Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-11-16

pray, compose yourself madam.
You are under some strange delu-
sion"
sit is no delusion; / opened Sir
Roberts letter and learned the whole
plot"
"My dear Mrs. Rivers!I assure you
you must have mistaken his mean
ing
"But remember the very words:
j shouIdemploy arsenic, and Ishould
suggest it's administration III small
doses"
"My good lady, let me set your
mind at rest Your husband is writ
ing novel.
Writing n novel;"
Eyes. He calls it The Poisoned
Potion The william murders his
wife, with the object of marrying a
woman with money; and your hus-
band required assistance ona medical
point. He wanted the name Of a
poison"
'1But if that is all" interrupted
Dolly, "what was the risk Sir Robert
warned him against"
Perhaps" was the answer given
with a smile. "Ballantyne was think
ing OF his own early literary efforts.
A first work is generally a heavy
drain on an authors pocket"
1t might have been supposed that
these explanations would have suf-
ficiently proved the groundlessness of
the invalid's apprehensions, but she
was still dissatisfied. The story was
plausible enough, but how could she
be sure of its TRUTH Might it not be
itself fiction devised for the purpose
ofallaying her excitement. Moreover,
was it probable that Jack would con-
fide the history OF his novel and cor
respondence with Sir Robert BALKAN
tyne to this new acquaintance Was
it likely. when he had never mem
toned the subject even to his wife,
that he should communicate it TO
the doctor, who, no doubt was the
local practitioner summoned at the
time of her attack OF illness?
Convinced by these considerations
that she was the victim of a decep-
ton, Dolly put a further question:
"But how do you know all about
my husbands book and Sir Robert
Ballantyne's letter.
"My dear Mrs. Rivers, ! am Sir
Robert BaIlantyne"
And well for Dolly that it was so
and the services of such n skilled
physician had been available durin4
her illness.
Her condition, indeed, had Mt first
+ seemed hopeless, but care and skill
, eventually triumphed, and from thC
moment when the cause of Dolly'S
, apprehensions was removed her re
covery was rapid and uninterrupted
The nature OF the first meeting be
, tween husband and wife, with it,
. strange mixture Of mirth and tears
3 can be only indicated; Dolly's contri
/ tion was met by hearty acknowl
r cdgement OF jacks share in the re
sponsibility for the mystitication
! Not that he could be fairly blamed
+. for the solicitude on his wiie's behalf
: which had alike been responsible fol
his literary enterprise and for the Sc
: crecy observed regarding il.
. The notion of the POISONED Pc
} ton" had indeed originated in III
/ authors desire to increase his income
and furnish his wife with thecomforti
to which she had once been accus
toned
, While anxious for her enjoyment o
! the benefit of his success, he had de
e tprmined to spare her the anxietie'
[ preceding its accomplishment.
A mutual misunderstanding haC
: ensued. Dolly ascribed TO the wrong
!. cause her husbands restlessness anC
pre-occupation, while he attributed
: his wife'sevident anxiety to the priva
1 tions to which she was subjected.
/ "The Poisoned Potion" jack
/ sensational novel, appeared while thu
I appetite for mysteries" was at it,
( zenith, and was admitted to be thu
[ success of the year. Dolly's fatheI
{ has now little reason to be ASHAMED
!. of his son-in.law. no longer the beg
r carly clerk" but one of the mos
y prosper authors of the nay. jack
r relations, too, who washed thei
hands of the whole concern, when i
? was represented by the little house il
/ the borough. act very differently nov
TINT il has taken the form of wei
appointed and hospitable establish
mcnt in one OF the most Fashionable
n streets of Mayfair. Society
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