Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-06-25
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
The old LADY

The chemist glanced over the uu.
Clearly shee: OF paper. He wore gold
trimmed pince.nez, and reasonable ap.
proach to the manner Of a consulting
physician. Then he handed the paper
back to the shaky old lady in the
black veil.
we cant do It; and think you've
been told so before"
Yes; but that was the young man.
knew he hadn't your experience.
thought II saw you 1t would be all
right, and pay very good prices She
fumbled with the bag that held her
purse.
IT'S no good. ma am. That's not
doctors prescription
"oh yes. it is: and capital doctor
he is, too. In practice in-in the Coun.
try. And he told me"
You're only wasting your time and
mine. ma'am. No doctor in his senses
ever wrote a prescription like that.
Good morning, ma'am.'
There came look Of cunning under
the black veil, and note of cunning
in the husky voice. Anyhow. You
know, it's near enough to cover you
in case-in case ANYTHING happened.
That points been settled in court OF
law. Now. do just"
i've got reputation and I've got a
conscience" said the chemist severe
ly. and | don't want customers OF
your class at all. Kindly go away,
please, and don't come here again"
The old lady turned with some as.
sumption of dignity, and walked out
She wore good clothes. but she looked
untidy and unkempt. Her brougham
was waiting outside. The carriage
and harness were dirty. and the horse
looked half starved. The coachman
In dusty livery turned without taking
the trouble to hide knowing and dis
respectful grin. The air of downfall
was over the whole thing.
They have not got what require. 3"
said the old lady. You must drive to
some other shop"
The coachman. as well as her other
servants, knew all about il; it was
their favorite joke among themselves
They had easy places; the old lady let
everything so now. They kept up the
polite farce Of pretending not to know
in the old lady's presence; that was
part Of the joke.
The next chemist proved more oblig.
Ing, and the old lady came out with
neatly wrapped packet in her hand.
Home" she said.
She lay back on the cushions Of the
hrougham, painting with excitement. In
spite of laws and penalties. Of doctors
and nurses. of friends and relations. OF
her own ghostly better self she had
always been able to get II. She clasp.
ed her little bottle OF heaven-hell with
something like triumph. Friends and
relations had given her up now: the
wearying time Of brief reclamations.
OF terrible struggles. and Of black de.
spair, was over now. She had the
awful peace Of one who accepts, eyes
open, a deadly destiny
The carriage stopped at an old.fash.
Toned house in st. Johns Wood. It was
house with a grimy. high.walled gar.
den in front OF II. A covered way led
from the house door to the outer door
in the garden wall. The old lady had
some little time to wait before a some.
what slatternly servant answered the
bell.
Jane, said the old lady in the hall
would you please tell cook that I
shall not require luncheon today. |
am a little over-tired with my drive,
and have no appetite. ! am going to
rest in the library. Please see that !
am not disturbed. Not at home. OF
course. Perhaps ! will take cup Of
soup later but in that case will ring. q"
VERY good, ma 'am." said Jane, as
she shuffled back TO the kitchen. She
was quite clever at giving a contemp.
tuous tone to deferential words.
The old lady took of her out door
things, but she still retained the bag
when she came down into the library:
and In the bag was the little bottle Of
the obliging chemist and little leath.
er case. And now with a sure and Ger.
tain relief at hand she could afford
herself form of self.torture; il would