The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-10-10

and afterward Of silence. Of darkness,
Of insensibility. Of annihilatiou.
When Dolly returned to conscious
ness, and found herself in her own bed
she at first imagined herself to be walk
ing, after an ordinary nights rest. She
was however. soon convinced by q
sense of prostration and indetinable
fear that something unusual had oc-
Cured. This conclusion, moreover.
was confirmed by the presence of two
strangers. who presented the appear
ance of a nurse and doctor in attend
ance on her. Before, however, she
had had time to satisfy herself of the
truth of her impressions she relapsed
into insensibility. On rDpening her
eyes after an interval she observed no
change in the character of her sur.
roundings. The doctor. indeed, was
not visible; but from a conversation
which she overheard she had little
doubt that it was he who was describ-
ing to some interested inquirer in the
adjoining room the nature OF her own
malady. The voices of the speakers
we're low, the door between the bed.
room and dressing room was nearly
closed, and yet with morbid acute
ness of hearing Dolly caught distinctly
the meaning of every whispered word,
and recognized the questioner's voice
to be her husbands.
And you forbid me to see her even
for a moment?'
Most positively. Through the
whole of the delirium this extraordi-
nary dread of you has been her one
dominant idea. If she caught sight OF
you now. l could not answer for the
consequences.
But thought you said the crisis
was past. and that she would probably
wake again in perfectly rational con-
ditiou."
''Quite so; and in ordinary circum-
stances you would naturally be the
first person she would be allowed to
see; but must tell you honestly that
these are not ordinary circumstances u
What do you mean?''
Il mean this. Rightly or wrongly,
your wife has the gravest suspicious
about you. She believes you to be en-.
gagged in some conspiracy against her
life."
but surely you attach no Importance
to what people say in their delirium?''
mot generally, but this is a peculiar
case. There has been a logical CO.
herence in her rawlings throughout her
illness, which convinces me that her
distrust of you was the cause. and not
the consequence, of her attack of brain
fever. Till am satisfied that her ap-
prehensions are removed, it would be
madness to let her see you. As it is,
if she happens to overhear your voice,
the result might be very serious. You
must be contented, for the present, to
leave her with me.''
'But you'll find out the meaning OF
it all, and give me the earliest possible
news?''
"Of course l will"
''And talk to her at Once?
mo, not tonight. She is still in q
state of great prostration. Tomorrow,
when she has had some natural sleep
and taken some nourishment, it NAV
be different
The doctor was justified in his fear
of the effect Oh his patient of the sound
of her husbands voice, as was proved
by the condition in which he dis
covered her on re-entering the sick
room. He was mistaken, however, in
his belief that the explanation of her
agitation would necessarily be deferred.
AS soon as he had taken his place
at the iuvalid's bedside. she introduced
the topic herself.
Even during the short period which
had preceded Dolly's relapse into IN
consciousness. the appearance of her
medical attendant had attracted her
favorable attention. Beyond the ex-
precision of kindness which suggested
ready sympathy. she had noticed a
look Of power and determination which
promised assistance rs we'll as pity.
The conversation which she had over
heard confirmed her original impress
sion, and while reminding her of the
actual nature of her awful secret,
pointed out suitable repository for it.
doctor. she said. lido you know Sir
Robert Ballantyne?"
'Yes," was the answer, given after
a pause.
Il know him, too.' continued Dolly
excitedly, "a heartless. wicked mau.
can see his face now; low, dark fore
head; cruel, cunning eyes-'
20, no, Ba!lantyne is not as bad as
that
II know more than you think. He
and Jack want to poison Inc, that Jack
may marry again.
''Pray compose yourself, madam.
You are under some strange delusion. -
1T is no delusion: l opened Sir
Roberts letter and learned the whole
plot
MY dear Mrs. Rivers. assure you
you must have mistaken his meaning. "
But l remember the very words:
4 should employ arsenic, and should
suggest its administration in small
doses.'"
MY good lady, let me set your mind
at rest. Your husband is writing a
novel;
"Writing novel!'
Yes. He calls it 1.-The Poisoned
Potion" The villain murd ers his wife,
with the object of marrying a woman
with money; and your husband re-
quired assistance on a medical point.
He wanted the name of poison
but if that is ALL Interrupted DOL
lV. '.What was the risk Sin. Rohert