Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-01-14
- 1zN1Ac's CONFESSION.

IL occupants she was able, and kindly
ameNsring oil our questions, until We
sane 80 room where one Of the pa
tients had lately died, and now lay
awaiting the disposal of her friends,
who had been appraised Of her decease.
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 :?
These were queries in my mind as l
gaxed upon her lifeless remains.
My eyes involuntarily wandered over
the apartment. A little table stood in
the corner, beneath the grated window.
a Bible lay upon it, and as I took it
up . paper slipped from between the
leaves, and fell at my feet. raised it.
It was closely written sheet, and d
glance convinced me that it was some
sort of revelation which had been writ
ten there during the last hours of the
life that had fed.
"What is this :" asked, as | held
up the paper.
''Oh, that is probably some of Aggy's
scribbling. She used to call for pen
and paper, and as she would be very
quiet with them, l always gave them to
her. She would write several sheets
and then destroy them. This is prob
ably one of them-of no consequence,
, presume" said the woman.
l asked her if l might retain it.
"Why, yes, if you wish to-" she re-
piled.
l hid it in my bosom, and we soon
left the premises.
"What could you possibly want with
that crazy woman's scribbling ?" my
companion asked, when we had left the
building.
81 fancy there is something in here
worth preservirg 8" l answered. ''Let
US examine it,
As we rode homeward | read it aloud
to my friend. 1t was written in trem-
ulous hand, and read as follows:
81 was the only daughter of wealthy
parents. 1 possessed naughty and
imperious temper, which was never sub
dued or restrained. My parents were
not religious, and no care was taken to
impress upon ny mind religious truths,
consequently, | grew up unprincipled
and passionate. While every pains
were taken with my education and &C
eomplishmen,s, my heart was left to
run Wild, over-grown and choked with
the briars and thorns of selfshness and
love of tyranny; yet was passionate
ly fond of my friends, and as long as
they did not thwart my imperious will,
l got on nicely with them.
"Thus l grew to womanhood. Chance
threw me into the society Of a young
lawyer Of distinguished abilities, who
had began what was predicted bril-
liant career. I soon learned to love
him with all the depth of my passion
ate and impulsive nature and was wild
with Joy when one day he came to me,
and told me how long and devotedly he
had loved me, and asked metz become
his wife.
ssWe were married. If occasion.
ally had feeling of distrust as to my
qualifications for wife, [ soon silenc-
ed it with the argument that my love
was strong enough to make up for al
deficiencies.
"My husband was all that was good,
noble, and generous. Twas often pas
sionate and unreasonable. But he would
take me to his bosom, kiss me tender
ly, and say gently:
"'You must sub lue this temper, Ag-
~. 1t will make you miserable
''We had been married about year.
One evening (would to God I could
blot from the record Of time that fatal
night. but it lives like a Kissing, fiery
reptile in my memory, and has doomed
me to utter desperation in this world
and, fear, in the next! my husband
did net return at the usual hour.
watched long at my accustomed place
at the parlor window. His slippers ant
dressing gown were warming by tn
CRATE, and everything was in readiness
for him but he did not come. Twi
light dcepened into darkness, and be-
gan to grow uneasy. All my selfsl
feelings were reused, and l felt mysel
sorely grieved. An hour more, ant
yet he came not. I paced up and dow
the apartment in fit Of Impotence
A ring at the door. [ waited to hea
his step upon the stairs, accompanied
by the rustling of silk. Nellie B
an intimate friend, bounded in. Sh
said her carriage waited at the door TO
myself and Ernest, and wished us 0
accompany her to the opera. told he
Ernest had not yet returned from hi
Office, and I could rot go. Sic locke
disappointed. A sudden thought seiz
ed me. Would it not be capital re
genge for his neglect of me to find tn
parler deserted when he came? | wen
to the opera. Scarcely were sc seate
in our box when party entered the DO
opposite The blood rushed back t
my heart, and my pulse stood still as
recognized Ernest--MY ERNEST, N
husband and leaning on his arm wa
one Of the most beautiful ere, lures m
eyes ever beheld! This was my frs
impression, but there followed quick S
deadly and Jealous hatred as to max
her appear absolutely fiendish. l dre'
down my veil that my husband mlgl
not discover me, and from my conceal
ment | watched them with glaring eyes
heard nothing, saw nothing else an