Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-10-02
CHAPTER xv.-(Continued.)

Kline | take that potion; why does a con-
Stunning fire leap up within me every time
ease beverage passes my lips? What does
p mean? Can it be poison ALAS poor
Siaire, it is poison. My life is an OBJ
stacle in the path of Lucian's happiness.
hhIess | die, shall upset their projects,
Eheir plans for the future. And it is he
5e~-Lucian--oh, no, no, no! l will not
BIS he capable of soiling his soul with
Believe it! He no longer loves me; he
bAates me, longs for my death--and yet,
crime mpossible!-still, the fact re-
nnalrs; there is poison in that potion"
Her lips compressed into a rigid line
Ias she concluded. Gresham strobe into
ei,c shadow Of the beeches and paused be-
side her chair
Ibid you send for me?" he asked in
psis breezy way.
Yes" she answered, compelling her
4self to glance up at him with her accus-
Homed calmncss. Doctor, how do you
and me this morning."
Stronger and better than you were
yesterday; altogether u different woman
Fso what you were week ago.
Perhaps it is my imagination" she
nnnrmured; then added, quickly, looking
tup with forced smile, "if | am trou-
Isied by vaporings, it is your duty ms my
physician to divert my mind. You prom
Esed to teach me something of botany
rHhen we got into the country--have you
EorGotteni'
Not IT, returned Gresham good nat
nredIy
''Then. too it would be useful to me
To know something of chemistry Natur-
ally in our study Of botany we shall
encet with poisons----"
And you should know how to combat
with them,' rejoined the doctor, falling
snnoccnty into the clever trap while he
Fought only to humor her.
Yes, and how to decompose them"
continued Claire; "for instance, | am
Akely TO meet with the poisonous ivy
do you know of an antidotc against its
power"
Little dreaming what he did, Gresham
shrust his hand into his inner pocket
drew forth case, and from it took a
small phial of colorlcss liquid.
There is substance" he said, plac
Eng The phial in Claire's hand as she
rose to receive it, (which is not exactly
an antidote, but which will serve to
amUse you by detecting inherent poison
IN any plant we may discover If leaf.
hlos som or decoction Of the same should
Dc noxous, n single drop of this fluid
will produce startling change"
Standing erect beside the little table
Claire watched him rs he crossed the
sunny lawn, saw him pass between the
Tcii of vines that screened the piazza :;
silcu she bent her gaze upon the glitteriuG
phial in her hand.
AT last | shall know" she breathed
and straightway fell to trembling until
she was forced to catch Mt the back of
her chair to prevent her from falling.
~Oh. how my heart BEATS" she painted
IL scarcely dare subject myself to the
xcst, and yet | must-must know the
sruthn'
With these words she uncorked the
nhial and held it above the potion which
was destined for ncr.
IF there is poison here" she faltcred,
"a single drop of this liquid will alter
che appearance of the contents of the
glass How my hand trembles! all, sense
less fluid, it is upon thee that all my
happiness. my life depends"
An involuntary spasm rent her frame,
dsIodging single drop of the fluid; it
Fr'l. meeting the surface Of the potiJa
and slowly sank sank. sank to the bot
som of the glass drawing in it's wake Il
milky trail that told the baleful story.
Gut of the nerveless fingers, down upon
she grasses fell the phial, while from
Ger blauched lips escaped the words with
sirideut horror.
Yes, it is poison, poison, Oh, he seeks
any DEATH
She tottered faintly to the chair and
sauk iuSo its depths, covering her eyes
xrCm the light of day with her hands.
She failed to note the approach of hur,
ryins footsteps, she scarcely needed tho
xoice Of Lucian Courtlandt when he
rcaChed her side, eNclaiming:
"Ciare--in tears! what is the mat
ser2 You do not answer!" cried Court
s,ud: Claire, speak. are you ill?'
No. ann not i'll, DO You not know
she faltered, that invalids have mo-
ueents Of weakness that they are power
beSs to controlI'
"But Of what were YOU thinking.
Claire
II was thinking of the epoch Of our
aarriage. of the time when | was chos-
sn to csuntenance your child. / was
Shaking how unfortunate it is that my
very existence should be a wrong to an
otkcr."
II conjure YOU" he duplicated, ban
fsh this horrible thought. all the world
Seseeches you to live. Claire, think only
IF your welfare
In order TO do that. must follow the
DEBTORS directions, must | not?" she ask
81 bending n glance of fire upon his
bowed head,
"of course you mustw he replied.
And must | take that potion, which
aas becn--prepared for me-
Certainly you must. my darling"
Plying heaven, how she misjudgcd
aiya them
'.fhcn hand me it with your own
sands" she said firmly: and as he rose
and passed her tke deadly draught. she
nurmured hrokenly. Il SIN so young. Luz
.,,aa-and OH should so liked TO have
"a.