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

W1Staria and abutting right on the main street Of
the town at its juncture with North Lane At the
end of the North Lane front of Heey Croft 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
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. l saw a good deal of the Whytes
about this time Curiously enough 1 had known
them both years before they first knew each other
and surprised their friends by their mutual attach
ment. 1t was strange marriage, for Tommy Whyte
was a smart, level-headed man of the world and
Margaret-Mrs Whyte 1 suppose 1 should call her
was successful opera singer, an ethereal beauty,
who lad been wholly wrapped in her art since she
was child, and whose purity of character and
perb voice had captivaed the world as soon as she
appeared behind the footlights. In ordinary affairs
she was a baby, but she and Tommy got on like
turtle doves.
l see from my diary that it was October II when
the story of Heley Croft began for me- l 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 prOvidentiaI, 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
natter but it would my mind if you would have
a look at her.
L smiled at the young husbands anxiety but re-
ceived a shock when we had hunted up Mrs. Whyte.
She had the palor and heavy expression of Sleep
lessness, and sat in lfstIess attitude; but
than that her beautiful eyes had acquired a foreign
eXpressOn-One of abject terror. Her whole bearing
was utterly strange to her, and could ascertain
that there was anything to account for her indspo
s1tion Her state puzzle. 1t seemed that
Whyte had gone up to town the previous day on
business, and had been detained night but not
unexpectedly. When he arrived home he found his
wife just as had 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
perat1vely desired him to occupy 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
L humored her, of course" he said 'but all the
same, do not understand the wish. She seemed so
very intent upon it."
4z No doubt replied "she is only afraid of rest
lessness. and wants you to be fit for work tomorrow
can see she had poor night last night l will
look in again tomorrow"
But listen, Aspley," objected Whyte 'She saws
she IL not ILL., and that there is no need to see YOU
further professionally In fact she says she Won't
you
with little romancing. dare say 1 can lind
reason for coming" I laughed Don't worry your-
self"
Well, next day went to Heey Croft again in the
evening, and 1 found Whyte had worried himself.
Ills wife was wOrSe-much worse. She had lust the
air OF a woman thoroughly down, and her liked
gaze Oh horror was quite trying to look at. She
appeared about five years older, too. The trans
formation in twentyfOur hours so marked that
1t gave me a disagreeabIe surprise and the I'LL
fortunate husband quite distracted
"She persists" he confded to me .stttat clio
will be alone at night, and it was during last night
that she got so much worse. I never heartia sound
although L had seepless time myself through
anxiety
prescribed mild tonic and a change of scene
for few days, for really there was nothing in
the British phamacopoea to meet the case as far
l could make out
Whyte had only just come home from his honey
moon, and it made the Beddards grumbIe when Le
took himself off for another week; but he went
with his wife to Malvern where an intimate friend
of mine is in practice. There no need to con-
suit him. for Mrs Whyte got rapidly better and
looked almost herself when she returned to Heley
Croft While she was away, too, tried little ex-
pertinent and invented an excuse for putting one
OF the servants in her room at night for 1 could
not somehow divest my mind of the idea that there
was some connection between the two solitary
nights and illness. We might have saved our
selves the trouble. The servant made no complaint
met the Whytes at the station accidentally when
they returned. and much reassured that /
began to feel rather foolish at having been so very
interested in the case Judge of my establishment
therefore, when at breakfast table next morning the
following note handed to me from Tommy:
Dear Aspley: Come across 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.
ut is worse than ever" he said he conducted
inside. Maggie would be alone last night and
when L got up this morning she was simply dcathy.
What the dickens can be the matter?'
The patients appearance than confirmed his
words. She was in shocking state of prostration
and could scarcely rise speak.
Toni" said Il want a confidential chat with
your wife,"
He took the hint. and went out. We sat in her
oldfashioned. oak-panelled boudor or morning ROOM