Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-09-18

estv. Little by little / felt my GOODNESS
vanishing, and /, who had once cordially
hated her, now began to experience an en-
tire reyulsion of feeling.
II know enough of my own life, she
continued after short pause, Ito DeheVe
that / have many things of which L nave
no distinct recollection. There are times
when / am not myself and when am
moved ike an automaton by power not
of my own nature. have just been freed
from the bondage. Henceforth 1T may be
different with me, for the Infamous wretch,
whose slave have been, lies in this house
dead"
rDeadr' Iexclaimed. ''Who is it that
is deadg
: ssTbe man who was my husband; he died
an hour ago from the effects OF poison he
intended for me- l tried to save his lie,
wicked and brutal though he was, but the
only book that could have taught me now
/ was never able to find, and for SIX years
the deadly substance has slowly but surely
been doing its work.
..What book do you refer tor asked,
while the blood rushed in torrent to my
face.
"A book that l tned all means for OBJ
tainino but without success. There Is but
one COPY in the world. That once belong
ed to nv husband, and from its directions
he made poison which he designed adj
ministering to me. BY mistake he took
the draught himself. The book, which
contained also directions for preparing the
antidote, was soon afterwards stolen from
him: but an Arab servant belonging to the
sect of the assassins, prepared an imper-
feet remedy which prolonged his life till
now. This remedy consisted in great part
of a substance which the assassins take
when they propose committing murder
I was forced to take this as often as 1t was
given to my husband. While it retarded
the action of the poison In him, 1t render
ed me almost insane. Under its influence
/ have lived life entirely distinct from my
natural one Strange to say, L have no
clear remembrance of what | have done
during the daytime for the last six years
"And now you are free Z!
Yes, thank God )!
s.And you do not recollect our meeting
every day and going together to the book
shop in the Piazza di Montec1tor1o!
Not distinctly, though l can recall some
events which are associated with you.
Every night at nine o'clock the first dose
was given to me. 1t was repeated at in
tervals till morning. The effect was to
arouse me to action, to excite my mind,
and to cause me to act upon the last idea
which was suggested by my tyrant. When
t was Judged that / was sufficiently stlmu-
lated. / was ordered to go and search Tor
the book. 1t must have been at these
times that we met. | have an indistinct
idea that you were supposed to know some
thing of this book, and that l was directed
to watch you. After my return 1 went to
bed and slept the remainder OF the day.
tWhy do you take this substance z!
Because 1 was compelled. Force was
several times used and, besides, my hus-
band had written false statement relative
to the cause of his Illness and had given 1t
to the Arab. In this paper he charged me
with administering the poison to him. Had
| refused obedience, this statement would
have been placed in the hands of the police
and should probably not have succeeded
in clearing myself of the accusation.
"Why did you invite me here today"
She nut her hand to her head and re-
NAMED silent few moments, as II endeay-
oring to collect her thoughts.
1T was for some reason connected with
the book" she at last said, aud | think l
was also directed to-poison YOU
This was not very agreeable information.
What if were now in trap from which 1
could not escape with my life? l looked
around me instinctively for the means of
getting away. She observed my move
ment, and instantly OWNED my thoughts
There is no one here now to harm you,
she said 1.-THE AIaD who was my hus-
bands chief reliance in all his schemes, and
who was devotedly' attached to him, com
mitted suicide as soon as his master died.
Ii you will come with me l will convince
You that | have spoken the truth
She arose, and l accompanied her thro
several apartments till we came to door,
Iaf he cfof1no1 for an instant
Then she resolutely opened it and entered
the room. / followed her. BY the dim
light of fire that burned sluggishly by
the hearth | saw man lying on bed,
another on the floor. stopped down and
felt their pulses in turn. Their bodies
were vet warm, but life was certainly ex-
tinct in both. While / was examining
them, my companion lit a couple of can
dies that stood upon the mantle-piece.
took one of them and looked into the face
of the man who lay upon the floor. His
features were oriental in their cast, and
were as delicate as those at woman. L
had never seen them before. L then APP
preached the bed, and held the candle
close to the face of the dead man stretched
upon it, His face was almost concealed
by a dark and heavy beard, but l saw that
it was thin. As l looked, my memory be-
gran to waken. | had seen that face some
where, long ago, not as 1T now. was, wan
and haggard, but bright and rudy with
health. As l stood by the bed vainly en-
deavoring to recollect where, and under
what circumstances / had encountered its
now lifeless occupant, l suddenly began to
feel giddy; film came over my eyes; l
heard roaring noise in my ears; stagger-
ed; the candle dropped from. my hands,
and l would have fallen had L not support
ed myself against the wall. In an instant
Mrs Brown seized the other candle and
threw it into the fire. l recellect that, and
nothing more; for, unable longer to stand,
I sank upon the floor, and altogether lost
my consciousness.
When came to myself was in my own
apartments in the Piazza di Spagna, and
my own servant was sitting by my bed. /
put my hand to my face, and was surprised
to find that my hair was thick and long. !
recollected shaving myself the evening j
went to Mrs. Browns l turned towards
the man
"How long have been here, Giacomo?"
1 said.
-Four weeks yesterday, Signor. You
have been very i'll. "
''How did get hereg' s
II do not know, Signor. found you
lying as if dead at the foot of the stairs
thought moment. All the events of
that night came fresh before.
did you ever hear of Mrs. Brown,
Giacomo?"
Mrs. Brown, Signor? Oh, yes; who
has not heard of her? She was
executed this NOR ming for the murder of