Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-11-19
|Before They Were Married.|
By HENRY c. PARKER.
By HENRY c. PARKER.

LON dSh ms, Ii. W IlildiliS, shy
pleaded. all of a tremble they'll know
soon enough that something went
wrong with it. and it would be dread
full if they knew | touched it
They shan't know. You may stay
here, if YOU like"
The doctor was revolving a plan for
precipitating a final crisis by facing
the professor and compelling him If
possible to quit the ueighborhood. or
by going to the village and swearing
to warrant charging him with muir
Ger. There was no longer any thought
of the fact that ne had committed him
self by inference to the theory of sui
eide.
oh, | couldn't stay here" she an
swered with fresh fear. They'd find
me ont. Oh, what will happen?
thought could just spin the stuff
cut of the window and you'd get fresh
medicines and you'd know they We're
right"
1T amounts to this, then" said the
docto", Gyeing Betsey sharply, that
the professor mixed poison to kill
Miss Willis. Mrs. Appleton brought it
here, and you threw it away"
Betsey's startled look made the doc
,or think that he had guessed right
and so, it seemed, he had in part. for
She responded:
1T wasn't to kill her. sir. Ii WAS to
make her sleep SO tha, they could take
her away without waking her up.
But was afraid it might do more, that
You might slNr her too much or some
thing"
DR.. Williams" said a faint voice
from the beu.
The doctor turned about With a start
of anxiety. Amelia was awake and
was trying to sit up. He hurried to
her side and as he went she smiled and
added:
why! its Betsey. How do YOU do,
Betsey?"
You mustn't, my darling girl eX-
claimed the doctor softly. Lie right
down again. Why! you'll so back
wards soon if you don't look out"
Il thought YOU We're talking with
your mother" responded Amelia, but
! walked with a dreadful start of fear.
l. must have been a bad dream.
thought my nerves were strong, but
I'm afraid | shall never sleep well in
this house.
You shant sleep here a single hour
longer than is necessary said the doc
ter. Just as soon us it is safe 80 move
you we will take you to my home. :
How good you are! | shall be glad
to go. Does your mother know"
Not yet. | shall tell her today
You need have no fear but that she will
Welcome you"
NO, | don't fear her. | should like
a glass of water, if may" and she
looked up at him III con eat and trust
fulness.
The doctor turned and asked Betsey
to fetch glass. She had seized her
opportunity and slipped away.
Il II get ii" said the doctor.
He went to the table where was a
pitcher Of water drawn fresh but a
few minutes before his mother had left
the room The doctor raj, d it and
started to poul some into a glass, when
suddenly his hand took on such a
trembling that he set the pitcher down
so abruptly that it broke in pieces.
Dear me- exclaimed Amelia
What have you done?'
II think I've spilled the water, an
swered the doctor, trying to speak
joe scly while his voice shook as if he
had an ague.
1t was weak enough joke, but the
patient accepted it at more than its
value and laughed, even in her illness,
more heartily than he had supposed
she could in health.
- think myself" she said, that
there must be drop on the floor. |
think | heard it fall.
Again she chuckled with merriment,
and the doctor smiled in sympathy. It
did his heart good to see how peace
fully happy she was after all the stress
and strain she had undergone; but he
did not at once recover from the shock
of fear which had come upon him when
he recalled Betsey's action and words,
and reflected that the poison might
have been put in the water What
more likely? And what If he had
carelessly allowed her TO drink it?
I'm afraid you're clumsy" re-
marked Amelia spontaneously
You mustn't stand there as If you
were a stupid servant and didn't
know what to do. Get towels at once
and sop it up"
You're getting well. my dear" re-
torted the doctor, as he obeyed her
command.
4 mean to. When may leave Fair
yiew?"
III you progress as fast as you have
today | think you can be moved To-
morrow"
oh, | do hope So
The water sopped up and the general
litter cleared away. the doctor APP
preached the bed and asked doubt
fully
Are you very thirsty, dear?"