Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1900-02-09

though sick and hopeless at heart,
resumed my everyday ways and re-
turned to my household occupations.
We dined all three together that
eyening-what a coy little party We
looked. / had taken extra pains to
prepare dainty meal, and, moved by
some unusual impulse of extravaganza,
ordered flowers sufficient to nearly
cover the table. | dressed for dinner
carefully wearing one of the few pref
~ frocks / possessed. My cheeks
were burning. my eyes shining, but
my heart was ike lead within me.
Millicent looked at the table, sur
prised as she took her seat.
why" she said, I'VE have white
flowers enough for wedding"
"Or a funeral" said /, and thought
that it was because of the bitterness
of my voice that my companions
blanched.
We studiously talked dreary COM
monplaces to hide our thoughts from
one another, till Jim said | looked
pale, and should take glass OF Bor-
gundy. / protested, but he went him.
self to the sideboard TO get the wine
he wanted. Standing there with his
back toward us, he filled glass,
which he brought to me himself. As
he set the wine down before me he
laid his hand OIL my shoulder. Drink
that, old girl" he said kindly, almost
affectionately; II see now that you've
been letting yourself run down. and
shall be having you a patient on my
hands IL don't look after you"
When Judas kissed Christ. he set
the fashion in treachery. With my
husband hand still resting caressing-
" upon my shoulder, drank the wine
thus taking the first step toward the
death snare laid for me. That night
l went early to my room, feeling
queer and sick: before week was out
/ had, indeed, become one of Jim's pa
tients, too i'll to leave my bed.
The days passed: l grow steadily
worse. not better. While l lie helpless.
racked with pain. Millicent has as
sumed the management OF the house
There is no more talk OF her going
away. She comes to me once or twice
a day. and l can see look OF malici-
GUS triumph in her eyes as she asks
coldly what she can do for me. In
the evening she and Jim sit together
|. lying in the room overhead, am con-
scious of the smoke of his pipe and
their frequent laughter. Those were
my hours of torture.
But comfort came at last. | dreamed
one night that some one was trying
to poison me. When | awoke ii was
early morning. Outside my window
there was stir and twitter of birds;
within the house, ! only was awake.
For the moment my head was clear.
| was free from pain. AS | lay there
idly watching the morning sunshine
my dream came back to me; then sud.
denly realized in reality. A moments
thought proved the truth of my con-
viction--Jims wine, Jim's medicine.
Millicent's broth, all resulted in much
the same sort of torture for me, all
were helping on the much-desired con-
summation of my disease.
oh, the horror, the cruelty OF it!
But oh, the blessedchance that | have
not died helplessly ignorant an unre.
venged, So, let Jim and Millicent
kill me as deity, as craftily as they
may, | am forewarned Like the blind
giant Sampson. shall not die alone.
Two weeks passed since my day
of comfort broke. The need for me is
now here. | leave all ready. Old Law.
yer Sutton has in his possession
sealed package-to be opened after
my death. 1t contained my accusation
against Jim and Millicent, request
for a post-mortem examination. also
enclose a small bottle of medicine and
of broth, both of which, am sure, will
on analysis show traces of arsenic.
Just before | sent for Mr.. Sutton
had almost oualm of remorse. | was
thinking of Jim on che scaffold. High
up there. what a handsome man he
still would look. Little changed is
40 xxrhn 10
a medical student. but such good
looking young fellow. we used to meet
by stealth at the foot of my fathers
orchard. Evening after evening he
used to walk five miles out of town
and back for the sake of half an hours
lovemaking with me. Sometimes there
was a moon. sometimes there was
summer darkness: but we always
found one another under the old apple
tree. in which we could sit together
and kiss and promise, instead of vex-
atious parents and poverty, that we
would love one another forever and
ever.
Remembering those old days my
heart grew soft within me, and Kill
me If you will, Jim,' | thought, but
cannot hurt you"
Then they came together into my
room. Millicent and my husband, and,
as my eyes met the eyes of my muir.
derers, all sense Of pity left me- Mill.
cent seemedNmore amiable than usual.
Jim is thinking of having another
doctor into see you," she informed me.
isn't it ridiculous? You really look
ever so much better to-day"
II don't want to see doctor" said.
II know am dying, and If Jim can't
cure me, no one else can"
81 think I'll ask Brown to walk back
with me from the hospital" said Jim
nervously. HE might suggest a diff
ferent treatment"
"Perhaps-if he understood. But
he's not very clever; he'll not find out
what ails me-
spoke softly, but Jim heard me.
A shadow fell on his face. and he look
ed at me anxiously, interrogatively.
But Millicent was equal to the occa-
sion.
Never mind dear" she said to me
sweetly; If 1t pleases Jim he may
bring DIR. Brown to see you, though
we neither of us believe him to be as
clever as our own doctor here"
A couple of hours later Jim ushered
this stupidlooking young man into my
room, pointed out to him the symp-
toms of my illness. which clearly indi-
Gated that l was suffering from peri
tonitis, and described his treatment
of my case. Brown, scarcely noticing
me, listened to Jim attentively, agreed
1.