The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-04-10
AsrARrLINe confession.

Mordecai Paine, q saddler doing business
in South Ninth street, was called home from
his work shop on Saturday morning, by .
messenger, who brought the melancholy in
telligence, that his wife, Barbara, had tax
en- arsenic, for the purpose of committing
suicide, and was then at the point of death.
He fastened to her bed side, and found her
in more agony of mind than of body She
declared that there was something on her
mind which she wished to confess to him
before her departure, with the hope of OBJ
tanning his forgiveness. Mr.. Paine, with
great emotion, desired her to 60 on with the
disclosure, adding, that she might assure
herself of his forgiveness before she had
made known her offence. 49, ..-g G.@1r
sAh, Mordecai," said she, "you remem-
Der our large white pitcher was broken some
time ago. / pretended to you that the cat
broke It, but that was false, for l myself
did it." sl ...l. .a is t.. .5~as.scuas
"Oh, my dear,'' said Mr.. Paine, "don't
concern yourself about such trife. had
forgotten the pitcher, and it matters not
now how it was broken" ss- +. ez..yz.f IN
ssThere is another matter" said Mrs. p,
after some hesitation. s'The six silver spoons
which made you believe were stolen by the
Yankee clock mender; ,pawned them to
raise money to pay the milliner for doing up
my pink satin bonnet.Y aiyag seaes =
ssNever mind it, my love-" said Mr.. Paine
encouragingly. "I hope heaven will for
give You as freely as do. r. So ~
After a short pause, Mrs. P. began again:
"Your best razor which you missed last
summer and made SO much to do about, l
swnpped it away to pedlar for q tortoise
shell comb" --,.ys. t....,. ... ... .1-.-.-.
"The deuce!-well, WE'LL" said Mr.. p,
recollecting himself, s'that is all done now,
it.'' a. ..... e. -. - -.
"I could not leave the world with such q
thing on my conscience" replied the fair
penitent. q "A ~T... .,,s-..rs-.....r..--s,.. /.
eco on, 20 on, cried Mr.. Paine, ssI told
you that | could forgive everything at such
q time as this" Mrs. P. resumed: .'.E
ssYou remember our boarder, Simeon
Drake, who ran up bill for six weeks, and
then went of in hurry without paying a
cent. He and had agreed to elope togeth-
er, but he changed his mind at the last mo-
ment, and ran away without me-" .. .r... l,.,
"Fire and fury! do you dare to tell mo
this?" cried Mordecai in great excitement.
ssBut as you are dying, won't reproach
you. IN leave you now to settle the affair
with your own conscience" &2
ssStay and hear one thing more," cried
the repentant Barbara. ssThe dose took
this morning was intended for you. / put
it into your cup of coffee, but, in my hurry
to get the thing done, Igave you the wrong
cup and took the right one myself .05sia F.ea.
ssThe devil ay away with you, you jade!''
roared Mordecsi, as be flung himself. out Of
the room. In the entry he met the apothe-
cary who had sold Mrs. p. the fatal powder.
This medical man had heard of the commo-
tion at Paine's house, and suspected the
cause Of it, he came to administer hope and
comfort to the afflicted. 3 ssasi
lssDon't be alarmed, Mr.. Paine, !" said he,
ssthe drug sold your wife was nothing but
judged that she wished TO do
stroy herself, and l tricked her in this way
to save her life." 5Fe {s,fhz q IN
sssYou swindling rascal" /" shouted Paine,
show dare you cheat q customer in that
manner and obtain her money on
false pretenees? Begone!''
And with this exclamation he violently
elected the astonished apothecary from HIS
door. The man Of physic, suspecting OF
course, that poor Mordecai was deranged.
sent two officers to provide for his safe
keeping. His relation of the preceding
dialogue, however, soon obtained his dis
Ledger. sas.zsH
sss's= gF:a |