San Andreas independent., 1858-05-22
Startling Confession.


ness in South Ninth street, was called
home from his workshop on Saturday
morning, by messenger who brought
the melancholy intelligence that his wife,
Barbara, had taken arsenic for the pur-
pose of committing suicide, and was then
on the point of death. He hastened to
her bedside, 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 be-
fore her departure, with the hope of OBJ
tanning his forgiveness. Mrs. Paine, with
great emotion, desired to go on with the
disclosure, adding that she might assure
herself of his forgiveness before she had
made known her offense.
'Ah, Mordecai,' said she, you remem-
ber our large white pitcher was broken
some time ago. | pretended to you that
the cat had broken it, but that was false,
for | did it myself.
'Oh, my dear, said Mr.. Paine, don't
concern yourself about such trife. |
had forgotten the pitcher, and it matters
not how it was broken
There is another matter, said Mrs. p.
after some hesitation. '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 bon
net
Never mind, my love, said Mr.. Paine,
encouragingly, [ hope heaven will for
give you as freely as [ do
After short pause Mrs. Paine began
again
Your best razor, which you missed last
summer and made SO much to do about,
| snapped it away to a pedlar for tor
toise-shell comb
The deuce well, WE'LL" said Mr. p,
recolecting himself, that is all done
now, and can't be amended Think no
more of it, my dear
Il could not leave the world with such
a thing on my conscience replied the
fair penitent.
Go on. 90 on, cried Mr. Paine, Il told
you that | could forgive everything at
such time as this
Mrs. p resumed
you remember our boarder, Simon
Drake, who ran up bill for six weeks,
and then went off in hurry without pay
ing a cent. He and | 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 tell me
this ? cried Mordecai in great excitement.
But, as you are dying, | won't reproach
you. I'll leave you now to settle the af-
fair with your own conscience
Stay and hear one thing more cried
the repentant Barbara. 'The dose [ took
this morning was intended for you.
put it in your cup of coffee, but in my
hurry to get the thing done, | gave you
the wrong cup and took the right one
myself
The devilfy away with you, you jader
roared Mordecai, as he flung himself out
of the room. In the entry he met the
apothecary who had sold Mrs. Paine 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 l tricked
her in this way to save her life'
'Iou swindling rascal, shouted Paine,
'how dare you cheat customer in that
shameful manner, and obtain her money
on false pretences Begone.'
And with this exclamation he violently
elected the astonished apothecary from
his front door. The man of physic sus-
pecting, Of course, that poor Mordecai
was deranged, sent two officers to pro-
vide for his safe keeping. His relation
of the preceding dialogue, however, soon
obtained his discharge-Pha Ledger.