The Meeker herald., 1892-05-28
to call again, took my leave OF tho

that his master had grown icebler,
and when learned the real motive oil
his coming. ] could almost have wish
ed that such only had been the case.
"something very strange happened
last night ut our hotel, Doctor" lie
said. "You heard the governor speak
OF little Maria; she nurses him, YOU
know, and gives him his medicine.
We'll, about midnight, thinking heard
him call. ! ran to ms bedroom. lie
was asleep. however. aud did not
hear me enter; but little Maria, whs
WAS kneeling down by the cupboard
IN which the drauehts are kept sud
denly started 10 her feet, and, IN evi,
dent excitement, dropped and smashed
to atoms, n phial no longer than my
little finger. When | asked what II
was, she told me IL IVES one OF tho bot
ties purchased yesterday on your per
cription. But, doctor"-anl the man
drew significantly near me, II saw the
medicines you ordered ns they were
brough, in, and that phihl was not
amongst them"
opened my eyes at this. There
certainly should hav. been no phail.
"Mind you, SIR" he continued.
MARIA is u good little girl. aud !
should have seen nothing in her ac.
tion II she hadn't told me lie. But
those Italians You never know what
they're up to. There's enough mys.
stery about Mr.. Eoland's illness with
out having children OF twelve handling
queer phials at midnight. didn't
tell the master what | saw. for Maria
is so much in his favor he might have
pood.poohed my story and imagined
] was r.;tins Jealous OF her influence.
But determined on telling you"
Tho homes; fellows manner was
very impressive. Clearly he did
not speak all h.. thought. nor did
press him to. We talked the matter
over little longer. and ~ could no,
so Immediately to the hotel ! wrote n
note to Mr.. I.ntrain-. ia which. oa the
simpl. plea that the nature oi the
mclicinr- made IL dangerous to in
trus, their administration to n child,
| -njoin-d him strictly to give sole
charge o! the cupboard to his mhnscr'
want.
Tha, very day was unexpectedly
called out OF the city. and therefore
could not ~. my patient until about
the close OF the weak. When -y.ntu'
ally visited TIA, Hotel Il. i.ondreI. |
found him sittin. up and ia such good
health. comparatively. tia, could
not but congratulate myself on the
success OF my prescription. | took
this opport unity OF advising Mr.. La.
trainu to leave Genoa aud return Tor
til. summer to England. mentioning
a, Arguments the certain int-ns. hrnt
and the probable prevalence oi
cholera.
My dear doctor" wn, his reply.
"you advise that which TO me !, inn
possible. have mission in Italy.
,nd cannot find Il In my hear, to
leave withou, having performed It.
had very dear brother. Melville. who
wre WIN, We cnll n man OF the world,
IIiis brother aud myself w-ir exactly
alike In appearance fact. ". wcru
twins. Stop Here IL my album. and
here |. hi. liE-n.. and mine. You can
hardly tell the dihcT-nr-."
Suitin. the action TO the word. Mr..
Lntrainc showed me the phot o:rnphs.
! was indeed struck by the r-sSnbl'
aa.. at the brothers. They --.'m.i
to h- oi til. same height. same bni'd.
and same expression; and yet, with
nj. n sufficient disparity obtained TO
have enabled acquaintance easily 10
distinguish them. Ny patient con'in.
ucds-
"At Mclvill-'- death. som. twelve
month, bacl;. took possession Of the
estates. We had always believed him
bachelor. but on loosin. over his
priva,, papers ! found. to my great
surprise. tina, II. had, IN early days.
married mn Italian woman OF the
lover class. aud that u" had. for some
strange. unexplained rcnHon, married
her in my name. One child-n girl
was tho issue OF their union. which.
ptoying shortly nii-ranrd- n wrcichri
one. appears to have made Melville
desert his wife under circumstance
for which. however mncn love his
memory. I can find no Justification"
But hnv. you amy reason TO
suppose her In Genoa" asked.
Every reason" answered MIR.
f.a,rainc. Though my brother de
serted thus his wife md daughter. lie
kept mn eye upon their movements:
aud in this way know that n twelve.
month ago they lived here. Having
come hith.r to seek them. ! nm lie.
,.rmincd not to return until nsccr.
tNhi '''Ai IN'N'NN Nh'''''''sTs
look upon the rcctiiicHtion OF my
brothers wrong doing ms n solemn
duty. oh. here's Mnria''
The little Italian girl of whom had
heard so much now entered the room.
Shn was n pretty. diminutivc maii.
showing in her appearance nothing OF
that terrible prccocity whcreior. ]
wa. soon to learn thecSistcncc. When
Mr.. 1.atrninc told her my name she
looked hard Mt me for n minute, aud
then, but without withdrawing her
eyes. said to him in Italian
80 this is the gentleman who fears
to intrust me with the mcdicincs' ]
can assure him lie need have had no
scruplc. Whilst my mother lay i'll
dyin. of far more terrible illness
than yours. Mr.. Latrnine-the Illness
of long years of poverty and neglect
! alone attended her, administering
with the care OF physician those
drugs which both she aud yet knew
would never conquer her disorder. But
the doctor has doubtless his motives.
and bow to them
Where had before heard that voice
and that emphasis9 I failed to recall
when or where: yet felt sure this was
not the first time OF hearing them.
About midnight took my leave, but
on presently reaching an osterin, the
sight of it's dark doorway fired ntrnin
OF rccollcc,ions across my memory.
In TINT very plnce had heard with