MY PATIENT.

CnAPTEK I.

Ont briUiant, sunshiny morning in the month of Juno, I chanced to be passmgSt. George's. Tlnnovcr square, that wondrously fashionable rhuroh wherein all who are united in the bonds of holy' matrimony are supposed to enjoy a lai-cr share of good fortune and happiness than falls to the lot of those whose vows have been uttered within less auspicious precincts. I was on my way to Brooke street, to visit a patient; for'l was a young doctor than, just struggling into a fair practice, with sufllciont prudence to postpone setting up a carriage until a little more firmly established; so I was on foot; and though not generally curious, when I perceived a crowd of persons clustering round the gates. I paused for an instant to gaze, with the rest, at the happy pair who, just as I reaehedjit, were issuing from its gloomy-looking pprtals. .The bridegroom I rapidly scanned, seeing in him a good-looking youug fellow of perhaps seven or eVht and twenty, with a stalwart, well-knit figure, which his clgpely fitting frock coat showed to the greatest advantage. His whole face shone with the most evident p/ido and happiness as he led his newly-made wife down to the well-appointed carriage which awaited them. The glistening white robe shone out in long graceful folds. The gossamer veil fell in soft cloud-like purenoss, and the glittering dia monds might havo been worth a kins; s ransom, for aught 1 knew. One glance at the adormngs was enough : they were forgotten when I beheld the face of the bride—a face lovelier, I thought, than any I had ever before seen. She was neither tall nor short, neither dark nor fair, but she was so beautiful that even in the crowd I heard moro than one expression of intenso admiration as she passed by leaning on her husband's rrm. A slight resti veness on the part of one of the horses caused her to pause just as she was about to enter the carriage, and perhaps it was duo to that circumstance that her features impressed themselves so firmly upon mv memory. The delicate oval face was slightly mlo and the perfect lips were drawn rather closely together In a scarlet curve,, ns if some effort had been made to retain her self possession during what I should fancy most women must find a some-what trying ordeal; but the violet, dark-fringed eyes were raised with wonderfully calmness as she stooa for a moment almost, surveying us with an inquiring expression in them as if marveling at the curiosity of the bystanders. Certainly she was fair to look upon, and as they drove off I could not help thinking him a fortunate man who could call so fair a flower his own. They wore most probably rich, too, as was evidenced by the dazzling diamonds, by the gay companions assembled to do Uiem honor, and by the string of handsome carriages. I hurried on, wishing them well, and won dering at the different lots in life—some so rich, so free from care, so favored by. fortuno; others so pooi% so worn by i-ordid anxieties, so pursued by misfortune. My meditations were interrupted by my arrival in Brooke street, after which my patient for a tune blotted out the recollection of the gay sceno and tho beautiful face of the bride. Nevertheless, I remembered it again ; and a few days after ward, when my eye caught an announcement in the jlfomi/wPosM read it, fancying, as the date corresponded that it must refer to the very wedding I had seen. It ran thus:. At St George's, Hanover square, on the 10th inst., by the Rev. Marton Wentworth. rector of Compton Verney, Northamptonshire. Montagu Meredith, Esq., of Monkwell Abbey, to Clarice, only child of the late John Delacour.' Clarice Meredith !It was a pretty name, I thought,; and then half smiling at my own ab surdity in taking such an interest in strangers, I finally, as I imagined, dismissed the subject from my mind CHAPTER 11. About six months after die foregoing cir cumstance-1 was myself married; and if my wife could not boast of perfect beauty, she was fair enough in my eyes; and a very happy home she made for me. My prospects were steadily improving; and my balance was so satisfactory that we felt justified iv moving into a more im posing house than the one which had hitherto been mine. So about two years passed by. I had been more than usually occupiedone gloomy day in November, when ihe densest of London fog 3 seemed bent upon penetrating even into the comfortable, bright little dcawing-room where my wife and I were seated, hoping most deroutly that no summons might arrive to take me out on such an evening—when suddenly the bell rang. A carriage had driven up to our door • and I was told that a lady wished to see me on particular business. I immediately "de scended to my consulting-room, on entering which I perceived a lady seated. Sho half roso at my entrance, but sank back with an air half an^uid, half graceful. Then she raised her veil: and I could scarcely repress an exclamation of surprise when, a3 she turned her face toward me I recognized, perhaps lovelier than ever, the bride I had seen at St. George's. Sho was ex quisitely dressed in the richest of black silk velvet, trimmed with sable. Her delicately gloved hands were resting upon the tiniest of llaltese dogs, which nestled upon the costly garments with the most perfect air of security and comfort. . . •'Mr Darrell J" she asked, in a sweet silvery voice, with a half-inquiring smile. I bowed my affirmative and she continued: " I must introduce myself to you. Dr. Darrell. I am Mr3 Meredith, and I have been advised to come to you—you attended a distant relative of mine—and I am anxious to have your opinion upon what is to me a matter of almost life or My professional eyes had meanwhile failed to di3cem any symptoms of illness in the beautiful, changeful face before me. But presently Mrs Meredith explained that it was not of her own health she wished to speak, but of her hus •'Has he been long ill?'I asked. " Yes," she replied, " I think I can almost fix the date when I first became anxious about him. We have been married nearly two years; but it was only lately that I began to grow uneasy. "And what are the sympioms?" I asked. "What Is supposed to be his complaint?' " Ah " said she, " that is just what we wish to discover: and I-oh, Doctor!" here she passed a very fragile pocket handkerchief slightly over her eyes—' I dare not say what I think. I want him to have the very best advice, every possible care, but " And again she paused. _'I hope you understand that this interview is in the striotest sense confidential f I assured her she might rely upon the utmost respect being paid to her confidence; and she C°" lHe lwag the best and kindest of husbands for some time. We were so happy—in fact there seemed not a shadow-till he got ill. I can t think what brought it on: but it seemed to changehim totally ; not to his friends merely, but to me, who loved him best. I tried to con ceal it, and I think did for some time; but latterly it has grown much worse—both mentally and physically. I am terribly anxious—some times terribly afraid.' ' ' .''.'. ' Has his family physician seen him r I asked, growing more and more interested in my fair 'No/ she replied. 'You can readily under stand that I shrank from anything like publicity as I dreaded what he might say was necessary, and my poor husband has a rooted dislike to him. I want you to see him—to come wholly unbiased, and, if necessary, to have a con- BUltation with whoever we may agree would be most likely to understand his case.' She had a habit of not finishing her sentences, leaving me to infer more perhaps than I ought. However, of course, I could form no medical opinion of the case until I had seen the patient, though my conclusions from her account pointed naturally toward one direction. She conversed with me for a short time longer, once or twice giving way to considerable emotion—not to be wondered at under such trying circumstances— for I gathered that she had no near relations to turn to;nor had Mr. Meredith, excepting a sister, who was married and with whom Mrs. Meredith had never been on vervcoridal terms. They were rich—l could see that-and no doubt had no lack of fashionable acqmintances. but perhaps none quite fitted to be a support and comfort to the anxious wife. She gave mo her card, with their town di rection—Grosvener Gardens ; and after pro mising to call at an early hour next day, she rolled off in an elegant carriage. It was quite a coincidence, after my having been so struck by her on her wedding day, that she should have come to me, and I felt more than a usual amount o£ curiosity and interest ■with regard to my new patient. I went to Grosvenor Gardens according to my promise and was ushered into a maguiflcent drawing room, furnished with the most lavish disregard of expense and adorned in every direction with exquisite flowers. There was an almost heavy fragrance in tho room; the tout ensemble wag both brilliant and striking. In an inner room, separated from the one into which I had been shown by heavy curtains, a gentlemen was seated. He threw aside his newspaper and in formed mo, with much courtesy, that his cousin would bo down directly. He was a slightly built, rather dark and, I thought, rather shifty eyes but good features, and dressed in the ex treme of fashion. His fingers were decorated with some handsome rings, and he wore a diamond pin in tho centre of a somewhat ex pansive neck scarf. , ' 'Mrs. Meredith is my cousin,' he explained. 'It was by my advice she applied.to you, Mr. •Darrell. We are seriously uneasy about Mr. Meredith. He does not seem to get better. In fact—' and here the jewelled fingers tapped his own forehead significantly;' it is a case of not *aU there, or I am much mistaken.' 'Let us hope you are, I replied; and at that moment the drawing-room door was softly iopened, and Mrs. Meredith herself, dressed in dark-Mue velvet, and looking wonderfully lovely came in. She greeted me with a mix ture of cordiality and nervousness, and went

through a form of introduction between ' her cousin, Mr. Henry Stretton, and Dr. Darrell, after which sho immediately proposed. that I should accompany her up stairs. _ The bedroom was a spacious one, but the light was so diml couldat iirstjust discern a canopied bed in the center of the room, shade! also by curtains, and the outline of a figure underneath the coverings. . ■ ... Mrs. Meredith approached the bed. and bent over it, murmuring, in a low but distinct voice: 1 Hero is Harry's doctor come to see you. lou will speak to him, won't you, Montagu?" Tho reply was inaudible ; and she continued : 'Ho won't hurt you. It is to do you good. Do, Montagu ' ' I am afraid it is almost too dark,' I inter rupted. ' If Mr. Meredith will allow me, I will let a little light in upon us.' • . 'He dislikes light,' sho answered. But I moved the curtain of the bed slightly, and dis cerned a wasted hand lying listlessly upon the coverlet; and on tho great square lace-trimmed pillow his head was to be seen, the face turned r< "want no doctors,' he uttered in a weary tone. 'Leave me in peace. lam dying, Leave me alone.' ,■■.', i -, Mrs. Meredith turned a hopeless look toward me • but I drew still nearer him, and cheerfully assured him that I did not intend to let Mm die if I could help it. A heavy sigh was the only response. But I interpreted it as a sort of permission to do my best (or him; so I laid my linger upon his pulse, which I found extremely feeble. Tho next point to which I directed my attention were his eyes. I asked him to look at me, aud immedi ately he turned them slowly with a strange expression that startled me. But I found the pupils of natural size. The sounds and action of the heart, which I next examined, wore normal. He was vorv thin, and evidently in a state of unnatural depression. ". '..■' 'How is your appetite, Mr. Moredith! I aS' Very indifferent,' replied his wife, promptly; 'in fact sometimes he won't eat at all. I made some other general inquiries with regard to his health, all of which Mrs. Meredith answered, tho patient himself remaining per ' I will give Mr. Meredith some medicine,' I said at last. 'My idea, however, is that perfect change and a little cheerful society would do more for him than anything else.' As I spoke, I looked toward the sick man. and observed that tho averted eyes \vero now filled with tears. I felt intensely sorry for him. ' He hates society.' said his wife. ' I wish he • We must hope he will like it by and by when he gets stronger. I will do my best for you, Mr. Meredith," I concluded as I took my leave; ' but you must help yourself too, \ou must cheer up-that's the great thing. I gently took his hand; but there was no responsivo movement, only another weary sigh. 'It is terrible', said Mrs. Meredith, when wo had returned to the drawingroom. now vacated by Mr. Stretton. ' This is one of his gloomy days: ho won't say a word. But it is less dreadful than his violent ones. What do you think of him. Doctor Darrell V 'It is impossible to form nn opinion until I have seen more of him,'l replied. _ ' I fear it is his mind.' said she; that is my terrible dread. Death is nothing to that. 'Has he any anxieties, Mrs- Meredith?' I asked. ' Do you know of any special trouble, which may account for this depression ? ■ Oh, no, none,' she answered readily, just the faintest tinge of colour rising on her fair cheek .—' none whatever,' .... ' This medicine which I think of giving to him is merely a soothing, safe kind of sedative. I shall know in a day or two better what course to follow. In tho meantime I should advise you to make the room more cheerful. Draw up the blinds; talk to him, and endeavour to interest him in the papers, or anything. Pray tell me, is there any insanity in his family,? She hesitated, paused, and then, in great agitation, admitted that there was. This, of course, made mo feel the case was fl very responsible one, and I resolved to study it most carefully. I gave the strictest orders as to his diet. He might have stimulants if he fancied them—in moderation. She said he was extremely temperate. And above all, I enjoined her not to leave him alone. Of course he had a valet; or one of the footmen could be in wait ing if she herself were compelled to absent her self. She agreed to all that; aud I promised to see him the next day.

CHAPTER 111.

I thought a good deal about my patient. A vague suspicion kept floating through mj; mind that there was some mystery about his illness, of a kind I must discover if I wanted to save his life. Her introduction of me ns ' Harry's doc tor' had evidently created an unfavourable im pression on the invalid. Could Harry and Mr. Stretton be one and the same personage 1 Doubtless so. Striving hard to dismiss a grow ing feeling of distrust in the beautiful Mrs. Meredith, I paid several visits, without, I must say, getting much beyond where I had been the first day. He was very ill; but there seemed no actual disease—mere prostration. Tho remedies I ordered had no visible effect—which surprised me, as I had lately prescribed a somewhat powerful drug. Mrs. Meredith was apparently always in close attendance upon him; and during my visits she invariably remained present, thereby, as I felt certain, exercising a silent control over her husband. I resolved to pay an evening visit without notice; and as the ease demanded attention, I felt no compunctions in driving up to Grosvenor Gardens about eight o'clock at night. ■ ' ■ . Mrs. Meredith was out; she had gone to the theatre with Mr. Stretton. Thero was an evi dent unwillingness on the part of the butler to allow me to see Mr. Meredith; but I took not the smallest notice, and walked quietly upstairs. To my astonishment, I heard the sounds of very unmusical laughter issuing from the dressing room which communicated with tho bedroom, but my patient's room was in total darkness. The fire was out and I had to grope my way to the dressing-room, and pushing open the door beheld two most forbidding-looking men regal ing themselves with supper and sundries, consisting of the contents of several suspicious looking bottles. ' Who are you ? I asked. ' Who are you V echoed one of them, evi dently moro than slightly elevated, 'I am Mr. Meredith's doctor," I replied stonily, 'and I shall know the meaning of this. What are you doing here? •Why,' he replied, in an insolent, half-tipsy tone,' we are a-lookin' arter tho gent in that 'ere apartment; wrong here, you know,' tapping his head; ' wery wiolent at times; takes Joe and mo all our time to sort him,' ' Have you been often here ? I asked. ' Every night as we are asked, am t wo, Joe ? And we does do it pleasant. Lady and gemman out, at the theaters and hopperers, and all that sort; plenty meat, plenty grog, good fire, no disturbance; go away morning, come back night again, and so on, etceterer. What has you got to say agin'it 1' I was utterly shockel by the speech and con duct of the men, hut thought it wiso to make no disturbance at that moment, and only asked for It was no wonder that my medicines failed to soothe the poor follow, if this was his usual fate. I found him cold and trembling; and upon my speaking kindly to him, he burst into a flood of hysterical tears. ' You mean well by me, don t you? he nervously inquired. ' Of course I do;' I answered, patting him as I might have soothed and patted an infant._ 'Then get me away from here,' said he. 'They are killing me. They say I'm mad, doctor; but lam sane as you are only weak—oh, ' I will do all I can for you,' I answered. ' But your wife would not injure youT ' Ah.' he cried in an agonised tone,' my wife! ' I will speak to her to-morrow," I said, and we will arrange Borne change for you. Do not be nervous. You are safe—perfectly safe. ' They are killing me/ he still repeated—' kill ing me.*' ■ I ■ ' , But for the shock I had got on discovering the hands into which his wife confided him. I should almost have been inclined to think, from the steady monotone ho kept up that his mind was affected. Under the circumstances, such custodians would havo made anyone feel queer, to say the least of it; and in the state of extreme weakness in which ho was, I could imagine nothing was too frightful for him to conjure up. He was reduced to the feebleness of an infant. I could not leave him to the half-intoxicated men, so I sent for the house-keeper and told her I would consider her responsible for Mr Mere dith's safety. I was certain Mrs Meredith would make other arrangements when she heard what I had to say. Meanwhile I desired the fire to bo re-lighted, and ordered some nourishment to bo immediately given to the invalid, and ex tracted a promise from tho woman, who seemed to bo trustworthy, not to leave Mr Meredith, at all events, until his wife returned. ---' I will, sir,' she promised; ' but I know it s just as much as my place is worth. Mr Stret ton's orders are that none of us comes near these ' And my orders are that you remain in them.' I felt she was friendly to her master, and I saw he looked relieved when I briefly detailed tho arrangements I had made, especially that I had ordered the two men down stairs, and that they were not to come up again that night. Just as I was preparing to leave I saw he wanted to say something tome. I approached the bed, and the thin hands clutched at my oat, dragging me down closely to his face. ' Writo to my sister.' ho whispered. ' They are killing me by inches.' ... 'Where is she? Who is Bhe?' I asked. •Where does she live?' ■ ' • _ 'Mrs Royston/ he whispered, Manor End, Surrey. Send for her.' : ' I will,' I said; 'rest assured I will.' and then he sank pack like ft weary but satisfied child.

Tho light of the gas, which fell now fully upon him showed mo his countenance better than I had'before seen it. Ho was unshaven, which gave him a grizzly look; the cheeks were pale and sunken, and the eyes hftd great hollow cir cles He was rapidly gro whig worse, and, what was moro, I had suddenly formed the suspicion that he was the victim of some kind of slow and S"l decTded' oifrequesting Mrs Mereditli to lot mo have a consultation with one of the first London physicians on the following day, aud also to insist upon her allowing me to engage a nurso for him in whose kindness and trustwor thiness I could place implicit confidence. I would not mince matters with her; I would do my duty to my patient. In the mcantimo I wrote to his sister as ho desired. CONCLUSION. I called at my usual time, perhaps a little earlier, on the following day, aud was received by Mrs Meredith in the large drawing-room in the most chilling way imaginable. I could scarcely recoguiso In the arrogant, insolent women before mo the soft, rather nervous Mrs Meredith who had hitherto received mo so graciously, and soemod to hang so anxiously upon my opinions respecting the invalid. "I heard you were here last night,' quoth sho. ' May I inquire for what reason V ' A most natural reason," I returned. ' I felt anxious about your husband, and nothing could havo been more fortunate for him than my visit.' 'That is quite a matter of opinion. Doctor Darrell. I was mysolf both surprised and dis pleased when I heard that you had actua'ly taken it upen yourself—had the presumption to give orders contrary to mine.' 'I think you must bo under a mistake, Mrs Meredith,' I said. ' I found my patient in such a condition, and in tho charge of such people, that I simply done -what I considered was right, and what you yourself would have approved of. I found Mr Meredith in a stato of nervous trcmour which was sufficient to inflict serious injury upon him in his weak and, I may say, un accountable condition. lam not sa'islied at all with the progress he has made, and I must request that you will allow mo to havo a con sultation with one of your leading physicians— you can choose, of courso, which you prefer— and also that Mr Moredith has a proper attend ant. The idea of his being entrusted to tho men I saw hero last night is not to he countenanced for one moment. It is enough to kill him. Has he had a good night t I should like to see him.' 'I do not choose that you should see him' again,' she answered. ' I consider that you havo very far exceeded your duty, and I must have a doctor who knows his place and keeps it. You do not suit me, Mr Darrell; and I shall discharge my obligations to you as soon as you send in your bill. Good morning ;' and sho glided oft" with a haughty gesture into tho inner drawing room, whore, ensconced in an easy chair, was her cousin. Mr Henry Stretton. Of course, after such a dismissal, I could not attempt to see Mr Meredith; but tho Veil was pretty offectuallly withdrawn from my eyes. I saw that my patient had only ono chanco for his life—that was through the prompt interference . of his sistor. Mrs Royston. Do what I liked I could not get tho idea out of my head that he was being secretly poisoned. Something must havo been administered to produce this overwhelming weakness, this childish sensibility. I could hardly believe that it was the same beaming stalwart young fellow I had seen leading his lovely young bride out of St. George's. I came to the resolution, there fore, that if Mrs. Uoyston was unable to get her brother removed from the house in which ho now lay, I should at once place tho matter before the matter before a magistrate. That same evening I had a telegram from Mrs. Royston, aud the next morning she came. I found her to be a most taking, kindly, sensible person ; and genuinely anxious and distressed about her brother. Her husband was an in valid, she said, and unable to accompany her; but sho had come at once, being all anxiety to hear what I had to communicate. 'I know it must be about my brother," sho continued, 'I havo written again and again to him but received no answer; and as I am not on good terms with his wifo, of course I could not go to see him." 'You ought to go now," I replied, 'and insist upon seeing him. Ho is very, very ill." And i then 1 proceeded to tell her of my evening visit, and of his entreaty that I should write to her. Here she burst into tears. I did not think it prudent, however, to say anything to her at this time as to tho suspicions of poisoning which I had begun to entertain. But I spoke to her of my subsequent dismissal by Mrs. Meredith. ' It is just what she would do.' said Mrs. Roj ston, struggling to regain her composure. ' She forced a quarrel upon me "directly sho was married, and has latterly quite succeeded in estranging my brother and myself. She was a Miss Delacour when he met her, and lived with an aunt, a Mrs. Stretton. Clarico was an orphan, and very poor. I heard she was cngiiged to Mrs. Stretton's son ; but when my brother came upon the scene sho threw young Stretton over and married him. Poor Montagu was perfectly infatuated about her; but I soon saw his marriage had not turned out happily." ' Has she handsome settlements ?' I asked. 'Oh, yes; two thousand a year as his widow. But 1 understand she has since got him to make another will leaving her everything ho is pos sessed of, unconditionally.' 'And this Mr. Strcttou whom I havo seen living at tho house—' ' Is tho son of her aunt. Mrs. Stretton, whom sho threw over for my brother. He was educated to follow your own profession,' sho added,' and was considered skillful and clever; but his vicious and unprincipled conduct formed an insuperable barrier to his success, and I believe ior the last year ho has hung about my brother's house, and of late, I am told, has quito taken up his abode there.' ' You are quite sure aboutJiis being a doctor V I said. ' Quite sure," was the reply. Here was the key to all, I thought. ' Well, Mrs Royston,' I said, 'if you will take my advise you will simply drive straight from here to Grosvenor Gardens and insist upon secina; your brother. If you are refused, I would advise you to consult your solicitor how to pro ceed ; only do not delay. Will you pardon mo if I ask you a question respecting your famly T ' Certainly,' said she. ' Anything you like,' ' Is there hereditary insanity on either side \V ' Insanity !' she exclaimed. ' No, certainly not. I never heard of a single member of our family on either side having such a thing.' I inwardly trembled still moro for Mr Mere dith ; but Mrs Uoyston was eager to »ot off to see him, and I was hardly less anxious to see her go, She returned late in tho afternoon to tell me she had gone straight there and that on asking for Mr Meredith thero had been a long parley and delay; finally the butler informed her that Mr Meredith was too unwell to see her. She said she must see him. He was her brother; and if it were only for a few minutes, sho in sisted on being admitted. But an order came down to say Mrs Meredith would not permit anyone to enter tho house. Sho then drove to Mr Meredith's own solicitor, who was unfortunately out of town; however, his partner received her, and listened with great kindness and attention to her story, while she referred him to me for the condition of her brother. ' AVhat can I do,' sho asked. ' Ho w can I insist upon seeing him ?' ' I fear you cannot insist, said he, unless you havo sufficient grounds to allego that something unfair is going on. You must be very careful: and remember that the wife is all powerful as regards the personal custody of her husband. I would recommond you to write to her,' he con tinued, ' aud request an interview.' Mrs Royston was terribly disappointed. Sho felt suro a letter would be of no use, but sho wrote it and sent it by a messenger, who was to wait for an answer. He returned, however, without a lino, Mrs Meredith's footman having coino down stairs with a (message to say that there was no answer required. ■ ' What am Ito do, Mr Darrell, she indignantly exclaimed. ' How can I rescue my brother! 'I wish I know,'l replied, boiling with indig nation at the whole affair. 'I will go back again, said she, and I will tell them that if I am not admitted to SCO my brother I will apply to a magistrate. It was late in tho afternoon now, and quite dark ■ but Mrs Royston was too anxious about Mr Moredith to think of herself. She had brought her maid with her, so under that pro tection I once more saw her off. She did not return until nearly 8 o'clock, and was shown, into my consulting room, looking tho very image of disappointment and despair. ' Oh, Mr Darrell,' she cried, ' I need not apolo gise for coming back to you. lam in such dis tress. I. telegraphed for my brother-in-law, Charles Royston, to come up at once to me. My brother has been taken away from Gros venor Gardens. They are all gone, and the ser vants declare they know nothing beyond the fact that tho invalid was removed this after noon—Mrs Mereditli and Mr Stretton leaving at a later hour. Whore can they have taken him to?' ■ ,'.,,. ' They havo taken him to a lunatic asylum. I said mentally. 'It will be safer for them if he dies there.' But I could not add to poor Mrs Royston's distress further than to urge upon her the necessity for immediate action. I was ready to come forward to prove the state he was in—the utter prostration, which ought to have precluded all attempts to move him; his anxiety to see his sister; and my own convic tion that he was not being fairly or properly 'He next day I had a long interview with Mr Charles Royston. Ho enlightened me still fur ther respecting Mrs Meredith and her cousin.; and taking everything into consideration, we came to the determination that something must bo done, and done quickly. . Of course I did not accompany them to their solicitors, but I heard his opinion was that they were unnecessarily anxious/ and he reminded Mrs Royston that, according to law, the wifo was not to be lightly interfered with.

However, circumstances favoured us. I hap pened to be driving past Grosvenor Gardens, when at a crossing I caught sight of the house keeper into whose hands I had intrusted Mr Meredith on the last occasion when. I had seen him. Quick as thought I pulled the check-string and jumped out. Perhaps she owed a grudge to Mrs Meredith; perhaps she had a feeling of pity for her unfortunate master; perhaps the half-sovereign I slipped into her hand nad a softening effect. I did not ca.ro so long as sho was softened. I came to my point pretty quickly. I wanted to know where her master

' Well, sir, there's no doubt where he is, though we servants are not supposed to know. He is at II ,' naming a private lunatic asylum. ' Poor gentleman ! wo nil said it was a shame ! But after you left, Mr. Stretton he went off and brings in two doctors: and the thing was settled soon enough. My mistress saw them first: and then they went upstairs to sec the master; and then Itobson and Jones—the two men you saw in the dressing-room—cot their orders to dress Mr. Meredith as well as .they could; and ho was driven away. They carried him into the carriage.' 'And did Mrs Meredith go with them V ' Oh, no, sir. She is off somewhere else. It was Itobson let out to mo where the master was going, and I'm sure I hope I won't get into trouble for telling you, sir. I hope it won't go ' You need not bo afraid,' I said. ' I will promise that Mrs. Royston will'hold you harm less. But. in the cause of humanity, you must give us all the assistance you can in order to release Mr. Meredith." ... J., . ' ' Release him, sir! We can t interfere. If his wife puts him in no one can take him out. Itobson told me that much.' ' I think Robson was wrong, I replied. But toll me your name; and also promise you will find out at once for me where Mrs. Meredith ' Forrest is my namo, sir—Mrs. Forrest. And I may as well tell yon where my mistress is. She went down to Brighton.' ' Well, good day to you for the present, Mrs. Forrest. Hero is my direction. But you will probably hear from mo shortly.' And I drove off, tingling all over with mingled anxiety and indignation. . As may bo surmised, I lost not a moment in communicating my information to Mr. Charles Roystou, who, happily for his sister-in-law and Mr. Meredith, was a man of energy and decision, as whII as prudent and far-seeing. Ho soon settled upon a course of action. It waa useless to go to the asylum and demand Mr. Meredith ; useless to apply to magistrates until another course had failed; and beyond all, it was useless to delay a day or an hour, when the sands of the unhappy patient's life were swiftly ebbing away. Accompanied by his solicitor lie went to Grosvenor Gardens, and there summoned all the- servants together and briefly stated his case. Like most evil-doers. Mrs. Meredith had be trayed herself; and at the first movement in favour of their master, the servants one after another gave testimony against her. Before he left the house, Mr. Royston had amply sufficient grounds for believing that he would succoed in getting the guardianship of Mr. Meredith taken out of her hands. The next morning ho started for Brighton, and surprised Mrs. Meredith, not altogether pleasurably. in the midst of a sump tuous breakfast, to winch she and Mr. Stretton were apparently doing ample justice, At first she treated Mr. Royston very much as she had treated mo, with arrogant insoleneo, in which Mr. Strotton supported her; but they found that their visitor meant business. He was very quiet and very cool, and kept to his point with steady persistence. He began by asking her upon what grounds she had prevented Mrs. Royston from seeing her brother; and Mrs. Meredith, who did not dream how much was known, replied defiantly: ' Simply because I do not choose that sho should see him.' ' And is it simply because you choose, that Montagu Meredith is now at H—, the sane inmate of a lunatic asylum? Now, we shall understand each other,' he continued. ' I have come here because I know everything—because I hold evidence that will take Mr. Meredith out of your power forever. Your servants have come forward—your secrets are known—and I hold a power over you both,' turning toward Mr. Stretton. who paled visibly. If he lives you have loss to fear. If he dies the law will decide. In the meantime, before I leave this room, you must give mo a written authority to withdraw Mr. Meredith from II , and to place him under the care of his sister. That is all I ask at And he got it. He came back in triumph, and I accompanied Mrs Royston and himself down to H—, where we found Mr Meredith still alive, and keenly conscious of his terrible and, what he had fancied, hopeless situation. He wept like a child in his sister's arms, clung to her in a tremulous manner, and besought her never to leave him. not to let him die there. She was deeply affected, but restrained herself nobly, while we settled matters with the doctor there, who had received the patient at the re quest of his wife, and on th ■ verdict of two medical men. These signatures being sufllcient to incarcerate the sanest, the asylum doctor was free from all hlamo in the matter, and Mr Mere dith had been subjected to no unkind treatment at his hands. But in his enfeebled state-to bo watched day and night by an attendant, treated as a lunatic, separated from all his friends, and feeling himself in an asylum, "was enough—more than enough to drive him into actual madness. Whether my suspicions relative to secret poisoning were correct or not. they were greatly strengthened and confirmed by the tidings that Mrs Meredith and her cousin had vanished, taking her jewel-case and a largo sum of money with them. They had been careful before leav ing Grosvonor Gardens to remove or destroy everything that might lead to detection on the score of poisoning, though my ufter acquaint ance with the patient and his symptoms was sufficient to convince me that his life had been assailed, and that in the subtlest way possibly, by poisons such as only one skilled in medicine could administer. Stretton, in my mind, was doubtless the accomplice of tho woman in this piece of villainy; but as the pair had by this timo both got clear off to the Continent, it was in vain to seek to bring them back, nor in truth did Mr Meredith desire it. After his release tho patient was taken to Manor End—there to strugglo back through a painful convalescence into health again. For months and months he wavered between life and death; but his naturally strong constitution asserted itself at last Ho recovered—never to bo quite the same man again, but strong enough to look forward to enjoying life once more. His first act was to free himself of all tie to his wife. And this, which to me might havo been other wise an unpleasant consequence of my inter ferenco between them, was rendered less un pleasant by the reflection that I had assisted in saving the husband's life, and prevented what might have resulted in a terrible crime on the part of his wife. Of the subsequent career of the guilty pair no intelligence hns overreached me.— Chambers' Journal.

Feelisg op the Market.—' Guess I won't- tako in the school to-day,' said a Carson urchin with an'Appeal'in his hand. Why not? 'Coucordia has fallen oil'locents, anal don't dare to show up until it picks up again, • What have the ftuctations of Concordia got to do with your studies ?' ' A Rood deal,' answered the boy. ' My teacher has 100 shares in the stock and when it falls off a few cents we all catch it heavy. I koop my eye on the list, and when there's a break you bet I don't go to school. I play sick. Golly 1 how she basted mo the time Mount Diablo busted down to2dol. When it was sollin' at 20 she got as good as pie. Iwas the first feller that got on to the break, and I told the boys of my class that if she didn't Bell there d bo the devil to pay. I heard Uncle Fraser say it was a good short, and I novor slept a wink for a week. I grabbed the ' Appeal' the first thing every mornmur, and when I sawher kneel down to 1G I skipped to the hills. Lord, how she did bane Johnny Dobson round that morning_!.l was in hopes that the blasted mine would pick UP, but the water got in the lower levels, and I knew we were in for it. She licked somebody for every dollar it dropped. A f ter it struck Bdol it picked up a little, and wo had time to get well. My mother's been patchin' my pants now ever sineo the big break in Sierra Nevada, and if the market don't take a turn pretty soon I m goin' to quit the public school and go to work at the Carson City Appeal. The Repression of Drinking in Hol land. The London Daily News' correspondent says •' The Second Chamber has adopted, by 60 against 11 votes, Clause 2 of the Abus of Drink Repression Bill, fixing tho number of licenses in communities above 80,000 at 1 for every 500 inhabitants;communities from 2<U>oo to 50,000, at 1 for 100 ; communities from 10,000 to 20,000. at 1 for 300: other communities, at 1 for 200 in habitants. By decree in special local circum stances the maximum number of licenses change for a fixed period.' 'Che Standard cor respondent says: ' Tho leadme features of tho proposed legislation include, first, the granting of licenses in proportion to population, and tho prevention of a disproportionate accumu lation of public-beer houses and bars upon any spot. The measure next prohibits the sale of spirits in the public-streets, or in those parts of towns inhabited exclusively by workmen. Ex isting houses, however, even where they are m excess, are permitted to remain open during the life of the present proprietors. The bill further provides that persons convicted of drunkenness in public places shall be punished by imprisonment. TALKED INTO SICKNESS—In a recent law case a witness testified that a lady really became Quito sick because a person constantly said to her, 'How pale you look! How sick you look I It ia a fact that generally when an invalid goes from a bedchamber to the air with the idea that he is not only well, but looks as if ho were well, a dozen thoughtless people will walk deliberately up to him and say, 'Why, what is the matter ? You look as if you ought to be in your bed.

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, SEPTEMBER 10,1881

3



WANTED KNOWN THAT H. WATT, GENERAL DEALER, Grey Street, lias always on hand a Large and Varied Stock of all kinds of Household Requisites at the) lowest Cash Prices. Now Selling Cheap, d7O Volumes o£ Assorted BOOKS. Good Salt Butter, 8d per lb. „ ~ by the keg, Gd per lb. D A V E V , . FASHIONABLE TAILOR, VULCAN LANE, AUCKLAND, Has a superior stock of the best Mosgiel, Clip ping, Boston, and other T weeds, Fancy Coatings and West of England Broad Cloths. Inspection and Trial invited. Fit Guaranteed. EM C X E O W N, Baker, Confectioner, akd Biscuit Baker, shipping grocer, etc. Imperial Bakery, Queen Street Wiiakk Town and Country Orders promptly attended to. MA DA M E BOTIENELLI, MILLINER, DRESS, AND MANTLE MAKER, begs to inform the public that she is now selling the ENTIRE STOCK at less than HALF the original PRICE. An early call will prove the fact. ■ 218, QUEEN STREET.1! LOOK H E R E~! Corrugated Tanks, cheap, and always on hand. It. TUDEHOPE, UPPER QUEEN STREET, AUCKLAND, Gasfltter, Plumber, Bellhangor, Coppersmith, and Zinc Worker. Hot, Cold, and Shower Baths. Gas Fittings ik every variety. Work Done in the best stylo. rr\ II E S T A It BAKER*. JAMES FERGUSON, Comer of Durham anil Chapel Street,?/ Bread and Small Goods Bakei?, ISP Orders promptly attended to. TES dn. gam ie r, . Manufacturing Jeweller, dealer in curios Albert Street (near Star Hotel), Auckland, All kinds of Curios—Ornamental Kauri Gum, Wholesale and Retail; Shells of every descrip tion mounted at moderate charges. An Early Trial is Respectfully Solicited Repairs of every description. On Parle Frangais. WS E R V I 0 E . (Near Mr. Lambourn's) KARANGAHAPE ROAD, In thanking the 'Wholesale Houses, Manufac turers, and Dressmakers for the patronage ho has received in Frillings and Killings, wishes to inform them that he now malccs Fancy Boxes, Orders for which will belpromptly attended to. 0 II N MAXWELL, SHIPPING & FAMILY BUTCHER, Drake Street, Freeman's Bay, Auckland. Poultry of all kinds dressed to order. Pickled Ox, and Sheep Tongues. Home-cured Bacon and Hums. Corned Beef on sale in kegs and tierces; quality guaranteed. Familes 'waited on for orders in city and suburbs. The best quality only kept. STREET MEAT DEPOT. ENOCH WOOD; Family Butcher. Moat delivered at Mount Albert, Epsom, Mount Eden, Carlton Grove, Lower Syuionds Street, Newton, and Eden Terrace. First-class quality; reasonable prices. Cash'customers liberally treated. iNsrEcnoN Invited.



Hit A F T 0 N, . Basket & Perambulator Maker, Junction o£ Queen and Grey Streets. Large Stock of Fancy Baskets always on Hand. Discount to Wholesale Dealers. T^RAPERY, MILLINERY, & LADIES, JL/AND CHILDREN'S UNDERCLOTHING. H. FOUNTAIN, Poxsoxby Road, is now offering "• tho above at lowest TOWX i>rices for cash, and respectfully solicits a continuance of tho patronago of his numerous customers. RH. HUGHES, . FAMILY GROCER & TEA DEALER, DRAPER, HOSIER, AND HABERDASHER, Junction of.U.nion and Wellington Streets. Goods of best.qualityat moderate pricos. A nice assortment of China and Earthenware always on hand. Families waited on for orders. Goods delivered, H& J. BIN STEAD, .WHOLESALE & RETAIL BUTCHERS Victoria Street West, Auckland. Families waited on for orders. Shipping sup ■ plied. Corned Beep in any Quantity. m HE. MEDICAL HALL, _l. QUEEN-STftEET JUNCTION. C. HENDERSON, Profrietok. PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMIST IMPORTER OF PURE DRUGS AND CHEMICALS, Honiosopathic Chemist for the People. LA U R I S HENRI X SEN, PRACTICAL WATCHMAKER, Victoria Street, Auckland, (Next door to the "Aurora Hotel.") Clocks, Watches and Jowelleryof every descrip tion always on hand. rp J ONE S, JL , Watchmaker and Jeweller, KARANG AHA P E ROAD (Next door to Mr. McPhorson's). Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery neatly repaired GLANVILLE & -OLLYETT : • I [T^E A DEALERS AND FAMILY GE 0 C E 11 S; lil, QUEEN STREET,: .Opposite the Union Bankl AUCKLAND. NEW SEASON'S TEAS, Highly tiecomsiekded.i