Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-11-09
DR.. Ranelagh's
Crime
By COLONEL PEENTlSS INGRAHAM
Copyright, 1905, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

THE little village of H, in north
western Massachusetts, had but
one physician, Dr. Henry Rane-
lagh. and it hardly needed him,
for the town was well-drained, the
people led natural lives, and, except In
rare cases, died of old age.
DR.. Henry, as he was usually called,
had never married, and in company
with his maiden sister Hetty occupied
the "Ranelagh place" a fine specimen
of colonial architecture. His practlce
left him plenty Of time on his hands,
and he had made good use OF 1t IN pur-
suing original investigations IN sew
eral lines of science.
His published papers on "Dipsomanla
Its Causes and Cures" had attracted
not little attention, and at the request
of the county authorities he had treat
ed a number of cases which had been
judicially 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
TODD farmer. The case was one OF IN
herited tendencies and proved to be a
most obstinate one What made 1t
particularly interesting to Ranelagh
was the fact that the malign potency
had lain dormant for two generations
Both Schuyler's father and grand
father had been men of most tractable
III, oy.oa orr
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.
DR.. Ranelagh had urged him to mar
nv, and his choice had fallen upon
Mary Kent. a 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 when
they would see Brant by her side on
the Sabbath morning.
Dr. Henry thought so too, and hence
was it that he gave start of disap-
polntment upon entering his office one
evening in October 10 find Mary wait
ing for him.
The day had been cold and cherries,
and it had been threatening rain. 1t
must be something serious that would
bring Mary over to see him on such an
evening Yes. Brant had been on a
three days drunk. and Mary's spirit
was sore oppressed.
ooh DR.. Henry" she sobbed, What
shall | do? Tomorrow will be Sun
day. l must get him home. You will
help me, won't you?"
Eyes, yes. Mary; of course WILL"
exclaimed Ranelagh in his bluff but
kindest tones. as he busted himself
taking off his coat and putting his
things away.
Then he faced about and for the first
time caught good look at that sweet
face upturned to him so pleadingly.
Mary was a far more than common
well-favored woman. but now her
grief. her despair. her tortured soul
impaired into her beauty beauty
that sent a strange thrill through
Ranelagh's body.
He trembled. and he thought he had
mastered it 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 so strangely soft and
pleasant to his touch.
For 90 years such wave of emotion
had not swept across his heart. He
realized that he was standing there too
LONG. stroking and petting that fair
head, and yet he could not break
away from the delicious spell it's soft
and silllen feel put upon him.
Mary herself took alarm. and half
rising and coloring deeply, she drew
back.
Then you will try to find Schuyler
for me, Doctor Henry?" she queried in
a voice shaking with a sudden and
new dread, for her woman's instinct
had told her what was going on IN
Ranelagh's soul.
Yes | will" almost gasped Rane-
1agh, and then, suddenly losing control
of himself. he threw his arms around
her and drew her towards him in an
embrace strong as steel and aglow with
passionate intensity.
Mary, oh, beautiful Mary" he
bluD<5d out, why do you cling to this
brute? Abandon him! l love youl 7
worship you! I'll be all the world to
you!"
With srnothered cry of rage Mary
tore herself out of Ranelagh's arms,
and then. with flashing eye, strove to
back away from him. But her feet
struck the edge of a heavy rug, and
ere Raneiagh could stretch out a hand
to prevent she fell heavily backward,
striking her head on the massive brass
fender encircling the hearth.
A low moan escaped her lips, but she
never moved.
My Godi have killed her!" whis-
pered Ranelagh. as he sprang forward
IN he