Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-10-01

evidently struggling with agitation,
that we had not even begun dinner.
Your mother got supper for us at her
house; she insisted on it. Shan't
bring you up something? BetSey has
kept some of the dishes warm
Thank YOU" replied the doctor
now that think of it, am hungry.
shall be much obliged"
Would YOU rather come to the din
ing ROOM"
NO, Please send me up little
bread. anything that is handy"
Papa wanted me to ask II YOU would
speak to him for few minutes. He
said Mrs. Appleton wouldn't mind re-
naming with Amelia"
II prefer to stay here Tell the pro
fessor to come up
The doctor had tried to speak u.s-
passionately but he feared that his
/ tone in spite of himself was cutting,
! cold. and severe. Louise was plainly
affected, almost to crying, and DR., Will
! liams could not but infer that some
/ thing more Immediately personal to
herself than Amelias illness troubled
| her. He wondered a little what II was.
/ hut if he had been inclined to specu-
ulate on the matter, as he was not,
1 there would have been little opportu
nifty to do so, for almost Immediately
after Louise had gone down the pro-
fessor appeared, bearing a tray with
food and drink.
The doctor admitted him without a
word, and cleared a place for the
dishes upon the table.
You are very faithful to your pa
/ tent, doctor said the professor; Mrs,
/ Appleton could relieve YOU as we'll as
not, and give you warning if Amelia
should return to consciousness"
There is no need of her troubling
herself" responded the doctor; Il shall
remain in the room
THAT being the case, then Mrs. APP
pleton, YOU might retire, if you wish
4 to-"
The woman gathered up her work
and left the room. DR.. Williams sat
down and began TO eat, while the pro-
fessor stood near, looking on. The
doctor had nothing to say. Presently
Professor Drummond remarked:
Il thought it was you who removed
the electric switch"
The doctor glanced at him and con.
tinued his meal.
1T was a fine thing to do. doctor
and | appreciate it, | am unluclIly
cursed by a quick temper, and TOO often
do and say things that | do not really
mean That was the case out In til
woods when we found poor Amelia A
difference had arisen between US of a
purely family nature, that | presume
you do not care to know about, al
though | will tell you if you wish
DR. Williams shook his head.
II presumed you would look at ii
that way" continued the professor
and | refer to it merely to apologize
to you for my momentary violence OF
word and action. | have been Consid-
erably unstrung by the strain of the
past two weeks, and cannot always
,uAuu, myself perfectly. However
what | wanted to express was my pro
found appreciation of your course with
respect 10 all matters connected with
the very unfortunate death of Stark
weather But for your discretion a very
lamentable accident might have been
interpreted by thoughtless communi
ty as a horrible crime.
The doctors face expressed mere
dulity and surprise that the professor
should venture to suggest the theory
Of accident; but he said nothing. Pro
fessor Drummond went on:
Il would have done well to be more
frank with you in the beginning, on
the very day the death occurred, but |
was beside myself with grief, conster-
nation, and-yes, fear. | did not know
you as | know you now. | did not
know enough to trust you. hoped to
cover my knowledge of what happened
by subterfuge. ! have succeeded, as
far as the community is concerned.
You, in the meantime, have found the
truth. 1t is no wonder that you felt
that in the possession of that switch
YOU hhu an lIlSJl uiHfUl Vi power over
me. | accept it in that light II you
choose so to view it; but ! prefer to
look at it as something that commands
my gratitude | have observed the in
terest you feel in my daughter VIII
you permit me to say, doctor, that
nothing could please me more than to
see her your wife-and that | said as
much to her before | knew that you
had taken that switch?"
DR.. Williams arose, his face white
with anger.
Professor Drummond," he said, Il
displayed that switch to compel you,
the worst man ever knew, to an act
OF humanity. You insult me by pre-
suming that would ever have descend
ed to exert the power it gave me for
my own advantage"
You use harsh language" respond
ed the professor, without trace OF re-
sentiment, and you misinterpret me. |
think too highly OF you to suppose that
tvT,Nt. haf