The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-11-14
A REMARKABLE CASE.
Squire Devenishs Death and
Cremation.

DR.. Healy could make nothing out of
che case. Though only country ply
sician, the doctor possessed a good deal
OF learning and great deal of expe-
rience- and yet never before had he
seen or read of such case as the
squire's. The man was not suffering
from any known-or, at any rate, ascer-
tainable--dlsease, and yet he was obvi-
ously very i'll, and possibly dying.
''UpOn my word" the doctor muttered
90 himself more than once; ''if it
weren't that the idea is preposterous,
should half suspect that he is being
poisoned.
Ef the case was peculiar one, the
patient, as DR.. Healy knew and took
into consideration, was peculiar one,
too. Squire Devenish was a man about
sixty. He had led a very wild and
reckless youth-under the cXtenuating
term youth" is to be included all the
period of his life between twenty and
fifty-five. Fortunately for him, just as
he was about to take his promotion to
the ranks of elderly and helpless roues,
he happened to meet young governess
named Alice Cleverly. Miss Cleverly
was a woman of undoubted beauty, and
of considerable intelligence. She was
also poor and an orphan, without
friends and without a home. Squire
Devenish, in spite OF his follies, was not
without generous and manly qualities.
He was much attracted by the poor
girls beauty, but he scorned to attempt
10 take advantage of her helpless
ness. After hesitating for time, he
at length made her an offer of mar
Kiage. The young governess, delighted
at the chance of escaping from he
sordid and laborious life to one of east
and luxury, eagerly accepted him.
Probably there was little love OF
Miss Cleverly's part, 1t is hardly
possible that young girl of twenty
&vVo could feel much affection for
bIase and somewhat obese gentleman
1f fifty five. But whether she loveC
hin or not she made him an eXcellen
wife Every wish of his was obeyed
every desire anticipated and gratified
so comfortable was his old mano
house at Saxby made that he actuall
began to like it. And as time passed tn
feeling grew upon him until at lengt
he preferred the quiet pleasures of hi
4IwH hearth to the joys of Piccadilly an
Pail Mall. At the end of two years {
5na1rimony, Squire Devenish, to tn
amusement, and perhaps also to the dis
gust, of his old companions, from bein
the most inveterate man about town, ha
become the most domesticated of hu'
bands
The long years which he had sper
IN dissipation had, however, left the
effects behind. They had impaired fo
ever his once sound and strong col
sfitution. Again and again since he r.
1uwned to the manor house he ha
goeen ailing without anything definii
being the matter with him. He Wa
very secretive now about his earl
years, but DIR. Healy suspected thi
they were probably responsible for h
present condition, and that they cause
his present illness TO be hard TO re
.eJ9nise, and made ordinary disease
assume extraordinary symptoms. Th
7yEax the suggestion in which the phi.
sSiciaa saw possible explanation of h
present mysterious and suspicion
sickness.
Mrs Devenish was unremitting
her attendance upon the patient. A
Ehe medicine prescribed by the doct,
was administered by her. All Il
dishes ordered by the doctor were pr
7paared by her. Nothing reached IL
sufferers lips but through her hand
No length of watching, no amount
labor seemed too great a demand {
E1s.r gratitude to the man who ht
wzised her from poverty to riches, al
fSum dependence to position.
It was about the third week of I'll
squire's illness, and he was not gettiu
better, but steadily worse. Sewers
times DIR. Healy had proposed TO call
the service of London physician
high reputation, but the patient hi
always objected, and Mrs. Devenis
had somewhat reluctantly acquiesce
an his objections. DR. Healy was b
coming more and more utterly bewi
s1ered by the symptoms, and more ar
more perplexed as to their cause.
When he reached the house tn