The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-12-02


seated in our box when party entered
a box opposite. The blood rushed bach
to my heart, and my pulse stood still al
| recognized Ernest, my Ernest, my hus
band, and leaning upon his arm one O.
the most beautiful young creatures my
eyes ever behcld. This was my first i'm
preston, for there quickly followed SO
deadly and jealous hatred as made heI
look positively ugly. | quickly drew
down my veil that my husband might not
discover me, and from my concealment
watched thew with glaring eyes. heard
nothing, saw nothing else; aud once when
rallied by my companions. replied that
| was not well, and begged to be left by
myself.
"Then with the ferceness of tiger
fearful of losing bis prey, turned my
eyes towards my husband, and his guilty
'paramour.' She seemed to be enjoying
the performance intensely, but he seemed
to see nothing but her. His head was
bowed towards her, and she would occa.
sionally lift her eyes to his face. Then
saw bin smile Gust as be had smiled u
/ pom me a thousand times, while be bent
still lower over her with renewed 6evo-
/ ton.
Each movement was like a red hot
dagger piercing my heart. | knew not
what demon possessed me; | think must
have heen mad when | vowed terrible
revenge. 'Twere better, reasoned, that
he should die while yet there existed
in his heart a spark Of love for me, than
to see him little by little drawn away by
the syren til! perhaps I should be utterly
deserted, and left with all my blind love
eating away my heart-striDgs like con-
suming fire.
"At my request We left the opera at an
early hour, and with a terrible purpose |
entered my home. But what was the
home now to me! The love that had
frightened it was no longer mine. Some
demon furnished ue with resolution to
execute my desperate purpose.
at had been our custom sometimes to
drink glass of sweet xiue when we we're
slone. | drew the table to the fire, pla-
ced the decanter and glasses Then with
trembling hands brought deadly OPT
ate, the nature of which Iwell kuew.--
The first effect it produces, was deep
sleep, which in few hours, terminated in
the still sleep Of death. | filed the glas-
ses, and into one | dropped the drug.
All was ccae With rapidity, lest my reso-
luton should fail ne.
When al! was ready, I paced up and
down the room, nursing the fire which
ragged within my bosom, by recounting to
nysefths wrong | had suffered. l pi,-
tured to myself my idolized husband ly-
ing still aud cold before me, and 1 fell in.
to 4 passionate fit of weeping. l saw
him drawn from me, giving his love to
another. / thought of all the agony |
had suffered that night, and imagined
how much deeper would be my wrong, if
| spared him. At that moment | heard
bis night key in the latch, and be soon
entered the room. stood in the recess
of the window, where he did not at once
observe ne. The wine first attracted his
attention, the fatal glass. | saw him lift
( it to his lips, drain its contents, aud fell
'aintiDg to the floor.
knew 10 more for several hours
When rallied, | was lying upon the So
ia; the lamp was burning dinily-the ca.
sy chair was wheeled to my side, and in
it | saw the form of my husband: I
sprang up. The drug was doing its work.
Il was In heavy slumber. and alread y
his breath came thicker and shorter, and
his pulse beat but family.
MY anger had passed away, and all
tho wild worohipiDg love which | had
cherished toward my husband, rushed
back upon my heart. Ichafed bis hands
| kissed his lips, | strovc to rouse him,
but all in vain. Again | paced up and
down the floor, but oh! what different G..
motions possessed me now.
"a little folded paper, which had not
before noticed, and lying upon the table
caught my eye. Scarcely knowing or
caring what did, took it op and open.
cd it. saw it was in the hand writing
of my husband, and | eagerly read its
contents. Great God of Heaven! What
had | donel 1t was note that Ernest
had sent me, and which did not arrive
until after had gone out. 1t ran as
follows:-
"Excuse me, Aggy, dear, from coming
home to tea. My sister Of whom | spoke
to you this morning, has come home, and
has sent for me to come to her. If she
is not too weary. l will take you both to
the opera this evening, and will call for
you at eight o'clock. Your loving
HUSBAND"
"Now for the first time, | remembered
that be bad told me in the morning, that
an only sister of bis, who had been alb
sent several years, was expected homo
that day. His parents resided 10 anoth-
er part Of the city. He would call for
ue at eight / had gone out earlier, and
probably by some carelcssness of the car
rier, the note had not arrived before the
time. | afterwards learned that he did
call for me, and being told that | had
gone to the opera with some friends, and