The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-10-01
The MANAGES Confession.


lum. The woman in charge conducted us
through various apartments, giving us all
the information 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 disposal of her friends,
who had been apprized of her decease.-
We entered, and gael reverently 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 iDcareerated in this living tomb, were
queries which were in my mind as gazed
upon her lifeless remains. s
My eyes inyoluntarily wandered over the
apartment. A little table stood in the cor
ner beneath the grated window. A Bible
lay upon it, and as took il up paper slid
from between the leaves and fell at my feet.
It was closely written sheet. and glance
convinced me that it was some sort of rev.
elation which had been written there du-
ring the last hours of the life that had fed.
"What is this ?'' I asked as I held up
the paper.
ooh, that is probably some of Aggy' s
scribbling. 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
I presume, (" said the woman. I asked if
might retain it.
"Why, yes, if you WISH" she replied.
I hid it away in my bosom, and we soon
left the premises.
"What could you possibly want of that
crazy woman's scribling? '' my companion
asked. as we left the building.
al fancy there is something here worth
preserving" I replied. "Let US exam
Inc it.
my friend. 1t was written in a trembling
hand, and read as follows:
s'I was the only and idolized daughter Of
wealthy parents. possessed a naughty
and imperious temper, which was never
subdued or restrained. My parents were
not religious, and no care was taken to i'm
press upon my mind religious truths
Consequently grew up unprincipled and
extremely passionate While every pains
was taken with my education and accom-
plishments, my heart was left to run wild,
overgrown and choked by the briars and
tborDs of selfshness and love Of tyranny;
yet was passionately attached to my friends.
and as long as they did not cross my imPe-
rious will got on nicely with them.
Thus I grew to womanhood. Chance
threw me into the society of a young lawyer
of distinguished abilities, who had begun
what was predicted to be brilliant career.
I soon learned to love him with all the
depth of my passionate impulsive nature;
and was wild with Joy, when one day he
came to me and in eloquent language told
me how long and devotedly he had loved
me, and asked me to be his wife.
We were married. If occasionally felt
a tinge of distrust of my own qualifications
for wife, I soon silenced it with the argu-
ment that my love was strong enough to
make up for all deficiencies.
Ny husband was all that was good and
noble and generous. ] was often passion
ate and unreasonable. But he would take
me to his bosom. kiss me so tenderly. and
say so gently, ''you must subdue this un'
happy temper. AggY. 1t is making you
miserable
Then when he was gone, would fly te
my chamber, lock the door and give myself
up to an unaccountable fit of weeping fol
very shame.
We had been married about a year. One
evening (would to God I could blot from
the record of time that fatal night; but il
lives like kissing, fiery serpent in my
memory, and mas doomed me to utter des-
pair in this world, and fear the next, my
husband did not return at the usual hour
l watched long at my accustomed place. a
the parlor window. His slippers and dress
ing gown were warming by the CRATE, anC
every thing was in readiness for him; but b.
did not come. Twilight deepened int
darkness, and began to grow uneasy. al
my selfish feelings were reused, and fel
sorely grieved. An hour more. yet h
came not. paced up and down the foo
in fit of impotence. A ring at the door
/ waited to hear his step on the stairs; blu
it was lighter step than his, accompanied
by the rustling of silk. Nellie B, al
intimate friend, bounded in. she was dress
ed for the opera. She said that her car
nest. / told her Ernest had not yet return
ed from his Office, and could not go. Sh
looked disappointed. A sudden though
seized me. Would it not be capital re
venge for his neglect of me to find the par
lor deserted when he came ? / went to tlp
opera. We were scarcely in our box whel
party entered a box opposite. The bloot
rushed back to my heart, and my pulls
stood still as recognized Ernest, my Er
nest. my husband. and leaning upon his arm
one of the most beautiful young creature
my eyes ever beheld. This was my frs
impression, for there quickly followed s
deadly and jealous hatred as made he
look positively ugly. I quickly drew dow
my vail that my husband might not discoV
err me, and from my coneealment watches
them with glazing eyes. heard nothing
else; and once when rallied by companions
replied that was not well, and begged t
be left to myself.
Then. with the ierceness of q tiae