Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-01-14

perhaps, l should be utt .rly deserted,
and left with all my blind love eating
away my heart strings like = consan.
ing FIRE!
eat my request we left the opers at
an early hour, and with terrible pu1-
poseH entered my home. But what was
that home to me then? The love that
once frightened it was no longer mine.
Some demon furnished me with reso-
luton to execute my desperate purpose.
1T had been our custom sometimes
to drink a glass of sweet wine of an
evening when we were alone. | drew
the table to the fire, and placed the de-
canter and glasses. Then with trem-
bling hands, brought deadly oriate,
the nature Of which l we'll knew. The
first effect it produced was deep sleep,
which, in few hours, ended in the still
slumber of death. I filled the glasses,
, and into one I dropped the drug! All
was done with rapidity lest my resolu-
ton should fail me.
"When was ready, I paced up and
down the room, nursing the fires which
ragged within my bosom, recounting to
myself the wrong l had suffered. I
pictured to myself my idolized husband
lying stiff and cold before me, and l
fe Il into a passionate fit of Weeping
Then I drew another picture-saw him
drawn from me, giving his love to
another. At that moment | heard his
night-key in the latch, and he soon en-
tered the room. I stood in q recess Of
the window where he did not at once
observe me. The wine first attracted
his attention-:he fatal glass! l saw
him lift it to his lips and drain its con-
tents, and I fell fainting to the floor |!
81 knew no more for several hours.
When l rallied I was lying upon the
sofa, the lamp was burning dimly-an
easy chair was wheeled to my side, and
in it saw-the form of my husband !!
I sprang to my feet. The drug was
doing it's work! He was in a heavy
slumber, and already his breath came
thicker and shorter, and his pulse beat
but family.
"My anger had passed away, and
all that wild, worshipping love had
cherished towards my husband came
back upon my heart. l chafed his
hands, | kissed his lips, I strove to
rouse him, but all in vain. Again l
paced up and down the apartment, but
oh! what different emotions possessed
me new.
"a little paper which I had not be-
fore noticed, lying upon the table,
caught my eye. Scarcely knowing or
caring what l did, l took it up and
opened it. l saw it was in the hand
writing of my husband, and l eagerly
read it's contents. Great God! what
had done? 1t was note which Err
nest had sent me, and which did lot
arrive till l had gone out. 1t ran near
ly as follows
Excuse me, Aggy dear, from COM
ing home to tea. My sister, of whom
l spoke to you this morning, has just
come home and has sent for me to come
to her. If she is not too weary, | will
take you both to the Opera this eve
ming, and will call for you at eight.
t Your loving HUSBAND.
1 ''Now, for the first time I remem-
bered that he had told me in the morn
ing that an only sister Of his, who had
been absent several years, was expect
ed home that day. His parents resi-
ded in another part Of the city. 'He
would call for nee at eight l had
gone out earlier, and probably by some
carclessness Of the carrier, the note had
not arrived at that time. l afterwards
learned that he did call for me, and be-
ing told that l had gone to the opera
with some friends, and probably had
not received his note, he proceeded to
that place with his sister, in hopes of
finding me there.
IA Wild hope that he might yet be
aroused seized me, and sprang to his
side. But alas! too late-he had
ceased to breathe!
/ "Oh, heaven Of heavens! what had
my blind, passionate temper wrought
me and mine? Again l became insen-
siblc.
Lowing, tear-stained faces bent
, over me. A soft hand was gently
J stroking my temples, and I gazed into
the face Of that gentle sister, whom
had never seen except upon that fata
| night. She kissed me and whispered
{ Dear Aggy, you are the creates
sufferer Of us ALL
s'I was told that l was found in the
morning by servant lying upon the
r floor insensible, and ny husband re-
clining on his chair, dead
, 1t seemed that a suspicion had no
, rested upon myself. The coroner wa!
r called, and his verdict was, Died by {
visitation Of God
r ''Heaven only knows how loathel
5 and hated myself. l longed to confes.
| the truth, but for the sake Of others
: forbore to reveal what would hav,
brought upon the family deep disgrace
e and additional grief. A long illness
t followed, and my reason reeled. I wa
i carried back to my parents. I coul(
x not remain in the house which had beer
Q the scene of my sir and my punishment
| Years passed. | grew no better
but was still trembling upon the yerg'
S OF insanity, yet retaining sufficient t.
y distinctly remember my sorrow, and t.
t understand what was passing aroun
0 me. What was, perhaps, strange, Iva
G conscious of my mental condition.