Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-08-22
FIFTY CENTS IN ADVANCE.
VOLUME %, NO. 40.
after another, and read them all through :,


Shall I tell you what was in those Letters!
Tho moe, de.p,cablc treachsry ever prso.
,iced asa,n', man. Ny beet friend had
written them-but in what tons' With
what persuasion and passionate sloqusnes
did he speak therein How be planned and
coun.elled the course wife might take to
deceive her husband And all thess letters
were dated since our marriaee-while ! had
b,An so happy ! end no words TO picture
what I experienced on reading them. 10
wa. feeling like the working Of deadly
poison. Idrank this poison TO the last drop.
| read every one Of those letters through by
i,.elf. Then laid them in order. bound
them together, covered them with the lace.
and locked the drawer.
Twas certain. that my wife, II | did not
20 for her. would hasten home before even.
ing. And 90 IL was. How quickly shs
,prans IRON the carriage anil ran toward
me how she embraced me, how she kissed
me How h,pry shO was to ba With mo
again
I allowed her 10 sce nothing OF the revola-
ton which had taken place within me. We
talked together. supped together. and re-
tired Us usual to our rooms. which we're side
by eide. | did not clo.o my eyelid.; awake.
I counted the hours. A, tho 6r.t quarter
past midnight struck. | stood IN her cham.
Der. Like n little angel in tho midst OF
snowy clouds. lay her lovely fair head in
peaceful slumber upon the darlIins whito
pillows. What . monstrous lIc OF nature.
to lend to sin features 80 innocent! l was
a. Determined. as inae1Ible. asa monoms-
MAC IN bI. fixed idea.
The raging rOson Of JEALOUSY bad eaten
iato my soul Softly laid my hand. upon
her throat, and suddenly pressed them to.
gether. Tha. moment she opened her large.
dark.bluo eyes. saw me with anarement,
then closed them slowly. She was dead.
She died without having time TO ut'ers
word in her own defence. peaceful Ms 10
dream. a. murdered her. she felt no an
ger toward mo. Only singl, drop OF
blood. pressed out OF her mouth. fell on The
back Of my hand where. you know but too
we'll.
She had no relations ~ inquire into tho
cause of her death and purposely delay.
ed sending on, to my friends invitations to
her funeral until It was too late tor any OF
them to reach my place IN time. No 1ne
upon my estate. had any suspicious ol the
truth. Besides, I was master who bad
any right to question me-
When all was over, and ! was returning
to my home, my conscience va. not burden
ei in the le,.t. She had deserved her late.
I though, Of her no more.
On reaching my home. found the count
es.. my ~i!e's only female friend. just ar
rr,ing. Like Others, che came alter the
hour appointed Whether from sorrow or
-ympa,hy. know not. bu, the words OF
consolation with which shs essayoi to ad'
drr.. me. weru - confused could scarcely
understand them. AZ last she clasped my
hand. and said. in altering tones. that 'he
saw herself obliged 10 confic TO me secret.
which she must en,rcat mo not 10 reveal
She had given my wife package oi ies'e"
to keep for her-,be contents were such thas
che dared not TO keep them by ber-.he had
now 10 beg me to return them TO her. An
7 icy .hudder wen, through me as she 'poke
tle,e words. With marked coldne.s ask
,i her what thc.r letter, contained. Tho
COUNTIES. shrank back, and answered hastily:
"Oh. cir. your wife WIS moro generous
than you. When she took these letters IN.
20 her care. she did not ask mo what they
contained, but gave me her word to guard
them we'll. and am sure she has kept her
pledge. she had noble soul IL would
have been impossible for her To break her
solemn PROMISE"
Very well,' said | |; how am ! 10 know
these le,,er!'
They are tied together with ro'e'co'or'
cd ribbon, embroidered with silver.
Il will look for them Immediately
With thi. took my wiies keys IN my
hand, and began to search for the packet. l
knew but too we'll where to find Il.
Il. ,hi, ~ said l. q, last, bringing ito
the countess.
.Ye.. yes. Only see, here 10 the 'amo
kno, I made; your vile never united IL
dared not l,f, up my eyes-i feared tho
countess wo.ld read In them that had them
unlooscd-ah. that I had gone further. and
committed mons,rous crime! ltoot leave
OF her, eIcu.ing myself as we'll rs I could.
/ I needed to DO alone. The countess return.
ei home. Her husband Was IN oil hs nc.
,ions mean aud brutal his tastes were low
aud wholly unworthy Of bis rank. Had
been such man. would deserve to have
such wife. But my wife wasan innocent.
,potle.s angel. who loved mo when ! mur'
dered her
I remember nothing Of what psssed for
hours but this ] know that when re'
turned TO consciousness, l was sitting on
nv wifs's coffin. In the vault. I Was NOS
vet 90 insane rs to believe that ! could
awake her. but wanted to speak TO her.
I, seemed to me she would hear my word'
by the true. uprigh, love with which
you once loved me; by the love which you
took with you for me. svense yourself on
mo in this life! Leave not my punishment
TO another world, but let me suffer hero oo
earth-tor,ure me. kill me Wait not IN.
,uf b..b h,, arrJoe yourself now