Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-09
A STARTLING CONFESSION.

Mordecsi Paine, q saddler doing business In
North Ninth street, was called home from his
workshop on Saturday morning, by messen-
ger Who brought the melancholy intelligence
that hls wife, Barbara, had taken arsenic for
the purpose Of committing suicide, and was
then at the point of death He hastened to her
bedside, and found her more in agony of mind
than body. She declared that there was some
thing on her mind which she wished to confess
TO him before her departure, with the hope OF
obtaining his forgiveness. Mr.. Paine, with
great emotion, desired her to 90 on with the
disclosure, adding that she might assure herself
Of his forgiveness before she had made known
her offence
''Ah, Mordecai,r said she, 'you remember
our large white pitcher was broken some time
ago; l pretended to you that the cat broke it,
but that was false. for myself did it,
"Oh, my dear" said Mr.. Paine, don't con-
eern yourself about such trife. l had for
gotten the pitcher, and it matters not how it
was broken"
There is another matter, said Mrs P, af-
ter some hesitation "The six silver spoons
which made you believe were stolen by the
Yankee clock -mender; l pawned them to raise
money to pay the millineE for doing up my pink
satin bonnet
Never mind it, my love-" said Mr.. Paine,
eneouragingly. ''I hope heaven will forgive
you as freely as L do"
After q short pause, Mrs. P. began again
Your best razor, which you missed last
summer, and made so much to do about,
swsPped it away to pedlar for tortoise-shell
comb"
The deuce well, we'll" said Mr. p, re
collecting himself,i . that is all done now. and
can't be amended. Think no more Of tt
=" could not leave the world with such
thing on my conscience" replied the fair peni-
tent
Go on, 90 on, cried Mr.. Paine; "I told
you that could forgive everything at such
time as this Mrs. p. resumed
You remember our boarder, Simeon Drake,
who ran up bill for six weeks, and then went
of in q hurry without paying a cent. He and l
had agreed TO elOpe together; but he changed
his mind at the last moment, and ran away
without me-"
Fire and fury. do you dare to tell me
this" cried Mordecai in great excitement.
But, as you are dying, / won't reproach you.
own conscience
Z" Stay and hear one thing MORE" cried the
repentant Barbara. - lhe dose I took this
morning was intended for you. put it into
your cup cf coffee, but, in my hurry to get the
thing done, L gave you the wrong cup and took
the right one myself"
The devil fly away with you, you jade ="
rOared Mordecai, as he flung himself out of the
room. In the entry he met the apothecary
who had sold Mrs p. the fatal powder. This
medical man had heard of the commotion at
Paine's house, and suspecting the cause of it,
he came to administer hope and comfort to the
afflicted.
Don't be alarmed, Mr.. Paine" said he,
" the drug sold to your wife was nothing but
magnesia. judged that she wished to destroy
herself, and tricked her in this way to save
her life"
You swindling rascal shouted Paine,
how dare you cheat customer in that shame
ful manner, and obtain her money on false pre-
tences? Begone -
And with this exclamation be violently
ejected the astonished apothecary from his
front door. The man of physic, suspecting, of
course, that the poor Mordecai was deranged,
sent two officers 70 provide for his safe keeping
His relation of the preceding dialogue, how
ever. soon obtained his discharge.
phlo Press.