Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-04-28

despite their disagreement she bod
purchased for her sister. This con
sisted OF a very handsome Russia
leather lady's toilet case. contain;no
a hand mirror, a pair Of brushes two
combs and requisites, all in ivory
Then she mentioned that her brothar,e
ship was not expected to arrive iii
next day, but that she would dena ?,
from her resolve not to visit Lena ho.
fore his return, so far as personally
to take her the present in the course
of the afternoon.
My wife looked pale and tired when
early in the evening, l again saw her
SO that l was hardly surprised when
she told me that her interview with
her sister had been far from pleasant
II never gave her the present, after
ALL she explained; II put it down on
the hallstand, and forgot about 1t. We
both got angry, and Fl said things
about Mr.. Ravensdale and his sister
Lena declared she'd never forgive.
Perhaps was wrong, but have every
cause to distruss them, and so has
Lena, but he won't see it. Oh, she Is
mad, mad!'
Are all arrangements made for the
wedding?"
| Il think so. They don't want us
there, though. It's fixed for 8 o'clock
IN the morning, and they're going to
drive straight to the railway station
from the church."
We'll, dearest, we mustn't intrude
upon them. It's certainly strange,
however, that your sister should slight
you in this way"
ELIAS hands twitched nervously.
Then she burst into tears. IL don't
mind for myself" she sobbed, "but it's
dreadful that Lena should have let
that horrid woman get such an in
fuence over"
why do you dislike Miss Ravens
dale SO intensely, dearest?" I asked
soothing1y.
why? Oh, for one thing, because
believe in her heart she hates Lena,
and, for another, because Of
something she's done to me-
II suppose you won't mind telling me
what that is?"
IL cannot, 1 have promised to be
SILENT
said nothing. She seemed greatly
agitated. Then she cried suddenly:
"And, yet, am not sure I think
I'm justified in breaking my word;
yes, I'll tell you, Aubrey; you ought
to know. The day after that woman
came, before grew to distrust her, she
asked me if I could get her some
poison"
What" I exclaimed.
"Some poison" she continued, "that
would kill a dog. She had favorite
terrier, she said, that had grown old
and blind, and was suffering greatly,
and she wanted it poisoned, but couldn't
bear that it should meet its death at
the hands of any one but herself"
"Well, we'll"
"When she asked for the poison l
suddenly thought of the stuff you had
spoken of on the night first heard
of Lena's engagement
"Curare?"
Eyes. I found some in your surgery,
and II gave it to her. I read up
about it, too, and told her all she
had to do was to smear some on
needle and prick the poor animal with
it,"
ooh, you should have told me, dear
est; bgut what happened afterward?'
"What happened ?''-my wife gave
low, mirthless laugh-"why, a week
later, when she said sne'd killed the
dog, and l asked her to give me back
what remained of the POISON, she de-
clined to do so; and now today, when
I repeated the request, She
But at this moment there came
ring at the bell, followed by the en-
trance of a servant to tell me that
lady wished to see me Immediately.
MY visitor, handsome, well-dressed
woman of 80, was pacing excitedly up
and down my counting room as l en-
tered.
Doctor Cranleigh," she cried, Eek
cuse my abruptness, but you must come
with me at once. Your wife's sister,
Miss Lena Vernon, is suddenly taken
i'll. She is unconscious-in lit, l
think, There is not moment TO lose.
Don't stop to tell your wife now, it
would only alarm her. Sne can be
summoned later on, if necessary
care you," 1 gasped, Miss Ravens
dale?"
"Yes-but come, comet"
Mechanically, I put on my hat, and
followed her into the street.
"Now," I said, briefly, you can give
me any additional particulars
mot many" she replied. i had
:, been out, and, returning to the house,
went into Lena's bedroom, where l
found her on the sofa, as l have said.
unconscious She seemed to have been