Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1889-01-31

he was Eager 70 encounter him put
he was too late. BY the time he had
descended the stairs and had crossed
the lawn Deering had become alarmed
and had fed. Audrey Thorndyke stood
there alone. and in the bitterness OF his
soul he denounced her.
IL saw the meeting between you and
your lover" he said. 81 am thankful
that you refused TO go with me. could
not long have tolerated a woman so I'M
principled."
You are ~condemning me without
hearing my defense. Come into the
house and hear what have 20 say"
III you wish TO speak. you can do so
here" he said; but IL you mean to de-
fend vOur lover. you may spare your
self the trouble. Ihave seen you meet
him at midnight and ! have that sc-
count TO settle with him alone"
Il do not wan; to plead for DIR. Deer
Ing. but for myself. We're | an entire
stranger to you. and accused Of evil
doing and brought to your court. YOU
would give me a patient hearing. al
though appeared 70 BE- guilty. Would
you be much less mercifgl IL your
wife,"
You have forfeited the right to call
yourself my wife"
She was shivering with cold. and she
made a final effort TO have him enter
the house
Il am cold. Eric. and some one may
hear US IL we talk out herr. You are
standing by Julian's window. Would
II not be better to avoid the probability
of being overheard
YES" he answered. lit would. I
am surprised that you ran that risk
with Deering."
She led the way TO her sitting-roOm.
and this time he threw himself into a
chair. She seated herself on an otto
man at a little distance from him
While she talked she kept her eyes
fixed upon the dying embers in the fire.
place.
Il am not going TO ask for mercy,
nor to think of you a. my husband.
You are to be my judge tonight. and
TO hear my story without prejudice
just as you would listen to any unhap-
py in your court. | am &C
cused by my husband OF abandoning
him to be near my lover. and OF meet
ing that lover at a disgracefully late
hour Of the night
when | was twenty years old. |
vas engaged to DIR. Deering. l ad-
mired him greatly. because | was
young and sentimental enough to
Aiealize him. and because his
were really engaging. But, after a
time, ] suspected that his character
Was weak. | thought he was vain.
and that he had an inordinate desire
TO possess my property. No. when /
was twenty-one, | told him | wonld not
marry him. Afterward | did not see
him for a year or two.
About eighteen months ago he ac-
quired a powerful influence over my
brother Julian He was miserably un-
happy If he did not see the doctor
daily. and submitted to his visits for
Julian's sake. The boy was 80 de-
pendent on Others for his amusement
that could % deny him the pleasure
OF DIR. behring's company. just be-
fore my marriage. | suspected Julian
OF being addicted to the use of NOR
phine. and told the doctor of nv sus-
picions. He said hat he had discov-
cred this habit. and believed he could
cure my brother of it il I would help
him. j entered readily into this part
nership. WAS anxious that Julian
should be cured OF his degrading prac-
tice before I 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 IL / ever
betrayed 1t 10 my husband. he would
kill himself before he would live under
u roof. He cried, and moaned, and
wrung his hands, until | pitied him.
~ @eAN ~ "o1 ~ AhARANNN MUM " NOM
stronger men despised. lie said, too,
that he would rather face death than
the o that Erie Thorndyke would
feel for him il he knew his failing. |
comforted him. | said | would never
tell any human being of his habit il he
would submit to DIR. behring's treat
ment and be cured.
Il tried to make it impossible for
Julian to procure morphine without
his physicians knowledge. Of course.
knew that DIR. Deering would not
take it away from him at nce-only
gradually diminish his supply. told
him TO tell the druggists in this town
not to sell Julian any drug. | instruct
ed the servan 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 70
far enough from home 10 purchase the
drug from strangers. He was cunning
enough to write a prescription and
sign it by a fictitious doctors name.
Tonight Julian chose I drive at
an hour when he knew | expected my
husband to arrive. l 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 e
night His symptoms in the morning
appeared to justify my suspicious. I
resolved to go with him. Ga our a
home | left him nj Dr Daar;n,.s I