it--and no wonder-but
no trace Of violent passion or mean
cruelty. II was a delicate, even heauti-