The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-16
THE STORY OF HELEY CROFT.

wistaria, and abutting right the main street of
the town at Its juncture with North Lane At tho
end of the North Lane front Heley there are
two or three cottages which run up into the corner
OF the Croft one being almost embedded in It's
crooked walls. Otherwise the house is surrounded
on two sides with garden-a genuine oldfashoned
affair, with lawn like velvet and the shade of some
venerable elms
When Whyte took the place he had just pur-
chased partnership with the Beddards, the family
solicitors of Fensham and he had also just married
young wife 1 a good deal of the Whytes
about this time. Curiousy enough, 1 had known
them both years before they first knew each other
and surprised their friends by their mutual attach
ment 1t was a strange marriage, for Tommy Whyte
was smart level-headed man of the world and
Margaret-Mrs. Whyte l suppose 1 should call her
was successful opera singer ethereal beauty,
who bad been wholly wrapped in her art since she
was child, and whose purity Of character and SUI
perb voice had captivated the as soon as she
appeared behind the footlights. In ordinary affairs
she was baby but she and Tommy got on like
turtle doves.
L see from my diary that it October II when
the story of Heley Croft began for me- 1 had had
heavy day for country town-forty-one patients;
and, feeling tired in the evening 1 stepped across
the street after dinner to have chat and a cigar
with Whyte
This is providential old man." was his greeting.
my wife has been upset all day. and would not hear
of my sending for you. She says there's nothing the
matter; but it would ease my mind if you would have
a look at her"
smiled at the young husbands anxiety, but re-
ceived shock when had hunted up Mrs Whyte
She had the pallor and heavy expression of Sleep
lessness and sat in a lstless attitude; but worse
than that her beautiful eyes had acquired a foreign
eXpression-one of abect terror. Her whole bearing
was utterly strange to her and could not ascertain
that there was anything to account for indispo-
Sition. Her state a puzzle. 1t seemed that
Whyte had gone up to town the previous day on
business, and had been detained over night but not
unexpectedly When he arrived home he found his
wife just as had seen her and not a syllable Of
explanation could she Offer
We%sat up. chatting long after Mrs. Whyte had re-
tired to rest at my suggestion; and Whyte explained
to me- with agitated expression that she had i'm
peratively desired him to occupy a spare bedroom
which looked out into the street while she had gone
to her usual chamber This was on the other side OF
the house, and had big window commanding the
garden ..
Il humored her, of course" he said "but. all the
same, do not understand the wish She seemed so
very intent upon it."
NO doubt" / replied, "she is only afraid of rest
lessness, and you to be fit for work tomorrow
can see she had poor night last night 1 will
look in again tomorrow"
I'uC HSteh' ASpley,' objected Whyte. "She says
she is not ILL., and that there no need to see YOU
further professionally. In fact she SAYS she won't
see you"
with little romancing 1 dare say l can find n
reason for coming" laughed. Don't worry your
self"
Well. next day went to Heley Croft again in the
evening, and found Whyte had worried bimsar
his wife was worse-much worse She had just the
ar OF woman thoroughly down. and her liked
gaze OF horror was quite trying to look at She
appeared about five years older too The trans
formation in twenty-four hours was so marked that
1t gave me dtsagreeabe surprise and the un-
fortunate husband was quite distracted
She persists" he confded to me- that she
VIII De alone at night, and it during last night
that she got so much worse. 1 never heard q sound
although had sleepless time myself through
anxiety"
I prescribed mild tonic and a change Of seen.
for few days, for really there was nothing in
the British pharmacopoeia to meet the case as far
could make out
Whyte had only just come home from his honey
moon and it made the Beddards grumbIe when tie
took himself off for another week; but he went
with his wife to Malvern where an intimate friend
of mine is in practice There was no need to CON
suit him, for Mrs Whyte got rapidly better and
looked almost herself when she returned to Heev
Croft While she away, too we tried little ex-
pertinent and invented an excuse for putting one
OF the servants in her at night for | could
not somehow diveSt my mind of the idea that thayA
was some connection between the two solitary
nights and illness. We might have saved orr
selves the trouble. The servant made no comDIain,
met the Whytes at the station accidentally when
they returned. and so much reassured that I
began to feel rather foolish at having been so very
interested in the Judge Of my establishment
therefore, when at breakfast table morning the
following note was handed to from Tommy:
- Dear Aspley: Come at once, for Gods
sake! Margaret is much worse than before
'"T w"
fastened across to Heley Croft and Whyte him
self met me at the door, looking terribly alarmed
1T is worse than ever" he said as he conducted
me inside. Maggie would be alone last night and
when got UP this morning she was simply dcathly.
What the dickens be the matter?"
The patients appearance than confirmed his
words. She was in a shocking state of prostration
and could scarcely rise speak.
Tom l said, 81 want a confidential chat with
your wife"
He took the hint, and went out We sat in her
oldfashoned. oak-paneled boudoir or morning room.