The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-03
: The New Star

The astronomer senior assistant at
Kew observatory had lived for seven
years with his pretty. demure looking lit
tie wife i'm an old house at Chswick. The
old house semidetached. one OF two old
houses standing I'm ancient green and
fruitful gardens. with high walls, remark
able for the quality OF the plums and pears
that ripened against them. And next door
10 the astronomer lived Mrs. Kelsey "A
well-to-do widow, who, as her years de-
clined, took an increasing interest I'm the
doings OF her fellow creatures Mrs Kel-
seys domestic staf WIS not large. but
still sufficient, comprising a small but
bright eyed housemaid and a sharp fea-
tured housekeeper whose name was
Midgell.
Midgell, having sustained in carly youth
shock 10 the system, having been sc-
cidently shut In an oven by her male par
ent. an inebriated baker. and partially
done before her mother missed her. suf-
fered from a constitutional inability to
sleep; otherwise she was not remarkable.
except for the extreme fatness OF her
figure and the Sharpness of her nose
Mrs. Kelsey loved To dwell upon the diff
ferent attempt made by various medical
men 10 bring slumber 10 the unwilling
eyelids OF Midge.D Sedatives and mar
cotics had been administered. IL would ap-
pear. in quantities sufficient to render an
elephant drowsy. or send an entire regi-
ment To sleep. without having the least
effect upon the patient.
AS the possessor Of so determined an in
somnia, whose case had appeared i'm the
columns of AAfhe Lancet" MideeH ~as en--
titled To respect, and she asserted her
claim upon every occasion. 1t was her
unvarying custom 10 deliver 10 her mis-
brief but succinct report OF her exper-
fences during the previous night, and upon
oneprticular bright June morning tow
ard the close OF the 18th century she be-
gan. as she set down the tray on a table
by Mrs. kelsey's bed and wrapped a light
Shetland shawl around Mrs. kelsey's
shoulders:
"I heerd IL again just at daybreak,"
THAT mouse" said Mrs. Kelsey fun1b-
ling under the pillow for her spectacles
"Re mind me TO order a new trap al the
chambers when ! go out today"
II wasn't thinking Of no mouse!" said
Midgell. II meant the garden gate next
door"
"why. you silly thingl"-Mrs. Kelsey
ehipped her egg-"you've heard That gar
den gate click between o'clock and half
past lin the .<)rning for seven years. That
comes of no, being able TO sleep like or
dinary folks and OF living next door to
an astronomer. IL scarcely seems re-
spectacle or proper TO get your living by
sitting up all night with your eye at
the small end OF a telescope-when you're
a married man--but IT'S a government ap-
pointment. Midgell. and | hope you know
better than 10 run down the institutions
OF your country"
81 sin't running em down" said Mid
Gel. shortly II said l heerd the next
door gate click. and so l did. Twice I
hecrd it--once at o'clock in the morning
and again at g. Once at and again at
g."
Dear me. Midgelr' said Mrs. Kelsey.
buttering her toast, you must have been
dreaming
This put Midgell's back up. Dream
ing!" she said, with a snort "Why, /
haven't slept r. wink before half-past five
IN the morning for 25 year, and not al
ways then, the
"Well. well, my girl" demonstrated her
mistress. don't get put out for nothing!
Now I think OF It, Il was very natural
that the gate should click. Probably Mrs.
Baldock" (Baldock was the surname OF
the astronomer Il had -been-Mlth friends
TO the theatre or a party. and you heard
her letting herself In, that's ALL"
There's more than Mrs. Baldock would
be let in" said Midgell. with an awful
look. "if &c was known that she had let
ih h'iS'i az 'hdt b"'o "' " tioth every
night for the last three months. You
may open your eyes al me" she con-
tinued. addressing her mistress, whose
circular gaze betokened intense surprise
but it's the simple truth, There's
skeleton I'm that Poor Mr.. Baldock's cup
board ash walk out one day and strike
him as pale as 'arthstone on is own
Sarah Ann Midgell''-this form of in
vocation was OplV uScd Mrs l.
In moments of great intensity--"do you
mean to tell me that you believe his wife
is deceiving him?"
Midgelrs nod would have done credit TO
an opium eater. 81 do she said: and
after drawing long breath: 'She is and
as bin for three months on end. I've
never breathed my lips of IL I'LL now but
the murders ont at last"
Take away the tray; what you've told