The weekly Columbian., 1857-05-16

as an instant reliet. Then, as the smoke
of that idea cleared off, the dagger and
the bowl came before me like plate
of pasty soup My stomach suggested. a
spoon in place ofa dagger. My fevered
imagination pictured the atmosphere full
Of .air-drawn daggers,' which | couldn't
clutch. | thought of that id spot
Mrs. Macbeth couldn't wash out, after
her husband, the tAane Of chowder had
once used it. wisely concluded not to
use that kind of cutlery on myself or Tom.
HEMP!-glorious thought so genteel
and cleanly. Home l rushed, and into
my room. and locked the door. / had
heard of 'hatcAess,' an extract of hemp
but that was only obtainable in the East.
The raw material was the only procura-
BILE thing the bed cord Tossing the
clothing of, commenced unroping the
bed. Shortly, all was ready, and the
rope adjusted. l stood on the bed. and
took the fearful leap I! i"
"You did? 7"
"Yes; but the rope was about three
yards too long. concluded / would
write few words to the perfidious Ara-
aninta and, hastily seizing pen, in
formed her these few lines were written
with a line around my neck"
"Tou might have added also, in state
of suspense"
ayes. l accused her Of being the
cause Of my untimely end"
"At the ropes end p
"Don't laugh; it came near being the
end of me. | concluded with the senti-
ment: In ceo1o requies'"
"Heavens
81 thought that would pierce her to
the SOUL | again prepared myself to
jump into eternity. Atthat moment, l
heard the gong sound for dinner"
"And reason resumed her throne-Eh,
Harry2"
"ShghtuaHy. l concluded to dine.
and dine well. and did. After dinner
/ felt quite differently; the good viands
and generous wine had wonderfully sooth-
ed my agitated mind. thought | would
think the matter over again before act
irg further"
at wouldn't have been healthy to have
taken such exercise as you proposed on a
full stomach. Besides, never knew a
person to commit suicide on full stom-
ach-it's only your haagry ones that be-
come desperate. Depend upon it. good
meal is sure cure for the blues"
"That's so"
"Well, what did you do when you re-
turned to your room?"
Took drink, laid down and thought
about it. Come to the conclusion it was
all owing to that. that cursed cigar Tom
Client was smoking. Cause and effect,
thought II will try it or die"
"Brave boy; and you stood the 'haz-
ard of the die p"
"'To do or not to do,' that's the ques-
ton. / rang the bell, and ordered up a
dozen, with fresh invoice of Mononga-
hela. They came, saw, and conquer
ed"
"Vene wider rices, as we used to say
at college,"
"Of course, that evening l called on
Araminta, having first, however, walked
beyond the house, with a lighted cigar
in my mouth. She bowed, smiled, and
beckoned me to her. Cause VS. effect, if
any doubt in my mind, it was now set
tied. Then, thought l, cigar is the tai
isman to woman's heart. I approach
ed her. Good evening, Mr.. Harris
Her voice never sounded more sweetly,
and she never looked more beautiful !;
her hair seemed to be shade darker. I
fancied it to be dark brown, as it hung
ia clustering ringlets around her marble
neck, that, swan-lke, supported her class
ic head"
STEADY, now, my boy; hold in your
horses Bit
"Well, that was the impression then.
She insisted on my remaining to tea
was too much overcove by her extreme
politeness, to refuse. We entered the
parlor, and she entranced me with music
and conversation. The tea was shortly
served. | escorted my charmer to the
table. She pressed upon me all the deli
cacies of the table; l partook of every
thing. The warm rooms and delicacies
preserved currants, peaches, jam, mar.
malade, and cetray, of which ! had par.
taken rather freely, began to affect me
Aramanta continually pressing some new
CONNECTIONS upon me of her ocn male
with, DO, Mr.. Harris, take some of this
You haven't tried this yet ] felt ex
tremely unwell. The cigar and whiskey
began to show its effects-I felt dizzy
and deathly sick. Araminta kept up he
fire, and boarded my plate with half
dozen gun-boats of more preserves of he,
oa1n naake-sbe seemed not to notice my
confusion, and chattered away!'
"CHArrERED r.
Yes her conversation now seemed