Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

compelled to admit. patients have been
so numerous that l haven't had time to so
out to see her, except at hours when calling
at friends house was out of the ques-
tion."
DO you like the hennkers?' her mother
inquired, raising her eyes inquiringly to
Yes, I've found them very agreeable and
pleasant
III M" the old lady CALCULATED obviously
We'll, don't. l met Mrs Henniker once,
and l must say that l did not care for heI
in the least. Ethelwynn is very fond of
her, but to my mind she's fast, and not at
all a suitable companion for a girl of E:y
daughters disposition. 1t may be that l
have an old woman's prejudices living as
l do in the country always but somehow
l can never bring myself to like her"
Mrs. Mivart, like the majority of elderly
widows who have given up the annual visit
to London in the season. was a tribe behind
the times. More charming an old lady
could not be, yet in common with al! VINO
Vegetate in the depths of rural England
she was just tri1e narrow minded In
religion she found fault constantly with the
village parson, whom she declared was
guilty of ritualistic practices, and on the
subject of her daughters she bemoaned the
iatter-day emancipation of women, which
allowed them to go hther and thither at
their own free will Like all such mothers
she considered wealth necessary adjunct
to happiness, and 1t had been with her
heartiest approval that Mary had married
the unfortunate Couri enay, notwithstand-
ing the difference between the ages of bride
and bridegroom. In every particular the
old lady was typical specimen of the
squire's widow, as found in rural England
today
Scarcely had we seated ourselves and
had replied to her question when the door
opened and slim figure in deep black en-
tered and mechc nicaly took her chair She
crossed the room, looking straight before
her. and did not notice my presence until
she had seated herself face to face with me-
OF sudden her thin wan face lit up with
a smile Of recognition, and she cried:
Why, doctor! Where did you come from :?
No one told me you were here" and across
the table she stretched out her hand in
greeting.
Il thought you were reposing after. your
long walk this morning dear: so 1 did not
disturb YOU" her mother explained
But needless of the explanation she con-
tinued putting to me questions as to when
I had left town and the reason of my visit
there. To the latter 1 returned an evasiye
answer declaring that l had run down be-
cause / had heard that her mother was not
altogether well.
Eyes. that's true" she said Poor moth
er has been very queer of late She seems
so distracted, and worries quite unneces-
sarily over me. I wish you'd give her ad-
vice. Her state causes me considerable
anxiety"
VERY WELL" I said. feigning to laugh, IT
must diagnose the ailment, and see what
can be DONE
The soup had been served, and as I car
ried my spoon to my mouth examined fur
lively. My hostess had excused me from
dressing. but her daughter, neat in her wild
ow's collar and cuffs, sat prim and upright,
her eye, now and then raised to mine in
undisguised inquisitiveness.
She was tr'fte paier than heretofore but
her pallor was probably rendered the more
noticeable by the dead black she wore. Her
hands seemed thin. and her fingers toyed
nervously with her spoon in a manner
which betrayed concealed agitation. Out
wardly. however, I detected no extraord
nary signs OF either grief or anxiety. She
spoke calmly, it was true, in the tone of
one upon whom great calamity had fallen
but that was only natural. I did not ex-
pect to find her bright laughing and light
hearted, like her old self In Richmond Road
AS dinner proceeded l began to believe
| that with a fond mothers solictude for her
daughters welfare Mrs. Mivart had slightly
exaggerated Mary's symptoms. They GER
| In inconsolable grief. for she was neither
mopish nor artiticially gay As far as 7
could detect not even a single sigh ESCAPED
her.
She inquired Of Ethelwynn and of the
Hennikers. remarking that she had seen
nothing Of them for over three weeks, and
then when the servants had left the room
| she placed her elbows upon the table at the
| risk of breach of good manners, and rest
| ing her chin upon her hands. looked me full
in the face, saying:
Now. tell me the truth, doctor What
! has been discovered regarding my poor hus-
| bands death? Have the police obtained
any clue whatever TO the assassin"
| Monochrome whatever, I regret to say"
was my response.
They are useless-worse than useIess!''
she cried angrily. ''They blundered from
| the very first
| That's entirely my own opinion, dear. y
her mother said. Our police system now
adays Is a mere farce. The foreigners are
far ahead OF us. even In the detection of
\ crf0e. Surely the mystery Of your poor