Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-02-11
DR.. Ranelagh's
Crime
By COLONEL RREETIss IEsRAHAM
lcopyrIght. lsas. BIZ Dale storr Pnb. ID.

one physician, DIR. 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 practice
left him plenty Of time on his hands.
and he had made good use Of II in pur-
suing original investigations in sew
eral lines of science.
His published papers on ''Dipsomania
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 adiudged to be those Of
habitual drunkenness.
Among those who. feeling their
weakness. had voluntarily placed them
selves under DIR. 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 II
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
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.
DR.. Ranelagh had urged him to mar
~. 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 win save him yeti" said the
good people OF H TO themselves wher
they would see Brant by her side on
the Sabbath morning.
DR.. Henry thought so too, and hence
was II that he gave a start Of disap-
pointment upon entering his Office one
evening in October to find Mary walt
ing for him.
The day had been cold and cherries.
and II had been threatening rain. II
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.
"Oh. DR.. Henry" she sobbed, What
shall do? Tomorrow win be Sum
day must get him home. You will
help me. won't your"
YES. yes. Mary; Of course VIM"
exclaimed Ranelagh in his blum but
| kindest tones. as he busted himself
taking of his coat and putting his
things away.
Then he faced about and for the first
time caught a 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
/ lUiUhIltU iHiO BtauNN a RNohA1
that sent strange thrill through
Ranelagh's body.
He trembled. and he thought he had
mastered II 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 cryi" he
said and he tried TO say II 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 20 years such a 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 its soft
and silken feel put upon him.
Mary herself took alarm. and half
rising and coloring deeply. she drew
back
Then you viii 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 I will" almost gasped Rane-
Iagh. 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
blurted out. why do you cling to this
brutes Abandon himl | love you
worship YOU III be all the world to
youi"
With a smothered cry OF rage Mary
/ tore herself out OF Ranelagh's arms.
and then. with flashing eve, stroye TO
back away from him. But her feet
struck the edge Of a heavy rug. and
ere Raneiagh could stretch out hand
to prevent she fell heavily backward.
striking her head on the massive brass