The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-01-23
The Herring Pie, or cure for Jealousy,
TALE oF AMSTERDAM.

oeN '"Ns"S ~ 80 - 1
complscency; his intimate friend, Van
Grote, employed in exactly tho same man
ner, occupied The opposite corner. All was
quiet in the house; for BrOnker's vile AMI
children had gone TO a masked ball; and
secure rom fear Of interruption, the Two
friends INDUCED in conversation.
IL cannot think ;" said Van Grote, "why
you should refuse your consent to the mar
rage. Berkenrode can give his daughter a
good TO tune, and you may say tina, your
son is desperately in love with her"
Il doa't object To IT," said Bronker.-
1T is my wife who will not hear Of it,
"And what reason has she for refusing ~
Zone which canno, tell YOU" said his
friend, sinking his voice.
"Oh! a mystery! Come on, with it,
You know have always been frank and
open with you, even giving you my opinion
Of your aesurd jealousy Of your wife"
Jealousy ofmy wife, Nonsense! Have
! not Just sent her TO masked BALI"
Il don't wonder you boast oft. Ishould
like to have seen you do Us much when you
were FIRST married. To be sure, you had
reasons to look sharply after her, for she
was the ptet,iest woman in Amsterdam.
Unfortunately she has become the better
horse, and you refuse an advantageous
match for your son, TO crafty her caPrice !"
you are wrong, my fiend. | never
allow any one to be master here but myself;
and in the present instance | cannot blame
Clotilda The secre, Of her refusal lies IN
herring pie"
"A herring piol exclaimed Van Grote.
"Yes, herring pie. You may Temem-
Der it was a iavorite dainty OF mine, and
that my wife could not endure even the
smell oft. Well, during the first year OF
my marriage, was liltle-a very little
jealous Of Clolilda. My situation obliged
me to keep open house, aud among the
young sparks who visited Us, none gave me
such uneasiness as the handsome Col. Berk-
enrode. The reputation that he had alIeaiy
acquitted for gallantry, was enoughlo create
alarm, and the marked attention he paid
my wife convinced me it was well founded.
What could DO : II was impossible to for
bid him The house, foT be had il in his pow
or TO deprive me Of the Government con-
tracts; in other words, to ruin me.
After bordering deeply upon the subject
decided on doing nothing until the danger
should become immiGcnt; all that was
necessary was TO know how things really
stood. Having just purchased this house,
caused secret closet to be made behind
the stove here 1t communicates with my
private loom, anu from 1t could OyerheaT
every thing that passed ia this apartment
without risk Of being discovered Thank
God have had no use for il The last twenty
years, and indeed DO not even know what
has become of the key. Satisfied with this
precautiOn. lid not hesitate to leave ClO-
,ilda when any Que Of her admirers paid her
avisit, though | promise you some Of the
gallant speeches made me vince.
upon my woId," interrupted his friend,
''you showed most commendable patience.
In your place should have delighted my self
with 6rbdding my wife 20 receive his
visits"
Thus spoke the bachelor. AS | didn't
want to drive her heailong into his arms,
wen, different, way 10 woIk. Day after
day was forced to listen TO The insidiOus
arguments OF the seducer. My wife, |
must own, made stout defense, a, one
time tried to rIdiculc, at another entTeaty,
to deter him from the pursuit Of her.
He began TO lose hope in The proportion
as gained il, TIL one day he bethOusht him
self Of threatening to blow out his brains IL
she 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 no, free--in short, she gave
him 10 understand that was the obstacle
other happiness. BeIkenrodO was too well
skilled ia the al, OF seduction not TO see
that he had gained point. lie raved,
cursed me Us the cause Of his misery, and
tried TO obtain promise from her ia case
she should become a widow. She stopped
him peremplorily; but never closed an
eye that night, and Clolilda, though she
did not know watched her, was as uneasy
as myself.
On the following day a circumstance &C.
CARED tina, increased her agitation. While
ut bIeat fast a message cIme from the cook
asking to see me alone. desired him to
come in [aS was not in the habit Of inter.
fering with domestic affairs aud commu-
nicate his business in my wife, p.esence
When the man entered he was a. pale as a
ghost, and scarcely seemed to know what
he was about. Al last he told me he had
received a packet containing small bottle,
three hundred guilders, anil note, in
which he was requested to put the contents
Of the iOrmrriuio The frst herring pie he
should prepare Tor me. He was assured he
might 10 so without tear, as the contents OF
the bottle were quite harmless, and would
give delicious flavor TO the pie. An add.
iiOnal reward was promised If he complied
with the request aud KEEP, his own counsel.
The honest fellow, who was much attached
to me, sail he was convinced there must
be 50 n:ihing wrong in the altar, and should
not be happy till the bottle and money were
out hi hands lpourei a few drops Of
the liquid on lump Of sugar, and gave il
TO my wile's lap dog. |, FELL into cOnyul-
siOns, and died in few minutes.
Tho case was now plain-lhere had been
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