Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-10-21
Sfifft Stofg.
from the Saturday Evening visitonl
THE FATAL POTION.
A True ~tory,

THE FATAL POTION.
A True ~tory.
"Man never drank cuI OF earthly sort,
That might not hold another drop Of gall;
Or, in his deepest sorrow, laid his head
Upon pillow, set so close with thorns,
That might not hold another prickle STILL"
In beautiful village Of New Jersey. about
twenty years ago. the subjects of our truthful
story. a small family, consisting OF a father and
two daughters, resided.
The head of this family. the Rev. James Welsh
ter, was Presbyterian minister of considera-
BILE celebrity. And well be deserved the repu-
tation he had achieved; for no night was too
dark or stormy, no distance too far, TO prevent
his attending the call of the distressed. To see
distress and to relieve its object to the extent OF
his ability were inseparable constituents Of his
nature; consequently, the small salary he re-
ceived from his flock barely kept the wolf from
his door. -'c.s-a ssl---=al ~ '-'-H
or the other members Of this family, the el-
der daughter, Celestine, was possessed Of an ex-
traordinary mind encased within a very ordi-
nary body, SO far as its comeliness was concern
ed. She was considered decidedly homely by
those not intimately acquainted with her, bul
TO those who new her well there never appeareG.
a more lovable creature since Ewes appearance
in the Garden. II was impossible while listen
ing to her soul-inspiring conversation to notict
any defect in thefeatures OF her face. .5i3C
The younger daughter, Abigail, possessed a
pure mind o fine symmetrical form, and wa
considered beautiful She had not had the ad
vantssss Of q mothers care and counsel In he,
younger days. as had her sister. for the mothe
departed for her home beyond the skies befor
the first anniversary of Abigairs birthday
Celestine then being in her eleventh year.
At the opening Of our story the sisters were o.
the respective ages OF seventeen and twenty
eeven years.
The company OF each was much soughtb by tn
gentlemen Of the neishborhood; but upon &c
lestine none had up to this time made any i'm
preston. Not SO with Abigail. Her affection
were gained by one Of all the world the leas
calculated to make her happy. and the leas
worthy among her numerous admirers.
This person. Philip Richardson, was youn,
man of wealthy parents. and, as Is too often thFl
case, had beenfaised to believe that the great
est amount of so-calied pleasure each could 81
tain before the grim warrior death had wrestles
with and thrown him was the true object off
istence. re-~---7r.eT r--t -.1EEH,
He possessed a handsome form and face, tn.
features of which were an index to his cold. in
sidious, and diabolical heart. But, alas tor Alb
igail she did not possess the faculty of readini
them. Had che been able to lay open the breas
of this fend in human shape and read the
crets of his heart, how many psngs of bitter IT.
morse her ill-judged marriage with him causeo
her would have been averted; and the hOi.
rid reality of "man's inhumanity to man
might have been in her case prevented.
Her punishment was strictly mental; and oh
how severe was her anguish how keen the tor
ture to that sensitive mind! until natures las
resort was brought into requisition and reason
abdicated its throne to leave her body helples
wreck! z...--
But we anticipate. Let us retrace our step
and observe the efforts made by the friends q.
the family TO prevent the sad results followini
upon ths secret courtship of Philip Ricilardsoi
for had he attempted 10 pay his court openI
the villain would have been exposed before hi :
influence over poor Infatuated Abigail had BE-
come SO Overwhelmingly great as to induce h.
to set aside the wise counsel of her father, an
to say TO him, "Whither thou goest will 60.
Richardson, al the time of the arrival of tn
Weishter family in the village, was known
the widest and most inscriptions young ma
in the county. 1t was his horse that won tn
last race, and his game chickens were neys.,
beaten in the pit. He had graduated at one q.
the best universities in the country, but his
early training and naturally wicked propensis
ties were entirely too strong to be eradicated b.
his liberal education.E r-,fort "
He was the child OF shame and, sis general
iy the case in such instances. was active in his
emotions, intense in his affections. and strone
In will.
To her he was ever kind and considerate; t.
all the world beside he was cold, reticent, an,
their distress was to him the greatest feast.
MI. weishter, upon the death OF his wife, Z,
whom he was devotedly attached. left the Stat.
and for nftsen years wandered from place I,
place, endeavoring to hnd that rest which hs
had 80 often pointed out 10 others, but which
he was now strangely unable to see for himsel {.
At the expiration of this time he settled in tia.
village In which We. found him at the openin;
of our story. 80 49, ~ - 3
Richardson was one of the first to become &C
quainted with the family upon tn. ir arrival
end Abigail was at once marked by him as hi.
victim. ------
How to win this charming creature was tn,
first thought that arose in his mind and draw
ing on his ready wit, he set to work to compa,
his designs. His horses were disposed Of to
replaced by others less snowy; his chicken
were presented to his companions and the,
company thereafter was strictly eschewed II
became an attendant at Mr.. weishter's churcl.
and in little while, member OF the same
He also commenced the study Of ,msdicine sun.
der the instruction Of the most skillfuI and sue
-cessful practitioner in the village.
Never was such an apparent change wrought
In the disposition and character OF any ON.
since the time of Paul; and Richardson tool
particular pains to have Mr.. weishter infornes
that he had been instrumental In pfoducint
this seeming change.
Some two years elapsed, during which Phil,
and Abigail were in constant Communication
with each other. How bright to her appeareo
those rspidly-passing moments when ahe ha,.
left her house for the trysting place to meet he.
~Han Love. nfst Love! thou word that sums al
The spsrkIine cream OF all Time.s bisssedne.A
The silken down OF happiness complete!
She gathered and selected with her hard
All hnest relishes all fairest sights,
All rarest odors, all divtnest sounds,
And brough the holy mixture home, and dllet
The heart with all superlatives Of bliss" + n
Richardson's excuse TO her TOR not paying hi.
ceurt openly was. he did not wish his friends T.
hear of It until the cempletion of his medical
studiss go Trss zaf a
The true reason for the secrecy was, he was al
ready engaged 20 young lady Of wealth, IN
ono Of his set, who would not be likely to Civ.
him up withous n struggle. KnowIsdss Of thi.
must BE kept from Abigail. and as the LAZY In
question lived In . remote portion. Of the stste
-1hia sxns not dinicrlt TO do. s..sI
2hewEs s. PEevidsn0ssrs inssrusebls TO hu.