Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-07-06

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HintNStanO that even | shrauk back |
appalled,.
The captain motioned ME to the |
door She's come round, doctor, SO
there's no necessity for your kind ser
vices, l Will only ask YOU not 20 de-
scribe Mrs. Kerr to the mess gave
the required pledge and left him.
For some weeks | attended Mrs.
Kerr in her apparently catalepuc
frances. They came at irregular in
terNals and were always marked by
similar symptoms.
My other patient, Laura White. had
by this time recovered hut was hardly
more than the shadow OF her old sunny
self. Naturally. Kerr was cut by the
regiment, and |, for one, felt sincerely
glad when ii was announced that he
had exchanged into n home regiment
and would shortly sail for England
My affection for Laura was only
strengthened, and one day, after pay
Ing my morning visit, | asked her in
her fathers presence to become my
wife.
she burst into tears. and when she
had recovered her composure she
answered: 1 feel that am honored
by the affection of n good and noble
man, and, though cannot give YOU
Che love ! ought, will try to make
YOU good and faithful Wife
On the day that our engagement
was published Kerr's Wife died. was
crescent when she passed away In
cataeptic lit, and gave my certificate
to that effect. As Is usual in hot
climates she was buried within II
hours.
"Forty-eight hours later my brief
cup of happiness was dashed to the
ground. Capt. Kerr had left for Eng
land, and Laura White had fled with
him. they had been married in Rom
bay and had sailed for England before
the colonel and reached that port.
Il returned to England a few
months later, to find that Kerr had
never entered upon his duties in his
new regiment, but had sent in his pa-
pers Immediately after his arrival
| sought for news of them, but could
learn nothing.
About three years later read in
the papers the announcement Of
laura kerr's death. Il had taken
place at Cheltenham, to which town
at once proceeded. Hero my inquiries
led TO my asccrtaining that she hal
died in lodgings in the High street.
and that her husband had taken his
departure Immediately after the
funeral accompanied by his little
daughter, The landlady of the lodg
ings gave me the address of the modi-
cal man who had attended her, and on
him | at once called. He caurteously
answered my inquiries. and Informed
me that the cause of death was cata-
leHsy.
"Catalepsy, again That was indeed
singular But my suspicious were not
as yet awakened. There was no trace
of Kerr or his child, and | could do
nothing
Another period of three wears
passed, and had set up my brass
plate here in Birmingham and had
built up prosperous and rcmuuera-
tive practice, One lovely summer
afternoon received tclrgraphc cali
to an accident case at Dudley. The
carriage came and | started. But we
had not passed through EIandsworth
when 1t became evident that one Of the
horses was dead lame. accordingly
Hem he Ia, a =,
complete the journey by cab. This
was done, and 1t was nearly . o'clock
when, after partaking OF some food, |
left my patients house.
There Is always n scarcity OF cabs
in the outlying parts OF the Black
my return by train. At Handsworth
! changed on to cable tram, and
mounted to the top of the vehicle 10
enjoy a cigar in the pleasant night
air.
Ny nearest nelghbor on the tram
roof was tall, thin man, close
shaver and with short, iron gray
hair, and apparently so years OF age
though he might be younger. He had
mounted the vehicle at It's first stop
ping place, bearing in his arms lit
tie girl-a wee, wlns0me maiden OF
four or five summers. with long slken
blonde hair and lovely violet eyes.
Surely | had seen those eyes before.
could not see the mans face; 1t was
too dark night
Suddenly from some failure OF the
brake, the car collided roughly with
the preceding one and was thrown of
the line. rhe child was jerked violent
ly from her fathers knee on TO the
back Of the so-called garden seat In
front Of us. and her face was badly
cut. the blood streaming down
Il have never seen such horror and
dlsmay as blazed forth in an instant:
the silent, self-contalned man snatched |
up his childs senseless form, sprang
to his feet and almost screamed: My |
child is hurt Run. for doctor; don't |
lose moment. put my hand on his
shoulder and said quietly, i am a
medical man. and as saw those steely |
gray eypg I added Cant RuDprt |