Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-07
SON you cannot tell her that she is not

son you cannot tell her that she is NOT
your wife,"
mo, that would kill her. DR.. Elem.
ing said she would not be able to beaI
the slightest shock or excitement"
"When did you see him?"
NJ have not seen him since he e1amA
ined Blanche
"How did you find out that Blanchd
has this-this terrible disease?"
81 have just told you that Jeanne
told me that DR.. Fleming had con,
fded it to her. He enjoined it on hen
to keep it even from me, and by all
means from Blanche"
"Ah!" Father Surtees' brows werd
knitted together. AS he uttered that
exclamation he rose and began ia
walk back and forth across the room,
Suddenly he turned and stood over
Goddard.
DO you think she could have ins
duced you to take hand in this plot
if you had believed Blanche to be peri
fectly sound, physioally?"
Certainly not; it is because she has
such a short life, and"
- EdUnor ouTISSS ldlu his manu- on Gu9
majors shoulder.
"Then," he said, "your wife must
| have known that 1t would require
most extraordinary pressure to induce
| you to enter into her scheme, and-A
and has it never occurred to you thai
her story may be deliberate lie Out
of whole cloth?"
The major could hardly formulate
an answer His eyes were wide open,
and his face was like death mask
blanche" he began, presently, 'ia
taking DR.. Fleming's medicines.
have seen that"
Medicines" said the priest, "are
often given for slight ailments. That
fact ought not to substantiate the
statement of your wife-that fend in.
carnate-especially when it looks as
if she could have gained her purpose
by misleading you."
Maj. Goddard groaned. AS he bowed
there beneath the earnest look of his
friend he seemed wreck of past mans
Illness.
What can I do? Is there any
thing?"
"There is but one thing righJ now,s
answered Father Surtees. "You
ought to go at once to see this DIR.
Fleming. see by the papers that he
arrived yesterday, and is at the SherI
man house."
There was a startled stare in tho
eyes of the major as he rose.
"Come with me-" he said, huskilys
"come with me-"
4 II should like to. I am very impa>
tient, Rowland. to know the truth on
that point. Much depends on it; very
much"
In moment the priest had put on
his overcoat and hat, and the two men
were walking down the avenue to-
I wards the hotel just mentioned.
4 81 shall wait down mere for you"
said the priest, when they had entered
the Office of the hotel and been told
that DIR. Fleming was in. Goddard
sent up his card. and in few mos
4 ments he received permission to ga
up.
'Ah, Maj Goddard" cried DR.. Elem.
ing, tall, heavy-set, full-bearded
man, as he came to meet his visitor.
~ was half expecting to meet your
wife to-day, but this is an unexpected
surprise. hope she is not indisposed."
II think she is no worse" said the
major, helplessly, as he drew of HIS
gloves. I'm fact, she did not know !
was coming"
"But you are not going to fancy
yourself ill, Maj. Goddard" said tho
physician, lightly. "You are nervous;
that's ALL l detected that fact when
took your hand; but otherwise you
are as sound % block of nne steel
at is about Blanche, who is noNa
my wife, that called" said the major.
"You-you knew, presume. that my
first wife"
DR.. Fleming saw that Goddard was
unable to finish his remark.
"And l was awfully shocked to hear
, of the accident, assure you; and Z
was glad to hear of your recent mar
riage. Your ward was one of my
most interesting patients. You will
pardon an old man like me, who is old
enough to be her father, when take
the liberty of saying she is one of ths
finest characters / ever met. You
know it is almost an instinct with my
: profession to be able to read humau
nature well. Maj. Goddard, you are to
l be envied." sE
: 81 am sorry" said the major, "that
you did not speak to me of her physi-
cal condition when she began to take
. your treatment; but, of course, you
knew best as to the advisability Of
taking me into your confidence. I
8 may as well tell you that Mrs. God-
: dard, just before sailing for England,
: confided to me what you had told her
about Blanche's conLltion."
DIR. Fleming raised his bushy, iron
: gray eyebrows inquiringly; then he
l said:
II was really somehow under the
impression that you were present,
: major, when talked to the ladies at
-