The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-05-31

up, and then sprang to my feet, Tor
the bright blue eyes of Mrs. Jolifte
were gazing at me.
"Ah," she said, coming forward, T
thought it likely that you would take
this short cut. That is well; | shall
be able to have little conversation
with you before We join the rest Of
| the visitors
"How do you do?' l said. Il am
| surprised to see you here"
II can easily account for my pres
ence," she answered; "but before /
say anything more want you to prom
Use that you will not tell anyone where
you last saw me-
Il will do as you wish" I replied.
"There is no reason Why should be-.
tray your secret
"That is we'll. You have promised
faithfully, remember. l am here as a
guest, and not a soul in the house
knows my previous history When l
knew you were coming here, l man.
aged to meet you first, so that | could
ask you to keep silent. You wonder
why I am here-I will tell you. My
daughter Laura Is to marry Lucian
Maxwell the day after tomorrow"
Like a flash a memory rose before
my mental vision. If there was one
subject on which Maxwell, in my
opinion, was a little overparticular, it
was on the dreaded topic of heredity.
Frequently he had assured me that far
rather would he remain single all his
life than bring disease into his family.
"You think l have trapped you,"
said Mrs. Joliffe, who was watching
my face intently. "Well, I meant to
do so. l hold you to your word-to
the bond of professional secrecy you
have given me-"
do you consider it right to keep
Maxwell in the dark" demanded.
Eyes, from my point of view," she
retorted. when / heard last night
that you were coming here, the chief
friend of the bridegroom, experienc.
ed a sensation of agony, which you
with your cool, well-balanced life,
could never understand"
"You can rest assured that l pity
you,' I said. ''But the promise you
have wrung from me, Mrs. Joliffe,
means injustice to my friend. ="
Nevertheless, I refuse to release
you from it," she said firmly. Il have
but one child, my only treasure. She
knows nothing whatever of the doom
which hangs over me. She is beauti.
full, lovable, worthy of the best that
life can offer her. I will not have her
happiness tempered with, no matter
what the cost may be-"
us your mania of slight charac.
ter?" asked hopefully.
"No," she answered sullenly. There
is no use in mincing matters. I am
at intervals pursued by the most hor-
rible, CHASTITY fear that l am being
poisoned. My mania rises to hatred,
and unless something is done to arrest
it's progress, l should think very little
of trying to take the life of the person
whom / fancy is conspiring against
me- Even at the present moment !
feel the sure approach of the terrible
| cloud which shuts away the sunshine
of my life. I am convinced, however,
that I shall be able to control myself
until Thursday morning, when l shall
return Immediately to Fairleigh SAM.
tarium."
"And your daughter knows nothing
OF this?" I queried.
"No, have been very careful. My
husband died soon after her birth, and
when Laura was five years old she
was taken from me and sent to school
We used to meet in the holidays, and
we always corresponded regularly
When with her l have had power to
restrain myself, and she suspects moth
ing. Your terrible theory of hereditJ
cannot be correct, for Laura is men
tally sound in every way. l have done
all that l could by placing her in the
healthiest environments. But if she is
the victim Of a cruel blow l cannot
answer for the consequences. She is
very fragile and physically delicate;
were you to tell what you know of me
to Mr.. Maxwell it would in all proba
bility render my daughter insane fol
life,"
/ I rose to my feet. "You place M
in a bad position" I said, "but l will
not 60 back on my word. I only hop,
I am not committing a crime in 81
doing"
| II trust you, and thank you," sh,
said. Here come Lucian and some o
his guests" She pointed down visit
through the wood, where the forms 0
several people were visible under tn
trees, and ran forward to meet them
i Il have been the first to greet Dr.
Halifax" she said, going straight vi
to Maxwell. My friend rushed fol
ward and shook hands with me.
Il cannot say how acceptable you
presence u.s." he exclaimed. az hav
much to tell you, but first Of all
. want to introduce you to Laura. w