The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-03-20
A Startling Confession.

| Mosdccai Paine, a saddler do ng business
| in South Finth street, was called home from
| his work shop on Saturday mornin-, by a
messenger who brought the melancholy in-
.telligenco that his wife, Barbara, had taken
| arsenic for the purpose of committing sui
eide, and was then at the point CT deate.-
| He hastened to her bed side, and found her
in more agony of mind than of body. She
declared there was something on her mind
which she wished 10 confess to him before
her departure, with the hope OF obtaining
his forgiveness. Mr.. Paine, with great emo
tion, desired her to go on with the disclos-
ure, adding that she might assure herself
of his forgiveness before she had made
known her offence
"Ah, Mordscai," 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 did it my
self"
"oh, my dear" said Mr.. Paine, "don't
concern yourself about such tride. l had
trgott n the pitcher, and it matters not
now, how it was broken"
There is another matter" said Mrs. p.
after some hest alton. "Tbe six silver
spoons which | made you believe were sto-
len by the Yankee clock-mendcr; pawned
them te raise money to pav the milliner for
doing up my pink satin bonnet"
" Never mind, my love. " said Mr.. Paine.
encouragingly, - hope heaven viii forgive
you as freely as do"
After short pause, Mrs. P began again:
- Your best razor, which you IN ssed last
summer and made so much ado about, |
swaPpcd itaway to ped-ar for tortoise
shell comb"
The deuce,-wc,l well" Mr. P. recol-
lcctiHg himself, that is all done now, and
dan't Be amended. Think no more Of it."
q l could not leave the world with such a
thing on my conscience" replied the fair
pc. tint
go on. 60 on" cried Mr. Paine; " I
told you that could forgive everything al
such time as this
Mrs. =. resumed:
" You remember our boarder, Simeon
Drake, who ran UP bill for six weeks, and
then went in a hurry without paying
cent lie and had agreed to elopc .oseth-
er, but he changed his mind ct the last no
mcut, and ran away without ine.'
" Fire and fure. DO you dare 90 TIL me
,hisl' cred M5rdccai in great excitement.
" But as you are dying, | won't reprogch
YOU. I'll leave You now 70 sstl-e the affair
with your own conscience.
the n pentant Barbara. The dose l took
this morning was intended for you. ! put
it in your cup OF coffee, but in my hurry to
ge. tie thing done, gave you the wrong
cup and tsok the right one myself
''The devil fly away with yon, youj jade :,
roarel Mordecai, as lac flung himself out OF /
the room, In the entry he me; The apothc= ,
cary who had sold Mrs. =. the fatal powder !
This medical man had heard Of the commo- /
ton at pziue's house, and suSpecting the I
cause Of it. he came 10 administer hope and l
comfort to the afflicted.
Don, be alarmed Mr. Paine" said he, /
= the drug sold % your wife was nothing /.
but magnesa. Ijuised that she wished to /
destroy herself, and | tricked her IN this |
way 70 save her liz. y
"You svind!.ng rascal" shouted Paine, /
- how dare YOU cheat customer in that I
manner, and obtain her money on /
false prctcnces; Begoue.'
And with this exclamation he violently I
elected the astonished apothecary from his /
front door. The man Of physic, susP citing !
OF course, that poor Mordecai was derang- /
ed, sent two officers to provide for his safe /
keeoinr. His relation OF the preceding di- .
aloEuc, however, soon obtained lis dis /
Ledger.