The morning news., 1892-02-21

garden for me, knowing my taste"
That is a very peculiar plant" I said,
pointing to a low, odd-looking shrub over
which she had been bending. "What is its
namel l have never seen anything like 1t
BEFORE"
Her agitation increased as I approached
the plant.
"I-yes-it is very peculiar, as you say.
1t is native Of Java, believe. The seed
was given me by friend who brought it
from the east. 1t is called Coluber, the
snake plant
While she had been speaking had bent
over the plant in turn, and stretched out
my hand to touch it. She uttered a sup
pressed exclamation, and seemed about to
restrain my arm.
ut is unsafe to handle 1t without gloves, I"
she said, In an almost inaudible voice. ut
is said to irritate the skim"
"Posonous" queried, drawing back aud
looking at her.
20, no, she replied quickly, "not poison
Gus! o, dear. mol Only irritating"
With nay mind full of a new suspicion or
rather with a new directson of the old sus-
picion, bowed politely and resumed my
stroll. But as soon as | saw her enter the
house returned to the spot and examined
the Coluber closely
1t was an evil-looking thing. The leaves
were thick and tieshy, shaped somewhat like
serpent's head and covered with venemous
looking brown spots. Here ana there, be-
tween opposite pairs Of the leaves, were
small green globes about the size of a pea /;
no doubt the fruit OF the shrub. I struck
one OF them of with my cane and crushed
it upon the ground A black viscid fluid
escaped, while strange, suffocating odor
ditfused itself through the air. 1t was an
odor not to be forgotten, and so oppressive
that was glad to leave the spot, but did
so fully determined to keep an eye upon Miss
Misane's gardening operations.
At early dawn on the following morning,
quietly left the house and concealed my
self in the shrubbery opposite the bed con-
tanning the coluber. l had not long to wait.
A soft, cat-like tread warned me of her ap-
pro2ch. She carried the same box had
noticed on the previous morning and wore
the came thick gloves. Pausing before the
Coluber, she glanced cautiously around.
Apparently satisfied that she was not OBJ
served, she plucked one Of the green berries
l have described and put it in the box {;
keeping it, as l saw. at the utmost distance
from her face. Then with the same feline
tread and furtive manner. she hurried
away.
AS soon as she was out Of sight, stepped
from my place Of concealment and likewise
cut off one Of the berries, which l secured
In small vial | had about me. Then /,
too, returned to the house. Going to my
room sat down TO examine my specimen
of the Coluber. With.the means Of anaIy-
sis which had at hand was unable 10 dis
cover anything as TO the properties Of the
berry, and was about to give up the task
for a time, when happened to observe on
plate a piece OF bread from my last
nights supper, which had been served in
my apartment. Breaking off a small frag-
ment, squeezed drop of the juice upon it.
went to the window and looked out.
Just below me a stray fowl was scratching
in tie edge of q garden bed. t0ssed the
morsal within reach Of the bird, who swal-
lowed it promptly. awaited the result
with breathless anxiety. For some moments
longer the creature continued its search for
food then it appeared TO grow uneasy. Its
eyes closed, its wings dropped and its head
fell upon its breast. Suddenly it dropped
in a heap and lay motionless.
l had discovered the properties of the
Coluber. / had discovered Martha Misanes
secret. / now knew the disease from which
Edna Trevor was slowly dying.
With reeling brain and quickly beating
heart fell into a chair, and remained mo-
tioDless, utterly overcome with my hideous
discovery. Then with my resolution
formed / arose and went down stairs
Edna was awake by this time, ana entered
her room to inquire how she felt. With a
sad, patient smile she informed me that she
was even worse than the day before.
mo matter" 1 replied confidently, from
this day forth you will get better"
THANK heaven" said the eager voice of
Mrs. Trevor, who had entered the room be-
hind me. "But are you quite sure, doc
torr
"I sm," answered firmly. 81 have dis.
covered the nature of the disease, and can
cure it."
At this moment Martha Misane came in,
bearing in her hands the breakfast, which
as usual she had prepared for Edna. SIZE
placed the try beside the girls bed and as
sisted her to sit up. As Edna was about to
take the soup which the woman offered her,
checked her, and lifting the soup to my
face, smelled 1t.
AS 1 had expected, the faint odor Of the
Coluber was plainly evident With perfect
| calmness l carried tho bowl to the drain in
| the corner Of the room and emptied its con-
tents. Then, looking steaily at Martha Mis-
| ane as l spoke. said:
1--WE will begin the cure by rejecting Miss
Misane's soup, which is not good for you" "
With a CHASTITY face the woman leaned
helplessly against the bed, returning nay
gaze with a stare OF abiect fear.
"Will you give me few moments con-
versatiou with youN / said to her politely,
but with look which she understood.
She followed me silently into the adjoin-
| ing room and SANK into a chair hile I
| closed the door.
"You see," said I. facing her, ''that your
secret is discovered For the sake of gain
| ing your cousins inheritance you have been
slowly poisoning his child with small doses
| of Coluber, whose Internal properties you
have learned, know not how"
Mercy mercy!" walled the woman.
covering her face with her hands.
"Wretch" L replied, tternly, what
mercy have you shown this Innocent girl
and this loving mother9 But for their sakes
there shall be no scandal. Leave this house
within one hour; and, mark, if hereafter
you dare show sign of your existence you
| shall receive the punishment now with
hold. Co."
Tremblingly she crawled out Of the room,
| and wi hin the stipulated time she had de-
parted and was never heard of again.
10 Mrs. Trevor's amazed inquiry | re-
turned but one reply: Your daughter
could not recover while that women dwelt
under the some roof. Do not ask me
more"
From that day Edna gained rapidly in
strength, and in a month had recovered
her full health and beauty. The mothers
gratitude knew no bounds She had
| learned to regard me as friend, and dur
ing Edna's convalescence all three OF us
were constantly together as one family.
! When at length l pronounced my patient
cured and prepared TO take my departure,
Mrs Trevor hesitatingly mentioned the
subject of remuneration.
"SbpF' l cried; "money | cannot take
for YOUR daughters life l will leave 1t to
| ,kae Taov Qhall q