Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-07-06
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THE MANIAC,s CONFESSION.

THE MANIAC's CONFESSION.
A few years ago visited an insane asylum
The woman in charge conducted me through
various apartments, giving US all the inferma
ton in regard to the occupants she was able
and kindly answering all the questions, until
we came to room where one of the patients
had lately died, and now lay awaiting the dis
posal of her friends, who had been apprized
of her decease. We entered, and gazed reve'
rently upon the face of the sleeper. She was
woman in the prime Of life and bore traces
of great beauty. What great sorrow had
bereft this beautiful creature of her reason
and by what relative, and for what motive,
had she been incarcerated in this living tomb,
were queries which we're in my mind as /
gazed upon her lifeless remains.
Nv eyes involuntarily wandered over the
apartment. A little table stood in the corner,
beneath the grated window. A Bible lay
upon it, and as took it up paper slid from
between the leaves and fell at my feet. |
raised it. 1t was closely written sheet, and
glance convinced me that it was some sort
of revelation which had been written there
during the last hours of the life that had fed.
"What is this?" asked, as l held up the
paper.
hOh, that is probably some of Aggy's scrib-
bling. She used to call for pen and paper,
and She would write over several sheets, and
then destroy them. That is probably one of
them-of no consequence, l presume" )" said
the woman.
asked if might retain it.
"Why, yes, if you wish TO-" she replied.
hiid 10 -a~ay IN beoons,-~- wn ere-
left the premises.
"What could you possibly want Of that
crazy woman's scribbling?" my companion
asked, as we left the building.
"I fancy there is something here worth
preserving" replied. Let US examine it.
AS we rode homewsrd, read it aloud to
nv friend. It was written in trembling
hand, and read as follows:
"I was the only and idolized daughter OF
wealthy parents. i possessed naughty and
imuerious temper which was never subdued or
restrained. Ny parents we're not religious,
and no care. was taken to impress upon my
mind religious truths. Consequently grew
up unprincpled and extremely passionate
While every pains was taken with my educa,
ton and Accomplishments, my heart was lett
to run wild, overgrown and choked by the
briars and thorns of selhshness and love oi
tyranny; yet was passionately attached to
nv friends, and as long as they did not cross
nv imperious will got on nicely with them
'"Thus I grew to womanhood. Chances
threw me into the society of a young lawyer
of distinguished abilities, who had begun what
was predicted to be q brilliant career. / soon
learned 20 love him with all the depth of my
passionate and impulsive nature; and he was
wild with joy, when one day he came to me
and in elegant language told me how long snd
deyotedly he had loved me, and asked me tc
be his wife.
ave we're married. If occasionally fell
twinge of distrust of my own qualifications
for wife, soon silenced it with the argu
ment thst my love was strong enough to make
up for all deficiencies.
"My husband was all that was good, and
noble, and generous. was often passionate
and unreasonable. Bat he would take me tt
his bosom, kiss me so tenderly, and say SC
gently, You myst subdue this unhappy tenn
per, Aggy. Itds making you miserable"
"Then when he was gone, l would ty tt
my chamber, lock the door, and give mysel
up to an uncomfortable fit of weeping for very
shame.
"We had been married about year. Onc
evening would to God could blot from the
record of time that fatal night; but it live:
like Kissing fiery serpent in my memory
and has doomed me to utter despair in thl:
world, and I fear the next } my husband die
not return at the usual hour. watched long
at my accustomed place, at the parlor window
His slippers aud dressing gown were warming
By the CRATE, and everything was in readiness
for him but he did not come twilight
deepened into darkness, and I began to grow
uneasy. All my selfish feelings were, reused
and felt myself sorely griered. An hou
more, yeG he came not. paced up and dow1
the aoor in fit of impatience. A ring at the
door, waited to hear his step upon the stairs
but it was lighter step than his, accompa
MED BY the rustling of silk. 1t was Nellie
B, an intimate friend, bounded in. She
ras dressed for the opera. She said their car
riage waited at thedoor for myself and Ernest
told her Ernest had not yet returned from
his Office, and / could not 60. She looked
disappointed. A sudden thought seized me
WoaH it not be capital revenge for his neg
lect of ME to find the parlor deserted wher
he came? l went to the opera. We were
scarcely seated in our box when party Ell
tered box opposite. The blood rushed back
to my heart, and my pulse stood still as
recognized Ernest, my Ernest, my husband
and leaning upon his arm one of the most
beautiful young creatures my eyes ever behed
This was my first impression, for there quick
IL followed so deadly and jealous hatred as
made her look positively ugly. l quickly
drew down my veil that my husband nigh
not discover me, and from my concealment
watched them with glaring eyes. 1 heart
nothing, saw nothing else; and once whel
rallied by my companions, | replied that
was not we'll, and begged to be left to myself
"Then with the ferceness OF tiger tcartu
of losing his prey, turned my eyes towarl
my husband and his "guilty paramount" SIT
seemed to be enjoying the performance in
tensely, but he seemed to see nothing but her
His head was bowed towards he, and sh
would occasionally lift her eyes to his face
Then saw him smile Gust as he had smile
upon me thousand times,) while he ben
still lower over her with renewed devotion.
"Each movement was like red hot dagggge
piercing my heart. knew not what demo-
A L.