Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-18

| CuTeQ.
What would be the result? Mr.. God.
dard would go away to some foreign
country, and after grieving over him
for n time Miss Stctson would yield
to the opportunities OF DR.. Squircs
and marry him. saw the climax of
the tragedy, which, after all, would
prove tragedy only to my master,
and it made me more faithful in my de-
votion to the unfortunate man. This
decided me to stay by him until the
time should come when my cxpecta-
tons would be fulfilled. Then I would
return to my old ways. Meanwhile
was leading an honest life and making
the money which spent
! l had become quite efficient In my
duties. and was trusted in many ways
that never fell to the lot of my pred
ecessor. I was more than butler-l
was my masters confidential secretary
in many respects. But there We're some
secrets that he would not reveal to me.
and one was the dread disease which
brought him so much care and sorrow.
After hearing the truth from DR..
Squres' own lips my attention was
drawn more closely to Mr.. Goddard $
appearance. ! watched his lang,Iid
manners his pale face and all the
symptoms Of disease that he showed
during his periodical fits of sickness.
More than this. read up all the me
ical books about leprosy and then
watched for the signs. To an excited
! imagination these were readily visi-
BILE.
About this time Miss Stetson and
the = 'octor took lunch at the house
again, and my attention was called to
the matter by an incident that greatly
affected all of us. | had not seen Miss
Stetson since that afternoon when
watched her from my hiding place at
the waySide brook. She was palcr
than usual and her manner was nerv-
GUS and excited especially when
| Charles was near her.
During the progress of the lunch
caught her studying the hands and
face of her host on every occn sion
when his eyes We're turned away from
her. l could not at first understan nd
the reason for this secret scrutiny. but
it suddenly dawned upon me that she.
too, had been reading on the subject
and was looking for symptoms Of the
disease.
The doctor, as usual. was the life of
the party and kept the conversation
flowing freely from one to the other.
never being at loss for words. Nev-
erthelcss there was an uneasine in
his manner which seemed very unnat-
ural. My master alone appeared to be
perfectly at his ease and formal
When the conversation Jagged a mo-
ment. he suddenly rubbed the back Of
one Of his hands with the palm Of the
other and said:
doctor. think | must have run ND
against some poison ivy or sumac in
the woods, for I'm sure that my hands
nnd face are poisoned"
VERY likely. very likely" the doc
hor replied quickly, but with a little
tremor in his voice. "There is a great
deal Of it around. and one Of your ma
ture would he very susceptible to it."
my hands and face itch terribly.
and blotches are breaking out on my
face and forehead" Mr.. Goddard con-
tinued
| looked Mt Miss Stetson. She was
staring at my master with horror writ
ten all over her face. The hand that
held her fork trembled so that she had
to put it down.
My master displayed his hands and
added:
"See these red spots on the back OF
my hand. Are they not the result OF
poison: And over my eyes and fore
head. They seem to be breaking out
all over"
Probably, Charles. l will invest
ate after lunch" the doctor said hur.
riedly, glancing toward Miss Stetson.
For the first time Mr.. Goddard turned
his eyes toward her. Feeling that she
was attracting attention, her over
wrought nerves could stand the stra in
no longer. She had been thinking as
habitat the brown spots were the
first and earliest symptoms Of leprosy.
We both knew just enough to be car
ried away by any symptoms that re-
scmbled those which indicate the be.
ginning of the dread disease.
Belle, what is the matter? Are you
liz"
Mr.. Goddard had hardly spoken these
words before she dropped her hands
and tainted. She would have fallen
to the floor had / not caught her in
time.
They deposited her on a couch and
rubbed her hands and molstened her
brow with water. She slowly recov-
cred consciousness.
You should not have mentioned be-
ing poisoned to her" the doctor said
admonishingly to my master "To one
of her sensitive disposition the mere
mention of a thing like that might
cause her to faint"
How careless and brutal OF me-"
my master said in tones Of repentance.
Then as she opened her eyes he knclt
down by her side and, drawing one of
her hands into his, said:
did l frighten you? l was brute
to do it. Look at me, Belle, and tell
me that you forgive me-"
For reply she turned her head away
from him with shudder and with
drew her hand from his clasp.
What is it, DEAR" he continued.
do not draw away so. Tell me what
1t is that have done. will do any