Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-10-18

period of rapid transit through seeth-
ing waters, and afterward of silence,
OF darkness, of insensibility, of an
initiation.
When Dolly returned to conscious
ness and found herself in her own
bed, she at first imagined herself to
be waking after an ordinary nights
rest. She was, however, soon con-
WINGED by a sense of prostration and
indetinable fear that something I'M
! usual had occurred. This conclusion.
moreover, was confirmed by the pres
ence OF two strangers, who presented
the appearance OF a nurse and doctor
in attendance on her. Before, how
ever, she had had time to satisfy her.
self of the truth of her impressions
she relapsed into insensibility. On
reopening her eyes after an interval
she observed no chance in the char
acter of her surroundings. The doc
tor, indeed, was not visible; but
from u conversation which she over
heard she had little doubt that it
was he who was describing to some
interested inquirer in the adjoining
room the nature of her own malady.
The voices of the speakers were low,
the door between the bed room and
the dressing room was nearly closed,
and yet with morbid aruteness of
hearing Dolly caught distinctly the
meaning OF every whispered word,
and recognized the questioners voice
to be her husbands.
"And you forbid me to see her even
for n moment?"
"Most positively. Through the
whole of the delirium this extraor-
binary dread of you has been her one
dominant idea. If she caught sight
of yOn now. could not answer for
the consequences"
But l thought you said the crisis
was past, end that she would prob
ably wake again in a perfectly ration
al condition"
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 circum-
stances"
What do you meant"
81 mean this. Rightly or wrongly
your wife has the gravest suspicious
about you. She believes you to be
engaged in some conspiracy against
her life.'
"But surely you attach no import
ance to what people say in their de-
lirium?"
Not generally, but this is q pecu-
liar case. There has been a logical
conference 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 apprehensions are removed it
would be madness to let her see you.
AS it is, if she happened to overhear
your voice, the result might be very
serious. You must be contented, tor
the present, to leave her witt, me-"
But yon will find out the meaning
of it all and give me the earliest
news?"
"Of course l will"
"And talk to her at once?"
mo, not tonight. She is still in a
state of great prostration. To
morrow, when she has some natural
sleep and taken some nourishment,
it may be different"
The doctor was justified in his fear
OF the effect on his patient of the
sound of her husbands voice, as was
proved by the condition in which he
discovered her on re-entering the sick
room. He was mistaken, however,
in his belief that the explanation of
her agitation would necessarily be
q he he -
his place at the invalld's Ledside she
introduced the topic herself
Even during the short period which
had preceded Dolly's relapse into I'M
consciousness, the appearance of her
medical attendant had attra cted her
favorable attention. Beyond the ex-
preston of kindness which suggested
ready sympathy she had noticed a
look of power and determination
which promised assistance as well as
pity. The conversation which she
had overheard confirmed her origin
al impression, and, while reminding
her of the actual nature of her awful
secret, pointed out suitable reposit-
Dry for it.
Doctor" she said, "do you know
Sir Robert Bal,antyne?"
"1es, was the answer, given after
q pause.
Il know him, too" continued Dol
" excitedly, "a heartless, wicked
man. can see his face now; a low,
dark forehead; cruel, cunning eyes,
"Oh, no; Ballantyne is not as bad
as that"
Il know more than you think. He
and Jack want to poison me that |
Jack may marry again"
Pray, compose yourself, madam.
I on are under some strange delu-
sion"
at is no delusion; l opened Sir |
Roberts letter and learned the whole |
plot"
"My dear Mrs. RiverslI assure YOU
you must have mistaken his mean
ng."
But l remember the very words: |
/ should employ arsenic, and should |
suggest its administration in small |
loses"
"My good lady, let me set your
mind Mt rest. Your husband is writ
ng a novel"