"but I
overheard some things that were said that night, and I have been
thinking--and then I heard the other day (I don't know how true it is)
that Clemency and Doctor Elliot had had a falling out, and I didn't know
but--I didn't quite know what anybody thought, and I wanted you all to
know the truth. I didn't want any mistakes made to cause unhappiness."
She hesitated, her eyes upon Doctor Gordon grew more intense. "Maybe
_you_ think you gave her that dose of morphine that killed her," she
said steadily, "but you didn't. Doctor Elliot gave her water, and you
gave her mostly water. I had diluted the morphine, and you didn't know
it. I had made up my mind that she was going to have the morphine, but I
had made up my mind that nobody but me should have the responsibility of
it. I'm all alone in the world, and my conscience upheld me, and I felt
I'd rather take the blame, if there was to be any. I made up my mind to
wait till a certain time and then give it to her, and I did. I am the
one who gave her the morphine that killed her. I am going to leave Alton
for good. My trunk is down at the station. I came to tell you that I
gave her the morphine, and if I did wrong in helping God to shorten her
sufferings, I am the one to be punished, and I stand ready to bear the
punishment."

Gordon looked at her. He did not speak, but it was with his face as if a
mask of dreadful misery had dropped from it.

"Good-by!" said Mrs. Blair. She went out of the door, and the black tuft
on her bonnet barely grazed the lintel.

THE END

OTHER WORKS BY MARY E. WILKINS-FREEMAN

THE HUMBLE ROMANCE and Other Stories
Post 8vo. Cloth, $1.25

"A collection of stories of New England life as clearly cut as etchings,
marvellous in simplicity and finish."

JANE FIELD: A Novel
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"A tragedy told in a few words, moving with the unswerving directness of
a Greek play. The novel is lightened by a delicate love interest and
touches of homely humor."

THE NEW ENGLAND NUN AND OTHER STORIES
16mo. Cloth, $1.25

"Stories of New England village life, the best hitherto written by this
author, surpassing those contained in the collection entitled 'The
Humble Romance.'"

SILENCE AND OTHER STORIES
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"A book like this marks an epoch. It is more important than a change of
administration."--FROM AN ENGLISH REVIEW.

THE LOVE OF PARSON LORD AND OTHER STORIES
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