Nebraska advertiser., 1864-01-28
geltet Gg1e&
A Strange Story.

there lived a respected merchant, named
Cadmir Borosse. He married a young
and handsome lady of some fortune, and
in course Of time became the father oi
two promising children, daughter and
son. On the tenth anniversary Of his
daughters birth, he gave splendid en-
tertainment at his mansion, to which
wero invited msny Of the leading fami-
lies Of the place Everyihing went of
with satisfaction to the guests, and those
who drank success to the supposed happy
merchant, little dreamed he was on the
verge Of ruin. But such was the case.
Some speculations which he had entered
into, had taken an unfortunate turn, and
he himself was aware that the secret
could not long be concealed, and that
poverty would soon be the doom of him
self and family; and though he seemed
OF that night to be the gayest. of the gay
yet weight of sorrow was upon his
heart.
After the guests had departed, instead
of retiring to bed he told his wife he
had some business letters to write, and
went to a little room, denominated a
library, and locked himself in. Here he
debated with himself. whether he should
boldly await the fearful consequences of
exposure, ruin and disgrace, or take his
own life, or fee from the country. After
severe mental struggle, he decided
upon the last.
"If remain here, living man." he
argued, Il shall be crushed and despised
and never perhaps have an opportunity
10 rise again; if l take my life, shall
send my soul into the presence of my
Maker, with at least a self-murderer's
sin upon it bat if escape to a foreign
country. who knsws bat that, with the
little means shall carry with me
l may in time be able to carve out new
fortue, and return in triumph to cancel
every outstanding obligation ?''
Having thus decided upon his course,
he at once proceeded with the painful
task of acquaintng his wife by letter of
what had occurred, bis new resolution,
and bidding her sad farewell.
II have not the moral courage to meet
and tell you Of my misfortunes," he
went on to say, ''nor the moral courage to
remain aud face my ruin. l must de-
part to some unknown region, either in
this world or from it, and as my death
can benefit no one, l do not feel called
upen 10 add suicide sin to my soul
AS all our property will soon be seized
and sold, which, without other provisIoE,
would leave you and our dear children
beggars, l have resolved to retain all the
Money now have in my possession, to
collect all possibly can in the brief
space of tomorrow, place enc half at
your disposal, and, with the other moiety
ser off and attempt to retrieve my fortune
in a distant land. If | succeed In my
design, will return and pay all my debts
hike an honest man-if / fail, my credi-
tors must lose. Let this letter be des-
troyed as soon as read, and my project
be profound secret in your breast alone.
If questioned, know nothing Of me or my
designs, and be sure you let no one sus-
pect left you money. If you remain IN
Corsica, live as one would live if | had
left yeu nothing, and your own conscious
ness Of secret means will give you men
tai strength"
These were the pr incipal points of the
letter, which concluded with prOtestatiOns
Of eternal love and fidelity.
Having thus fully settled upon his
course. the merchant went to bed, fell
asleep, and slept as soundly as if nothing
had ever occurred to trouble by ali
of which it will be perceived he was a
rather extraordinary man. The next
day be was at the Counting-room, calm
and cool, and transacted his business in
hi, usuaI manner. No one suspected
him, for no one knew his secret which
would not have public exposGre Tor al
least four and twenty hours. He direct
ed that certain bills should be PAID ana
others be collected and he borrowed
for the shortest " E, considerable sum
Of a veS.hy baker. AT dusk he disap-
! reared, md not I'LL late hour did hls
wife become uneasy concerning his ab-
sence. Going into his library, near md
night, she found the letter addressed to
lber, of which we have already given a
description. The sheck was Sc terrible
that she tainted while reading. Or
coming TO her sense, she finished the
epistle. and then, according to its lnstruc'
non committed il to the flames. The
money left her the also secreted, resOlv
a ING to act in every way as advised By
,, her husband. II was a long, Painfu