The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-06-16
THE ALTERATION OF ANGELINA
BY MARY BOURcH1ER SANFORD


!. b. Lippincott Co..
and you'll feel a great deal better
presently"
Every WE'LL" she answered drowsily,
and permitted him to lead her to a
sofa. A lethargy was stealing over
her. She believed she was sinking
into the death-coma, but the thought
gave her no uneasiness. She had
ceased to be troubled or afraid.
It was the turn of her captor to be
seriously alarmed. He had expected
the drug to stoothe her, not to send
her into stupor. Her face grew
pinched, there was an ominous blue
ness about her lips. When he had
tried in vain to rouse her, he rushed
to the telephone and called up DR.. En-
sign, who replied, after hurried con-
ference. that he would be on hand in
a few minutes. Then, for safetys sake,
the young physician, Edward Mather.
summoned another medical man.
The three were working over the
patient, having agreed that the dose
was a moderate one, and that its un-
usual effect was due to a peculiar
nervous condition, when the bell rang
and Mather, believing the druggists
boy had arrived, went to the door. In
his agitation he had removed his coat
and run his fingers through his hair.
There was certain wildness in his
eyes, and the young woman who stood
in the hall gazed at him in astonish-
ment.
Excuse me-" he stammered. "She-
she's very i'll, and"
'Who is i'll, your mother?"
"No, Miss Haughton-Juliet."
ooh! OH" exclaimed the visitor. II
never thought to see your mothers
son in such condition Go-hide your
self-quickly-she is coming up the
stairs"
whats the trouble?" asked the
portly Mrs. Mather, putting for breath.
Mother" he whispered in an aside
which the visitor heard, "don't-don't
go into the parlor. Miss Haughton is
there, and-she's not herself at ALL"
Edward Mather!" exclaimed the
old lady, have you lost your senses?
Or-have you been Oh, l never
thought to see son of mine!"
"No, I've not been drinking. I'm as
sober as either of you-very sober in
deed. I mean what l say; Miss
Haughton is suffering from-from tenn
porary-aberration."
oil ~ o,,iod hn
indignant girl. But her tone suddenly
changed. Dear Mrs. Mather," she
said alphabetically, Il see how it is.
He has overstudied. and"
Edward, my son, my dear SOM"
said the old woman, her voice break
ing. "What-what has come to you?
This-this is Juliet Haughton."
Then there is another of her in the
parlor," answered Mather. "Come and
see for yourself"
They were met at the door by DR..
Bayne. "Her people will be here in
a few minutes, Mather. I telephoned
her father. She's conscious but much
excited; thinks you are mad and tried
to poison her. You'd better leave her
to U.S."
A violent ringing and clatter in the
street drew Mrs. Mather to the win
dow. Great Scott" cried her son,
there's an ambulance and police
patrol! Is it possible that Bridget
Eyes, 1t was me-" answered Bridget,
Joining the group. "Yiz'll have to ex-
cuse me, seeing l got that frustrated
wild a crazy woman dying O poison
Until the house, and run up Everything
in sight. Maybe I pulled the fire.
alarm, too, and the injines will be
along prisintly."
A great crowd had collected, through
which white-haired man, accom-
panied by three women, elbowed his
way. In very short time the elder
ly gentleman and his companions,
closely followed by policemen and am
bulance doctors, had mounted the
stairs and arrived at the Mather apart
ment.
"Where's the patient?" asked a
young doctor.
''The prisoner" said a policeman.
"Was it attempted suicide?"
Stand back, gentlemen" com.
manded DR.. Ensign, you will agitate
her. This way, madam,'-to Mrs.
Haughton,-"but calm yourself, for she
is in a very nervous state"
That's no daughter of mine!" ex.
claimed Mrs. Haughton. 81 never saw
the woman in my life before"
Neither did I, mother" said Miss
Juliet, who had stood in the back.
ground, awaiting developments.
I-think I must have got into the
wrong house." piped feeble voice
from the sofa, where Angelina lay,
pale and exhausted from the heroic
measures that had been employed for
her resuscitation. "The-the young
man addressed me as Miss Haughton,
| and l thought he was out of his mind
and humored him."
II only got home last night; knew
l ILL.,.