Anna Katharine Green

Hand and Ring Anna Katharine Green

Book Excerpt: ...strate woman and look in her face. "This woman is not dead.""What!" they both cried, bounding forward."See, she breathes," continued the former, pointing to her slowly laboring chest. "The villain, whoever he was, did not do his work well; she may be able to tell us something yet.""I do not think so," murmured Mr. Orcutt. "Such a blow as that must have destroyed her faculties, if not her life. It was of cruel force.""However that may be, she ought to be taken care of now," cried Mr. Ferris. "I wish Dr. Tredwell was here.""I will go for him," signified the other. But it was not necessary. Scarcely had the lawyer turned to execute this mission, when a sudden murmur was heard at the door, and a dozen or so citizens burst into the house, among them the very person named. Being coroner as well as physician, he at once assumed authority. The widow was carried into her room, which was on the same floor, and a brother practitioner sent for, who took his place at her head...