St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-12-05
p. Rane 81
Crime
y COLONEL PRENrlss INeRAHAn
0opyrlsht. ~, b Deiiy seorv Pun co,

y COLONEL PRENrlss lnsRAHAn
ecopyrlshs. ~. y DAILY story Pub. CO..
ME little village Of H in north
j western Massachusetts. had but
one physician. DR.. Henry Rane-
!agn, and 1t hardly needed him
aor the town was well-drained, the
people led natural lives, and, except In
rare cases. died OF old age.
". Henry. as he was usually called.
nad never married, and in company
Win MS maiden sister Hetty occupied
tne Ranelagh place." a fine specimen
OF colonial architecture. His practice
ieft MIN plenty CT time on his hands,
ana ne had made good use of it in pur-
suing original Investigations in sew
eral lines Of science.
his published papers on 'Dipsomania
It's Causes and Cures" had attracted
not little. attention. and at the request
q the county authorities he had treat
ca q number Of cases which had been
1udaclally adjudged to be those of
habitual drunkenness.
Among those who, feeling their
weakness, had voluntarily placed them
selves under DR.. Henry's treatment
was Schuyler Brant, the son of we'll
to-do farmer. The case was one of in
neFited tendencies and proved to be q
most obstinate one. What made 1t
particularly interesting to Ranelagh
was the fact that the malign potency
had lain dormant for two generations.
Both Schuy1er's father and grand
father had been men of most tractable
and self-contained characters.
When under the influence of liquor,
however. Brant invariably remained
harmless and good-natured, so the
people Of H rather pitied than CEN
sured him.
Or. Ranelagh had urged him to mar
~. and his choice had fallen upon
Mary Kent. most exemplary young
woman, as gentle and kindly as she
was fair to look upon. She knew what
she was taking upon herself when she
became Brant's wife and, though often
weary in body. and mind. she never
cried out In actual despair.
Mary will save him yeti" said the
good people Of H to themselves wher
they would see Brant by her side on
the Sabbath morning.
DIR. Henry thought so too, and hence
was It that he gave start Of disap-
pointment upon entering his Office one
evening In October to find Mary wait
ing for him.
The day had been cold and cheerless.
and It had been threatening rain. It
must be something serious that would
bring Mary over to see him on such an
evening. Yes. Brant had been on q
three days drunk. and Mary's spirit
was sore oppressed. $4
'sOh. DR.. Henry" she sobbed, What
shall do? Tomorrow will be Sum
day. | must get him home. You will
help me, won't you?"
Yes, yes. Mary; Of course VIM"
exclaimed Ranelagh In his bluff but
kindest tones. as he busted himself
taking on his coat and putting his
things away.
Then he faced about and for the first
time caught good look at that sweet
face npturned to him so pleadingly.
Mary was far more than common
well-favored woman, but now her
grief, her despair. her tortured soul
impaired into her beauty beauty
that sent q strange thrill through
Rane1agh's body.
He trembled, and he thought he had
mastered 1t as he approached the wife
Of Schuyler Brant and laid his hand
on her head and began to stroke her
hair.
..Don't cry, Mary, don't cry!" he
said. and he tried to say it in his old
time free and careless manner. But
the words stuck in his throat some
way. And then he tried to draw away
from her. but could NOT. Her thick.
wavy hair felt 30 strangely soft and
pleasant to his touch.
FOR 20 years such wave Of emotion
had not swept across his heart. He
realized that he was standing there too
Ions. stroking and petting that fair
head, and yet he could not break
away from the delicious spell its soft
and silken feel put upon him. 4
Mary herself took alarm. and half
rising and coloring deeply, she drew
back.
..Then you will try to find Schuyler
Tor me, Doctor Henry" she queried In
4 voice shaking with a sudden and
new dread, for her woman's instinct
had told her what was going on In
Raneiagh's soul.
eyes I will" almost gasped Rane-
lagh. and then. suddenly losing control
Il himself, he threw his arms around
her and drew her towards him in an
embrace strong as steel and aglow with
intensity.
.sMary. oh, beautiful Nary" he
mined out. .Why do you cling to this
brute. Abandon him! l love you! ]
worship you! I'll be all the world to
you!"
with 4 srnothered cry Of rage Mary
tore herself out of Ranelagh's arms.
and then. with flashing eye, strove to
rack away from him. But her feet
struck the edge Of heavy rug. and
ere Hane;agh could stretch out hand
"a nreyent she fell heavily backward.
.triking her head on the massive brass
yorAer encfrcling the hearth.
= low moan escaped her lips. but she
never moved.
envy God! I have killed herr" whis-