Year: 1872

|
tell my story, or rather hers. Two
years ago, through the desire of her
dying father, Alice Hcrndon became
James spenccr's wife. Before that she
was a healthy, blooming girl; immedia-
tely after this marriage she began to
fail. Do you see anything strange in
that?''


"Not necessarily"


"Let ME enlighten you further. DR..
Spencer was at enc time engaged to
Miss Lucille Melrose. but he broke the
engagement and married my mistress
instead. Miss Melrose was us poor as
Jobs turkey; Miss Herndon was an
heiress, and DR.. Spencer was deeply in
debt, and hard pressed by his creditors.
Do you see anything strange in that?''


perhaps. Go on"


"When my mistress married Spencer
she was only seventeen, and had been
taught to obey her father in everything.
She was gentle affectionate child,
and it would have been easy for Spen-
Ger to have won her love. But he did
not care for that. 1t was her money
he wanted. 1t paid his debts and
bought him fast horses; it set his table
with nice costly dishes, and put it in
his power to keep Miss Melrose robed
like a queen. And all this time my
mistress has been slowly but surely
sinking, and look you, DR.. Lockwood,
I believe she is not dying of disease,
but Of" she lowered her voice to
whisper as she spoke the word ''poison.'


"Impossible This is grave charge"


"Of poison given herr by he husband,
who, at her death, will have sole con-
troll of her property and be free to mar
ry Miss Melrose. There is no time to
explain to you in detail the thousand
and one circumstances which have led
me to the belief, for We are almost at
at the door. It is never the case that
Miss Melrose and Spencer are out at
the same time, or I should have called
another physician before; but tonight
they are called away by the death Of
Miss Melrcse's sister, and will not be
back until tomorrow. With the con-
sent of my mistress, l came fer you,
and oh DR.. Lockwood, I pray you
save my dear mistress. I nursed her
when her mother died and left her a
helpless infant; all though her innocent
youth she was like an own child to me;
and now to SEE her fading hour by hour
before my eys! Good heavens! if l
knew beyond doubt that he was guilty,
his life would pay the forfeit"


was already beginning to feel a
deep interest in Mrs. Spencer, although
| had never seen her, and like her old
nurse, l was inclined to feel a great
animosity for DR.. Spencer.


Mrs Spencer received me in her bed
chamber. It was on the second floor
and was furnished with exquisite ele-
gance.


Every thing in the room bespoke the
taste and delicacy of the occupant.
The warm air was fragrant with the
faint odor Of the hcliotrope; and glanc-
ing around | saw the purple blossoms
and green leaves in an alabaster case
on the ledge of the south window.
She was woman who, when once
seen, could never be forgotten. l have
met in my life many beautiful women,
but never one 50 lovely.


She was tall and straight, with a
purely oval face, liquid eyes, and a
dash of hectic in her cheeks, which is
never seen in perfect health.


She received me, as knew she re-
ceived everybody, gracefully, and
though there was a slight embarrass-
ment in her manner when I spoke of
her illness, she answered my profession
al inquiries without hesitation.


As to myself I laid aside all false
delicacy and questioned her plainly as
to her symptoms. Mrs. Hurd; her nurse
remained in the room, and added many
little important items Of information.
When she spoke of her husband it
was with a sort Of hopeless sadness,
which distressed me greatly.


Not breath Of suspicion against
him in her answer to my questions, and
l felt sure that at present she knew
nothing of what Mrs Hurl had such
serious apprchensions. I was glad
that it was 50, for, with her finely
strung organization, it might have pro-
duced serious results. / made my ex-
animation of the patient as closely as /
could, and drew my own conclusions.
l could have sworn that Mrs. Spencer
daily swallowed arsenic in small guam
titles, and the deadly drug was telling