Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-06

bottle after ALL slightly disturbing the other nj
he replaced it? As the thought occurred tc
him he took the two bottles down from the shell
and examined them, trying to remember which
of them he had used the night before. Mechanic.
ally he put his hand first on one glass stopper
and then on the other. As his hand touched
the second he gave n cry-a loud, despairing
or The stopper of the bottle containing the
poison was loose; the stopper Of the one which
held the drug he had intended to give--tht
medlclne-was fast damned in the neck Of the
bottle Try as he might the doctor could moi
loosen it with his fingers. This was clear. GER
tain evidence that he had unintentionally, yet
with most cuipable. shocking careiessness
given hls patient and friend a draught that mus,
have killed him
The doctor staggered to one Of the cane
bottomed chairs that were in the room and fell
down on it. put his elbows on his knees and let
his head fall between his hands. He felt as il
his heart would burst; as if tears or prison
anything. would be a relief. To think that by
gross and inexcusable carelessness he had sent
TO his grave man to whom he was bound by
every tie of gratitude; to think that he had
made that mans wife widow and his children
fatherlessl The thought seemed to take from
him the power of thinking and acting.
Then. after time, the idea pressed itself
upon his mind-'Why am sitting here? 1t is
possible that the medicine may not have been
given and L may arrive in time to prevent its
being taken. 1t is even barely possible that the
drug may not have acted as it usually does. If
1 were at the Hall might be Of use."
He sprang to his feet. rushed to the stables,
threw the saddle on his horse with his own
hands. swung himself on its back and urged
the faithful brute along the snow-burdened
road.
But before he had gone half mile he saw a
man coming toward him-a man whom he recog-
nized. II was William Dance. and at the sight
% l. H. -. l. H. -
no further, but let Prince stand still while the
other drew near.
The man touched his hat The doctor looked
his inquiries; he could not speak them.
Mrs. Ingieton sent me on. sir, to meet you
and spare you coming out today. as she was
sure you must be worn out It's all ever sir.
The master died last night"
1t seemed to DIR. Brancepeth as Il his heart
would stop beating: keen physical pain shot
through it as the tidings reached his ears
"Did he get the medicine? We're you in time
with it?' he asked in a strange, constrained
voice.
''Yes, SIR"
you are sure?"
"Yes, sir"
'How long did he live after the time when he
took the drug-after the time he got back, let
US say?''
1T might be half an hour, sir; from that to
an hour" answered William. after a moment
reflection.
"Ah, well. ;" said the doctor. turning away. sit
can't be helped now; mean of course, 1 can't
be OF any further use. Tell your mistress
am much obliged to her for considerably send
ing you to meet me-
He turned back to his own house. and even
in the turmoil and horror of his thoughts he re-
membered that he had not given the squire's
servant anything for his trouble. He wheeled
his horse round-rather a difficult operation
in the snow-called after Dance. and gave him
half crown. Then he turned back to his own
home.
Throughout the morning, and oil through
that day and the next, and for many days after,
the same thoughts held possession Of his mind,
and were always present with him. During his
lonely rides. by his solitary hearth even in sick
rooms, he was thinking: MY hand killed John
1ngleton." but he might have died in any
case. he would answer to himself, and the pitt
less reply came: But he might have recovered;
and you have killed him" Then, strive as he
might against such thoughts. dreadful pictures
would crowd into his imagination. He thought
OF the joy of the dead mans widow if her hus-
band had recovered; and with a Faorhid sorrOw
that he could not control he pictured the squire
IN the different stages Of recovery; now he
would have been able to sit up in his room. now
he might have ventured down stairs. and now
he might perhaps have been ENJOYING that
sweetest Of draughts to an invalid, q breath Of
the pure unconfined air of heaven.
AT first he felt certain that there would be
an inquest. and he lived in momentary ex-
pectation of arrest. Then he saw that there
need be no inquest if he chose to sign the usual
certificate Of death; and. after a long debate
with himself. he signed it.
He forced himself to call and see the widow
and her family. but he felt that for him to 90
to the funeral was impossible. so he shut him.
self up the dav before the interment and pre-
tended to be ILL
After all immediate danger of detection and
punishment had gone by he began to torment
himself in new way. Was it not his duty
he asked himself, to confess his fault and
give himself up to the police9 Would he not
be a better and happier man if he confessed
and suffered the penalty than he would be if
he kept the guilty secret in his own breast?
He had feeling as if the crime might in
some sense be atoned for in that way. Il
have been guilty Of granddaughter" he would
say to himself. 1T was not a pure accident
j had no business to make up medicine when I
was half asleep. / ought 10 have reused my
self. have shed mans blood. Whose? John
Ingleton's. The blood Of my old friend. the
man who stood by me when other friends 1
had none. l ought to be in prison; but, as it
il. my punishment is great"
Once he was actually on his wav to the police
station to give himself up when the thought of
his daughter came into his mind. II he spoke
this word that he intended to speak she would
be known all her life as the daughter of the
doctor who WAS so many months or years in
jail for granddaughter. Her life would be ruined
almost before it had begun. He could not do
that.
But he could not bear TO meet any Of the
Ingleton family. The very sight Of their black
dresses made him shudder. Mrs. Ingleton's
kind. sad smile went to his heart like a knife
BY degrees he became more accustomed to the
company of these unhappy thoughts. but at the
n1e he hpcame harI oil
self-centered. Everybody noticed the change.
but the doctor took care that no one should
from any word or look of his form guess as to
Its cause.
CHAPTER III.
Three years went by and time seemed to do