Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-10-14
A QUESTION OF GUILT.


l.-HMohEs
On a certain wet February afternoon, not
many years ago Richard Monk, NJ. D., as
cended the steps oil the house in which
lived his eccentric aunt, Miss Selma Rock
wood, and rang the bell. The doctors visit
was in response to u note which he had re-
ceived but few hours previously, request
ing him to call as soon as possible. When
the young physician was ushered into his
aunt's presence, that lady was just giving
her maid.of-all- certain shopping di-
rections. He could not avoid overhearing
the conclusion of her remarks, to the effect
that from the milliner's you go to the
Hpothecary and ask him to make me up my
medicine; while he is doing that so to the
postotiice and mail the letters and buy me
sonIe postage stamps from there go back
10 the drug store where the medicine will
probably be ready, then stop az the express
ofiice and see if those two parcels have ar
rived for me, and then come back at once
now, do you think that you can remember
all thatP" Upon receiving an affirmative
reply, Kate Clare was told to go, and the old
lady turned her attention to her nephew.
Ii has already been stated that Miss Selma
lockwood was eccentric; it should now be
added that she was also very wealthy, and
Shat her only near relative was her nephew.
6he was tail, thin woman, with nose re-
semblng beak and a voice that was re-
markable for its shrilness. As she had
heNSE Dttn AUG " sSCuEG IL luoDuhdi oAS
devoted her entire attention to entomology
cal research. and the walls of her rooms
were lined with glass cases i'll which reposed
all classes of coleoptera and hymenoptera,
with pins and needles stuck through their
bodies. So extensive was her collection that
abe had been elected an honorary member
OF various chronological societies. and
although scientists frequently paid her
visits to examine her rare specimens OF
African and South American beetles and
butterflies, she was without honor among
the unappreciatiye townspeople, who irrey-
erently styled her 'the bug collector"
Miss Selma, moreover, had very dis.
agreeable way OF letting her nephew know
that her fortune, or at least tine greatest
part of it, might be left to some museum or
scientific body if he did not aCcede TO her
whims in every respect.
80 you have come at last she snapped
out; "you needn't take off your coat, fol
what have to say will take but very few
moments, and it is probably the very last
time that | shall ever care to see you OF
speak to you.h Then, noticing a surprised
look on her nephew's face, she continued
sis all this true that | have heard, that yor
are engaged to be married to Prof. Strange
daughter? Didn't you think 1t worth youl
while to consult me first?'
"But, my dear aunt he began.
Don't dear aunt me-" she replied, ano
she worked herself into passion that turnec
her face scarlet; do you think that | woulC
allow you to marry the daughter of thai
man? That man, who .ridicules my col
lections, and"
Really, Aunt Selma, won't you allow me
TO explain"
Il want no explanations from you
Answer me, are you engaged to her or not?'
MY dear aunt, you should not excite
yourself so, L"
no?'
Yes, am engaged to"
''Then go!" She fairly screamed, and
pointed with her long finer to the door
go ! say, and tomorrow | shall send fol
my lawyer, and have my will altered
What2 Are you still here2 Go! Col!
say"
And Mr.. Richard Monk. seeing what ,
passion she was in, and thinking that hi:
presence would only excite her more
rapidly walked out OF the house into tn,
street.
II.-sPARKs.
The afternoon had not advanced very far
and the doctor meditated as 10 where Ia
should go next; he walked slowly down tn,
street toward that portion Of the village
which was occupied chiefly by the store
keepers. He was pale and nervous; irri
tated and undecided. His hands were il
the pockets OF his overcoat, and were both
tightly clinched. Mechanically. he repeated
his aunt's last words: she said, 'ta-mur
row | shall send for my lawyer and huv,
my will altered, then there must be a vii
now, and ! am evidently handsomely re
membered The new will which she intend
To execute tomorrow will probably leav,
all or at least the greater part OF her forum,
to those buttertly-chasers and bug-collectors
But If she shouldn't make will, then T.
CHANGING ahead, he saw Kate Clare hi
aunts assistant, entering tue apothecary
door. He waited patiently until she cam,
out, and then approached the door anC
looked ~, Kate by this time had disappeared
around the corner. Nobody was inside blu
the old druggist; he was personal frient
otthe young doctor, and compounded nearl,
all OF the latIer's prescriptions. Ducto
Monk went in, and sauntered to the bacl
of the Shop he said "good-afternoon to tn
proprietor The elder man noticed the pal
appearance of the younger one, and re
marked We'll well, whatever is the matter
You look terribly shaken up. Better Xix III
something for yourself. You Know wher
the port wine is, help yourself" Monk re
piled to the effect that nothing was tn
matter with himself, and as the apotheear,
was Just beginning TO compound the toni
for Miss lockwood he stood by his side an,
watched him. The prescription was writer
by physician from neighborlng town
1t was dated some time previously, and wa
pasted in large old.fashioned scrap-bool;
Monk could not avoid reading some Of tn,
ingredients
R.-Acld Tannic gr. l.
syr lerba Santo OF, III.
Sulph. Quln. gr. xiv,
The druggist had begun, and every fe,
seconds he held mis- graduated nlasg ahnv