Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-06-07
VOL. I'll.

gained, it till one day he bethought
himself Of threatening to blow out his
brains fshe would not show him some
compassion. Moved at this proof of
the strength Of his passion, she burst
into tears, and pleaded that she was
not free-in short, she gave him to un-
ders.and that l was the obstacle TO bis
happiness. Berkenrode was too well
skilled in the art of seduction not to
see that he had gained point. He
ravcd, cursed me as the cause of his
misery, and tried to obtain promise
from her in case she should become a
widow. She stopped him peremiori-
ly; but ! never closed an eye that
night, Clotilda, though she did not
know watched her, was as uneasy as
myself. On the following day a cir
cumstance occurred that increased her
agitation. While at breakfast, mes
sage came from the cook asking to see
me alone. | desired him TO come in
las was not in the habit of interfering
in domestic afiairs) and communicate
his business in my wife's presence
When the man entered he was pale as
ghost, and scarcely seemed to know
what he was about. At last he told
me that he had received packet con-
tanning a small bottle, three hundred
guldens, and a note, in which he was
requested 10 put the cont%nts of the
former into the first herring pie he
should prepare for me. He was assur-
ed that he might do so without fear, as
the contents of the bottle were quite
harmless, and would give delicious
flavor to the pie. An additional re-
ward was promised if he complied
with the request and kept his own
counsel. The honest fellow, who was
much attached tc me said he was con-
WINGED there must be something wrong
in the affair, and should not be happy
till bottle and money were off his hands.
| poured few drops of the liquid on a
lump Of sugar, land gave it TO my wife's
lap-dog. 1t fell into commissions, and
died in few minutes. The case was
now plain; there had been an attempt
to poison me. Never shall forget
c lotilda's pale face as she threw her
self weeping into my arms Poison !!
A murderer she exclaimed, ciasping
me as if to shield me from danger;
Mcrciful Heaven, protect us both! ]
o&ne1lol hor xx,,lh tkn, Tint II
was thankful to my unknown enemy,
who was the means of showing me how
much she loved me. That day Berken-
rode came at the usual hour; but in
vain did take my seat in my hiding
place, he was not admitted. after
wards found that she had sent him a
letter, threatening if ever he came "a
gain that her husband should be inform
ed of all that had passed. He made
many attempts to soften her resolution
but to no purpose, and ayear after.
wards he married. No acquaintance
has ever existed between the families;
and now you know why my wife refus-
es her consent to our sons marriage
with Berkenrodc's daughter,
I" cannot blame her," said Van
Grote. "Who would have thought
that Berkenrode. soldier, and man
Of honor, could have been capable oil
such rascally dced?"
/" Ha! ha! hal" laughed Brounl1er;
"and do you really think it was the
general who sent the 2oisou2"
"Why, who else?"
"Myself. to be surel The whole was
my own continuance, and it cost me
three hundred guldens in a present to
my cook; hut it was mony well laid
out, for saved my wife, and got rid
of her troublesome lap-dog at the same
time
ado you know, Brounkcr, / think il
was rather shabby trick to leave Ber-
kenrode under such an imputation; and
now that your sons happiness depend:
on your wife's being undcceived-"
L" | am aware Of all that, but to un-
deceive her now is not so easy as
you think. How can ] expect her to
disbeieve a circumstance in which for
the last twenty years she kas put i'm
plicit faith"
He was interrupted by the entrance
Of Vrow Brounker. Her checks were
flushed, and she salutcd Van Grotc
rather stiffly.
"Whatl not at the ball, ClotildaP'
asked her husband.
.Noi I had n had headacb - sha ra.