Year: 1872

Impossible This is agrave charge. Z"


"Of poison. given by her husband,
who, at her death. will have sole con-
troll nf 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 the door.
1t Is never the case that Miss Melrose
and Spencer are ont at the same time,
or should have called another physi-
clan before but tonight they are called
away by the death of Miss Melrose's sis
ter. and will not be back until to-mor-
row. With the consent of my mistress,
l came for you, and oh DR.. Lockwood.
pray you save my dear mistress. 1
nursed her when her mother died and
left her helpless infant all through
her innocent youth she was like an own
child to me and now to see her fading
hour by hour before my eyes Good
heavens if knew beyond doubt that
he was guilty, his life should pay the
forfeit"


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


Mrs. Spencer received me in her bed
chamber. 1t was on the second floor,
and was furnished with exquisite ele-
gance.


Everything in the room bespoke the
tIste and delicacy OF the occupant. The
warm air was fragrant with the faint
odor of heliotrope, and glancing 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. I have
met in my life many beautiful women,
but L never saw one so lovely.


She was tall and straight, with a pure
ly oval face, liquid-brown eyes, and a
dash Of hectic i'll her cheeks, which is
never seen in perfect health.


She received me, as know she did
everybody, gracefully, and though there
was slight embarrassment in her man
ner when 1 spoke of her illness, she an
swered my professional inquiries with
out hesitation.


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


Not a breath of suspicion against him
in her answers to my questions, and l
felt sure that at present she knew no
thing of what Mrs. Hurd had such seri-
Gus apprehensions. was glad that it
was SO, for, with her finely strung Or
ganization, it might have produced seri-
Gus results. l made my examination of
the patient as closely as I could, and
drew my own conclusions. could have
sworn that Mrs. Spencer daily swallow
ed arsenic in small quantities, and the
deadly drug was telling fearfully on a
constitution never very robust.


She said, answering my questions,
that she had no physician except her
husband. He had thought himself bet
ter acquainted with her case, and there
fore better qualified to treat it. Henev-
er left medicine with her to take he al
ways brought it fresh from his office and
administered it promptly.


There was little enough could do in
such case. Anxious to do everything.
the very circumstances of the affair left
ME nearly powerless.


A charge of such nature, of course,
could not make against DR.. Spencer
without the amplest proof. If limited
suspicion every one would at once set
it down to my professional prejudice
and if I could not substantiate my state
meuts the doctor could make me pay
dearly for such slander uttered against
him.


The only dependence seemel to be in
Mrs. Hurd. To her I upbosomed my
self freely. I told her without reserve
that believed DR.. Spencer was killing
his wife by slow poison, and besought
her to be constantly on the watch to save
the victim, and to discover some proof
by which we could fasten the guilt upon
him.


She smiled grimly and promised obed.
ience. gave her a powerful antidote
for the poison I suspected, and went
home perturbed and anxious in mind.
did not sleep that night, and all the next
day was in high fever of excitement.
A ring at the bell made me tremble, step
on the gravel outside my Office stopped
my breath, and 1 hardly knew what !
expected to hear, yet felt sure that be-
fore I slept should hear something.


And now I must tell the story as it
was told to me.