Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-02-16
SENTENCE OF DEATH.
How Doctors Prescription Eff
fected a Romance.

iSOpVNA ~ ipOAdcllOO.
DEAREST SYDNEY: l must see you at
once. ! had another frightful scene with
father this morning He got into terrible pas
sion simply because / happened to mention
your name In the most innocent way He
actually wanted to make me promise never to
see you again, When refused his rage was
really awful l am sure he Is going mad i
have not been allowed to leave my bedroom all
day. Isn't 1t too absurdp But cannot endure
this tyranny any longer l have quite made up
my mind 10 leave him. l shall go and live with
Aunt Mary, who has often promised me home.
must see you first, however, and this is my
plan All the fearful strain and worry about
you with father. has made me so irritable and
uncertain tempered lately that he is sure there
is something wrong with me, and am to go
tomorrow morning at eleven o'clock TO see DR.
Keiih-Jefieries, the great nerve doctor Father
says he shall drive me there himself and call
for me again In an hour This is to make sure
that hold no communication with you Did
you ever hear anything so childish Itserves
him right to hoist him with his own petard, so
you must be In the doctors .waiting-room at
little before eleven, and then we can have
three quarters of an hours quiet conversation.
My maid, who is o very good girl and who will
accompany me TO Aunt Mary's, is to post this
Yours ever,
"SYLvIA BULPETT."
up. S,-Keith-Jefferies' address is No. - Har-
ley street Don't be late"
This was Sydney's first glimpse of the
tragedy of life, in the shape of parental
barbarism. 1t overcame him for the
moment. MY poor Sylvia" he muir
INJURED. Then he pulled out his watch.
Nine twenty-severl He swallowed a
scalding cup of coffee, without milk or
sugar, and looked at his watch again.
Nine twenty-eight! "The old brute!"
he muttered, walking up and down the
room, II always said it would come to
this. l should just like to" Out
came the watch once more Nine TWEEN
ty-nine! He seized his hat and rushed
from the room.
The hat was oncession to custom,
but the morning was warm. 1t was
much too soon to go to her, so he ran
three times round st. James park to
liet his nerves. Then he slackened
his pace and fell to reviewing the posi-
ton more calmly.
AFTER all, it's perhaps the best thing
that could happen" was lis conclusion,
'Aunt Mary is not friendly with the
old wretch. Aunt Mary will help me.
We will be married from Aunt Mary's
] suppose / shall have to arrange this
running away, and it will be good fun,
for old Bulpett would show fight if we
came across him. He would crafty
his bloodthirsty instincts and shoot me
like dog! What should / do? could
not strike her futherl"
He proceeded to develop the situation
in various ways, and succeeded in
creating himself a very fine role in.
deed, in which he should be the maid
ems savior from brutal parents
rage, and at the same time spare the
old mans gray hairs. At half-past ten
he fastened to the great doctors and
rang the bell A man-servant, present
ing the usual combination of butler
and undertaken, opened the door.
Have you an appointment, sir?"
mo, must take my chance"
81 am afraid you will have to wait
some time, SIR; there are already goot
many here"
at doesn't matter. ara in no hurry.
replied Sydney, incoherently. lie was
shown into the waiting-room, where {
dozen or so of fellow-creatures wer,
collected. Most of them were young
ladies, for DR.. Keith-Jefferies was
favorite with tho sex, and they all hat
that air of dreary self-absorption pecul
lar to the self-centered invalid. They
turned cold, lstless chances upon thu
newcomer, and then resumed their re
Elections upon their own real or fancieC
ailments, masked by an unread Puncl
or Nineteenth Century held befor,
their faces.
"Oh, 1t is so very annoying" said on
vivacious lady, obviously malade i'm
aginaire, land it always happens
forgot all the most serious symptom
the moment got into the ooctor's con
sulting room. This time have writ
ten them all out upon sheet of paper
Dear--dear! Which pocket did l.
Oh, how very unfortunate! / have lief
1t on my dressing-table-I thought
must see it there. How extremely irri
tating."
The door opened and the undertake
crooked ghostly finger in her direc
ton. She arose and rustled out, gid
Oily muttering that 1t was really to
provoking. And the others smiled bill
terly, smile which plainly said
"There's nothing the matter with tn
old goose, but she will keep DIR. Jet
ferries a terrible time"
But in less than five minutes she RI
appeared, pale and fearful, with on
hand pressed against her side, bleatin
to her astonished friend: "Oh take IN
away, dear-take me away. Oh it
dreadful, though have always sus
pected it from the very first" A deepe
gloom settled upon the remaining pa
tients, and Sydney could not repress
glow of satisfaction as he reflected upo
his own excellent health.
Presently Sylvia glided in, lookin
the picture of health and spirits, Sh
was very young, almost too young t
be martyr to the sorrows she de
scribed TO Sydney, us they took posse.
sion of remote window embrasurt
She told him that she really could nc
bear It'll Her resolution was unshaker
She had written to her Aunt Mary t
expect her that night. Sydney mus
have carriage at the garden gate a
nine o'clock in the evening, when sh
and her maid would be waiting. He
stern parent would by that time, sh
surmised, have dined mot wisely bu
too we'll" and would be in no copditio
TO detect their fight. They were the
to drive to Paddington, and catch tn
last train for Exeter, where Aun
Mary lived.
So I'm. Sulrin who WINS n nlearNhandn