The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-02
The House Opposite
MISTER


not quite disinterested, and that he has
a very keen eye to her supposed bank ac-
count"
But May is such lovely girl
On, yes. L know all about that" inter-
rupted Mrs. Derwent, but in this case
les neaux yeux de la cassette' count for
no means of his own and a profession
which may keep him in gloves and cigar
cites. l hear that he is supported by his
mother and friends. Think of it. No. no,
could not bear her to marry that sort Of
man. But the child, for she is little more,
TOOK my refusal much to heart, fancied
nerself a martyr, no doubt. and grew so
pale and thin that / consulted the doctor
here about her. He suggested nervous pros
tration, due to too much excitement, and
wanted her TO take a rest cure. / am sure,
however, that that is all nonsense. May
was simply fretting herself sick; she want
my obduracy."
But what, them makes you so anxious
about her now?" inquired. Have any
new symptoms DEVELOPER
Yes, and, after glancing anxiously
about to see whether she could be over
heard, Mrs. Derwent continued in a lower
voice. You know that she started to go
TO Bar Harbor last Tuesday" l nodded
We'll, she seemed really looking forward
10 her visit, and when she left home was
very affectionate TO me, and more like her
old self than she had been for months.
But through some carelessness she missed
her connection in town, and, instead of re-
turning here, as she ought to have done,
spent two nights in our empty apartment
of all places, What possessed her to do
such thing cannot find out, and she is
at present so extremely excitable that / do
not dare to insist on an explanation. When
she did return here, on Thursday, she told
me at once about the murder and how she
was made to look at the body and to give
an account of herself. OF course, were
very much afraid that her name would get
into the papers and all the facts of her
escapade become known. Through some
hppn
but the shock of being brought into such
close contact with mysterious crime has
proved too much for the child's nerves.
and she is in such an overweight, hyster-
zeal condition that am seriously alarmed
about her. 1 wanted to send again for DR..
bertrand. He is not very brilliant, but
thought he might at least give her sooth-
ing draught. She wept bitterly, however,
at the bare idea-insisted that he only
made her more nervous. / then suggested
sending for our New York physician, but
she became quite violent. Really 1 could
hardly recognize May, she was so-so-im-
possible: OF course. she is ~, and now
fear seriously So"
Mrs. Derwent paused to wipe her eyes.
When you say that she is violent and
impossible what do you mean, exactly?"
she has been behaving, Fred. but here is
an instance that may show how extraordi-
nary her conduct has been. Her room is
town she has shut herself up there quite
early every evening. l know she doesn't
sleep much, for 1 hear her moving about
all night long. When / have gone to her
door, however and asked her what was
the matter she has answered me quite curt
ly and refused to let me in. She has not
been out of the house since she came back.
but, strangely enough, / have caught her
again and again peering through the blinds
OF those rooms that have a view of the
road, just as IL she were watching for
somebody. As soon as she sees that she is
observed she frowns and moves away. Last
night slept very heavily, being complete
ly worn out by all this anxiety, and was
suddenly awakened by piercing shrek. l
rushed into Mays room and found her sit
ting up In bed talking violently, while about
her all the lights were blazing. Take him
away! Take him away! she kept repeat
ing, and then she walled: oh, he's dead,
he's deadp / saw at once that she was
asleep and tried to rouse her, but Ii was
some time before / succeeded in doing so.
told her she had been dreaming, but she
showed no curiosity as TO what she might
have been saying, only evincing a strong
desire to be left alone. AS 1 was leaving
the room / noticed that the key hole had
been carefully. stopped up. / suppose she
did that so as to prevent my knowing that
she kept her lights burning all night But
why make secret OF it? That is what
can't understand She has had a shock,
and it has probably made her afraid of the
dark, which she has never been before, and,
perhaps. she looks upon 1t as a weakness
thing occurred this morning. May has late
ly been breakfasting in bed, but, as Ill luck
would have It, to-day she got down stairs
before did. and was already looking over
the newspaper when / came into the room.
Suddenly she started UP, her eyes wild with
terror, and then, with a low cry, fell faint
ing to the floor.
Scratching up the paper to see what
could have caused her such agitation. / was
Mortified to read that the man who was
found murdered In our apartment house
wood. Imagine my feelings. AS soon as
she had recovered sufficiently to be ques-
toned L begged her to confide In me-her
mother. But she assured me that she had
told me everything, and that the man who
had been killed was perfect stranger to
her and not Mr.. Greenwood. She insists
that the two do not even look very much
alike, as the deceased is much larger.
coarser and darker than the young artist.
1t was, of course, the greatest relief to
know this. Had Greenwood really been at
there 1 should always have believed that
they had met by appointment. Yes
should; 1 know 1 should she repeated, as
1 shook my head in dissent
when L was ready to go to church was
astonished to find May waiting for me in
the hall. She was perfectly composed, but
crimson spot burned in either cheek and
her eyes were unnaturally bright. 1 no.
ticed also that she had taken great pains
with her appearance, and had put on one
of her prettiest dresses. / could not ac-
count in any way for the change in her be-
havior. AS we neared the village she al
most took my breath away by begging me
to telegraph to Mr.. Norman to ask him to
come and stay with us. Telegraph him
now? l exclaimed. Yes she replied; 4
would like to see him. If we telegraph inn
mediately he could get here by 5 o'clock
But why this hurry asked. She flushed
angrily and kept repeating: L want to see
him. But, my child l demonstrated Il
don't even know where Mr.. Norman is. He
certainly Is not in town at this time Of the
year Telegraph to his town address, any
how, and if he isn't there IL doesn't matter
she urged. But, May, what is the meaning
of this change? The last time he came
down here you wouldn't even see him. Do
you now mean to encourage him.? No,
no. she asserted. Then i shall certainly
said. If You don't / will. she insisted
We were now opposite the postoffice. She
stopped, and / saw that she was trembling
and that her eyes were full of tears. MY
darling begged her. tell me the meaning
of all this Il wish to see Mr.. Norman.
is all she would say. Now, / suppose you
will think me very weak, but / sent that
telegram. Fred, tell me. do you think the
child is going insane? and the poor mother
burst into tears.
Dear, dear lady. am sure you are un-
necessarily alarmed. If could see May I
could judge better"
Yes yes" she interrupted eagerly
that is what / wish. / thought if you
came to the house as a visitor you could
give me your professional opinion about
May without her knowing anything about
it. The difficulty is, how can you get TO us
with your poor Lego"
hobble about now on crutches, and with a
little help can get in and out of a carriage.
so 1 will drive over to you Immediately
after lunch"