Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-10
fanlilg GWeIG.
TIE MANUALS
CON f E S SION

asylum. The woman in charge cordnc,
ted US through the 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 ap
prised of her decease. We entered and
gazed 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 beau
tiful creature Of her reason? and by what
relative, and for what motive had she
been incarcerated in this living tomb,
were queries which were 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 a
paper slid from between and fell at my
feet. raised it. 1t was closely writ,
ten sheet, and glance convinced me that
it was some sort of a revelation which
had been written there during the last
hours of the life that hath fed.
"What is this 2" asked, as held up
the paper.
"Oh, 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
presume, said the woman.
/ asked if might retain it. .s
Why, yes, if you wish to-" she replied.
hid it away in my bosom, and We soon
left the premises.
"What could you possibly want with
that crazy woman's scribbling 2" my com
panion asked. as we left the building.
I fancy there is something here worth
preserving" replied, Let US examine
it.n
As we rode homeward, read it aloud
to my friend. 1t was written in tremb
ling hand, and read as follows:
Il wa, the only and idolized daughter
of wealthy parents. Possessed u haugh-
ty and imperious temper, which was new
err subdued or restrained. Ny parents
were not religious, and no care was taken
to impress upon my mind religious truths
Consequently grew up unprincipled and
extremely passionate. While every pains
were taken with my education and accom-
| pliShments, my heart was left to run wild
overgrown and choked by the briars and
thorns of selhshness and love of tyrauv :
yet l was passionately attached to my
friends, and as long as they did not cross
my imperious will, got on nicely with
them.
Thus I grew to womanhood. Chance
threw me into the society of young law
yer of distinguished abilities, who had
began what was predicted to be a brill
liant career. coon learned to love him
with all the depth Of my passionate and
impulsiye 7nature aud was wild with
Joy, wten@onc day, he came to ME and in
eloquent language told me how long and
derotedly be had loved me, and asked
me to be his wife. ~
We were married! III occasionally
felt a twinge of distrust of my oualifca-
tons for wife, | soon silenced it with
the arguments that my love was strong
enough to make up for all deficiencies.
My husband was all that was good
noble and generous. | was often passion
ate and unreasonable. But he would
take me to his bosom, kiss me so tender.
ly, and say SO gently, You must subdue
this unhappy temper, Aggy. 1t is max
ing you miserable
Then, when he had gone, | would ny
to my chamber, lock the door. and give
myself up to an uncomfortable fit Of weep
| ing for very shame.
+. =" We had been married abort year.
One evening would to God could blot
from the record of time, that fatal night;
but it lives like a Kissing fiery serpent in
my memory, and has doomed me to utter
despair in this world, and fear the next)
my husband did not return at the usual
hour. | watched at the parlor window
His slippers and dressing gown were
warming by the fire, and everything was
in readiness for him but he did not come.
Twilight deepened into darkness, and
began to grow uneasy. All my selfish
feelings were reused, and | felt myself
sorely grieyed. An hour more, vet he
came not. paced up and down the foor
in fit of impatience. A ring at the door,
| waited to hear his steps upon the stairs;
but it was lighter step than his, accom-,
panied by the rustling Of silk. Nellie
B, an intimate friend, bounded in
She was dressed for the opera. She said
that their carriage waited at the door for
myself and Ernest. I told her Ernest
had not yet returned from his Office and
/ could not &c. She looked disappointed.
a sudden thought seized me. Would it
not be capital revenge for his neglect of
me to find the parlor deserted when he
came? went to the opera. We were
scarcely seated in our box when party
entered a box opposita. The blood rush.
ed back to my heart, and nv pulse stood
still as recognized Ernest, my Ernest,
10Y husband, and leaning on his arm one
OF the most beautiful young creatures my
| eyes ever beheld. This was nv frst i'm.
preston, for there quickly followed so
deadly and jealous a hatred as made her
look positively ugly. l quickly drew
down my veil that my husband might not
discover me, and from my concealment |
watched them with garing eyes. | heard
nothing, saw nothing else; and once
when rallied by my comprnion, | repied
that was MT well, and begged to be left
to myself. @a sss
%'rhen, with the Gerceness Of tiger
fearful OF losing his prey, l turned my.
eyes toward my husband and his guilty
paramour." She seemed to be enjoying
The performance intensely, but he seemed
to see nothing bat her. His head was
bowed towards her, and she would occa
sionaily raise her eyes to his face. Then
saw him smile (just as he had smiled