River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-02-07

young and sentimental enough to
! idealize him, aud because his manners
were really engaging. But. after q
time, | suspected that his character
was weak. | thought he was vain,
and that he had an inordinate aeeire
to possess my property. So. when ]
was twenty-one, told him wonld not
marry him. Afterward / did not see
him for year or two.
About eighteen months ago he ae.
quired a powerful influence over my
brother Julian. He was miserably un.
happy if he did not see the doctor
daily, and | submitted TO lis visits for
Julian's sake. The boy was so de-
pendent on others for his amusement
that | could not deny him the pleasure
OF DIR. behring's company. just be-
fore my marriage, / suspected Julian
Of being addicted 20 the use of NOR.
phine, and told the doctor of my sus-
picions. He said that he had discov-
cred this habit. and believed he could
cure my brother Of it if l would help
him entered readily into this part
nership | was anxious that Julian
should be cured of his degrading prac-
tice before l took him to my husbands
home.
"When told Julian that | knew his
secret, he begged me never to tell it.
Like all persons who abuse the use OF
opium, he had guarded his secret cum
ningly, and exaggerated the effect OF
its disclosure. He said that if ever
betrayed it to my husband. he would
kill himself before he would live under
our roof. He cried, and moaned, and
wrung his hands. until pitied him.
He said he was a helpless wreck whom
stronger men despised lie said, too.
that he would rather face death than
the scorn that Eric Thorndyke would
feel for him if he knew his failing.
comforted him. | said would never
tell any human being of his habit if he
would submit to DR.. behring's treat.
ment and be cuiI1.
Il tried to make it impossible for
Julian to procure morphine without
his physicians knowledge. OF course,
| knew that DR.. Deering would not
take It away from him at ouce-only
gradually diminish his supply. told
him to tell the druggists in this town
not to sell Julian any drug. | instruct
ed the servants to purchase nothing
for him without first consulting me.
am his legal guardian, and this rela-
tiOnship aided me. | would not allow
him to drive alone, lest he should go
far enough from home 10 purchase the
drug from strangers. He was cunning
enough to write a prescription and
sign it by fictitious doctors name.
Tonight Julian chose to drive at
an hour when he knew | expected ny
husband to arrive. I believed it was
his plan to go somewhere and purchase
the drug. Ihave been very suspicious
of him for a week, and have believed
he has been taking morphine every
night. His symptoms in the morning
appeared to justify my suspicious. |
resolved 10 go with him. On our way
home | left him at DIR. behring's. !
knew ne would drive home then, for
We were a long distance from any place
where drugs were sold. ! wanted to
see the doctor before l told my hus-
band when would 60 to New YORK. If
Julian was deceiving me 1t would be
useless for me to stay here aud try 70
cure him of his habit. If he really was
near a cure, thought it would be my
duty to stand by him for the next four
weeks. The doctor assured me that |
was mistaken in my suspicious. and
that ought to remain with my brother.
For the first time in my life | dreaded
to meet my husband. / could not tell
him frankly why | could not comply
with his wishes, and | knew he would
be very angry at my refusal TO so
home
She had not once looked at her list
ener, and had spoken of her husband
as Of an absent person. Once or twice
he had attempted to interrupt her, but
by a gesture she had expressed her I'M
Willingness to listen to him until her
story was ended
when l learned that my husband
had LETT me. was shocked at his lack
OF faith in me. At first / was griev-
ously angry. but later | wished l had
told him all. Surely, | thought, had
better have broken my promise to
Julian than to have broken my hus-
bands heart But he was gone. and
search for him / could not without
our disagreement public. I
sat in my room in the dark, wondering
where he was and If he could forgive
me. By and by man crossed the
lawn, and L believed my husband had
relented and come back to me; but in
an instant ! saw my mistake. DR..
Deering came upon the piazza and en-
tered my brothers room. | crcpt out
Of doors and looked in through the
window. Julian was sitting up in bed
and counting his money. When he
had finished, he gave a roll Of bills 10
the doctor. watched them, dumb
with amazemeat, while Julian barred
his arm and the doctor gave him
injection of morphine. 1t
must have been a powerful dose, for
Julian seemed in "A state of profound
coma before | left the window
waited for DIR. Deering TO come out.
Then l told him l had caught him in
his outrageous deception-that | knew
his inordinate love for money had
made him speculate upon Julian's
weakness. No doubt he has been sys-
drugging my poor brother
for months.
He has induced me 10 stay here be-
cause he has hated nv husband her
voice was unsteady. but she went on
5ravely begged me not to send
for a physician and betray him. He
said that his reputDNion was in my
hands. and he begged ms to be merci-
ful. He said that he loved me, and
bad been tempted 10 keep me near
him and away from my husband. l
told him ! would show him no more
mercy than he had showed the I'M
happy cripple whom he had robbed
aud besotted.
Now that you know my position.
cave it to Your Honor to decide
or not nv husband ought to
Torgive me. or Whether he should keep
MS resolution of never taking me to
his heart again. "