The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-06-28
ROMANTIC STORY.


tempted 10 murder sleeping woman by pouring
hot lead into her ear, and that so shocking a cir
cumstance neper heard of bGorc This is a
mistake. y moro remarkable instance occurred
some years ago in Virginia. We personally knew
all parties intimately, Col r, gentleman
of high respeclabity, representative Of this
county, died, leaving a wife some sons and very
beautiful daughter, about Is years of age. The
widow finding herself destitute, opened boarding
house at the county seat, and among her boardera
was Mr. w. wealthy merchant in the meridian
of life, and very fine looking man. The gentle
man was the prop and stay Of tho family, gave en-
ployment to tho sons, furnished mems TO educate
the daughter in the most fashionable manner, and
conceived for her violent passion. On her 70
turn from school, he addressed her, but she Tess
ted alike his appeals and the opportunities Of hor
mother and friends. She had indeed, formed an
attachment for very "nce yOung man" in the
same town but he no. to be put in competition
with the rich merchant, in the estimation Of the
! family. The young lady, perhaps, thought other
wise. Finally, however, after two years Of asst
DUTY and delicate galOntrv the part Of Mr w.
and tho combined tears, entreatea threats and per
secution of the family the fair girl stood before the
altar and became his wife. The next evening a
the dance Mr. w. being attacked with vertigo and
sick headache, compelled 10 Withdraw His
young wife hung over him in tho silent watches Of
the night, apparently in deep distress, and insisted
on giving him potion. She poured out a wine
glass fun oflaudanum and he swallowed it without
knowing its nature From some cause, itmmedi
ately acted an eme:Ic but left him stupid and
wandering. His senses reeled. One moment he
| a -.
borders of the spirit world, and then he would
shrek and leap convulslvelv, like n strong man
in his agony. Mrs. w. denied all admission in to
the chamber. At length he fell into a gentle Stun
ber She then stopped for moment over the
smo uldering embers-approacbed the bed gazed at
her sleeping husband, and holding heated ladle
in her hand calmly prepared TO pour n stream Of
melted lead into his Al that instant he NOV
ed and the Kissing liquid intended TO penetrate TO
and scald out Tho brain, and thus cause his death
without trace, fell upon his cheek. lilo shouted
in excruciating pain, and the jewellers, mother,
brothers and friends, rushed in. There writhed
the still stupid husband tho lead r;veted deep in
his cheek, and there stood the fend wife, her bTi
dal fllets yet upon her brow, tho instrument OF
death in her hand, and empty phial labelled
'Laudanum, lying on the floor. The fearful reali
fusion OF the moment she disappeared and was
buried forthwith out of tho common wealth TO y
distant State; on searching The old French
mag zine was found containing the death bed cor
fosson of woman who had murdered nine hus.
bands by pouring lead into their The lauda
mum and the lead, II ascertained, she had pro
cured from the store of MIR w a few days before
their marriage, and tho lade used was part of the
bridal present. The Grand Jury next morning
found bill against the fugitve,ond tho legislature
being in session, mmed lately decreed final and
absolute divorce. What renders this case the
more singular is that Miss T. was proverhial Tor
the blandness of her manner, and the uniform sol
ness of her temper She was blonde. The rose
! leaf tinted her lily cheek a sunbeam glows on
snow. Her tluc eyes were indoscrIbaby, beaulr
fully sweet, and her golden hair loa,ed like gossa
mer around a form more perfect and voluptuous
than ever Raphael dreamed of, or Petrach sung
Often have we gazed, as she stood cynosure of ev
cry circle, and wondered if angels could be 50
fair.
But the sequel of this romance is more singular
still. Yeas rolled by and Mr. w. continued n
wretched and solitary man. But the spell of the
enchantress was still upon his soul. lie closed
his stores-sold his lesiates-coIIected his ample
make her a new offer o f his hand She had just
| married man of high standing. aware of all the
circumstances but incapable ofressting her charms
Poor W.! Then indeed, did the iron enter his
soul. 'The deadly quvered IN his side. -
His early love-his huctuatng coLrtsnip-hs tri
umph and the tragedy il occasoned- the hight
the divorce-his years Of msery-,he new birth OF
his passion-and now its disappointment final and
forever--came rushing over him, like an avalanche,
in the tide of bitter memories, and he prayed ior
death! Whether this prayer was answered we
know not. lie may yet wander broken hearted
over the earth but thing we do know-if he
be dead, more wretcbed, yet purer and nobeI
spirit never winged its flight to Heaven.-"afehe-
! Free Trader.
| sSKUNK AND GoAT" The Honorable Mr. Ar
| mold of Tennessee called the Honorable Mr. Miller
of Ohio. a skunk and the Honorable Nlr Miller
in return calls the Honorable MIR Arnold goat -
/ Now the question is, which OF the honorable
| entlemen had the advantage of the other-which