Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-02-19
CHAPTER XVIII.

It seemed as if DR.. Peele had some
inkling in his mind OF the fact that the
evening visit of his young colleague
was of deeper import than usual. After
one glance at ArmathWaite's face he
turned his own away from the lamp
light, and began his accustomed Ques-
tons about the days work in a hur.
ried and nervous manner. In the
course Of his answers, the young man
did not fail to dwell particularly upon
his visit to the Blakes, his meeting
with Lady KildOnan at their door, and
to emphasize all such details as seem
ed to bear upon the mystery he was so
anxious to solve. When he came to
the end of his account there was a
pause, which the old doctor soon
broke by saying that he felt tired ana
sleepy, and that he would not detain
Frank if the latter had anything to do.
Armathwaite rose Immediately, quite
understanding that this was only an
excuse to get rid of him. and to avoid
his expected Importantly.
Thank you; then | wish you good
night, sir" he said, holding out his
hand. Can you tell me-" he added, as
the old doctors eyes met his own,
when / can have chance Of speak
ing to you about a matter which
troubles me very much, and about
which | want to ask your advice?"
DR.. PeeIe bent his head to listen to
this, and as the young man finished he
looked at him steadily, with an express
sion OF solemn apprehension, and
pointed to the chair from which
Armathwaite had risen, muttering, 1T
must come. AS well have it over
now"
Il am afraid l am going to open a
subject which distresses you, sir, y
Frank began, respectfully. But l
have come, as / think you foresaw that
| should do, to a point in my knOwl-
edge Of certain cases within your prac-
tice, when my remaining ignorance
becomes insupportable, and my mind
| is continually tortured and even dis
tracted in my work by the thought of
certain hideOus wrongs the object at
which l can only guess at. You re-
member the words you used to me
when | first came, concerning secrets
which | was to learn if | decided to
remain here. | do not wish to force
your confidence, sir; but l shall be
grateful to you if you will at least let
me tell you what [ have found out for
myself, and advise me as to my future
conduct in the matter"
q advise you" said the old man
solemnly and bitterly Il tell you
Armathwaite, It was my inability to
move in any direction in this matter
which broke me down, and made me
take refuge between these four walls
from evils l could not witness and
could not cure"
There was another long pause, the
younger man not attempting to speak
until Dr. Peele made sign that he
was ready to listen. Then, as simply
and succinctly as he could. Armath-
waite related the strange manner In
which he had been drawn aside on his
| journey, the revelations which had
! been conveyed to him so marvelously
on the night he passed at Ned eros
mont's house, Lady Kildonan's fever
| ish excitement during the interview
in which she had tried to persuade him
to prescribe change of air for her:
the incidents of the stolen money, and
of Alma Crosmont's so-called delu-
sions To all this DR.. Peele listened
in silence, except that when Frank
attempted to describe the means by
which he had heard the nocturnal
conversation between husband and
wife, he nodded and said: Yes, yes.
know, | know-tubes from room to
room-I thought they had been de
stroyed long ago. When the recital
was over, Armathwaite. who had made
no attempt to conceal the direction in
which his own sympathies tended
waited patiently for the comments OF
the elder man.