The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-12-23
The Poisoned Phial.

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The Poisoned Phial'
1t was a winters night Of piercing
cOldness in Amsterdam. The rich
banker, Brounker, sat near his stove
smoking a long pipe; opposite him
was his intimate friend, Won Grote,
who also on his side sent out enor-
nous volumes of smoke. Madame
Brounker and her children were
gone to party; so the two friends
sure of not being interrupted, con
versed confdentially.
"What can be the reason" said
said Grote to Brounker, "that you
will not consent 10 the marriage of
your son with the daughter of Bir-
kenrode?'
"My dear fellow, 1 do not oppose
the match it is my wife who will not
hear of it."
But what reason can she have to
refuse her consent?'
81 cannot tell you," answered
Brounker, lowering his voice.
ga mystery" exclaimed Grote.
"Come, you know how discreet 1 am;
let me know all about i"
But will you promise to be secretT
"Do you wish me to swear itY
swell! It is now six-and- twenty
years since 1 was married, and 1
frankly confess to you that 1 was
excessively jealous Of my wife. My
position obliged me to see a great
deal of company at home, and 1
feared that some of my numerous
visitors would rob me of my Clotil-
da's affections" one of these partic-
ularly, the gallant Colonel Birken-
rode, caused me the greatest fear,
inasmuch as he passed, in general,
for a very accomplished lady-killer
could not deny him access to my
house, as he belonged to very
powerful family, neither had any
thing in his conduct given me rea-
son to do so.
"At the time 1 speak of, 1 bought
this house, where 1 previously had
constructed in secret, behind this
stove, narrow closet, from which
1 could here all that passed in this
room, wherein my wife received her
visitors. For a long time Birken-
rode contended himself with depic-
ting IN the most vivid colors the pas
sion which consumed him; my wife
listened without making any answer.
At last, one day, he became more
impatient than before, and threaten
ed to blow his brains out before her
eyes, if she would not show a little
more pity. Greatly distressed at
this proof OF love, Clotllda burst in
to tears.
"'But ] am not at liberty ex
claimed she, in voice interrupted by
sobs.
"tAnd if your liberty were re-
stored to youP urged the Lothario
'Sirp said my wife.
"'If you become a widow, insis
ted he, swear to give me your hand.
TO this proposition my wife an
swered only with her tears, and be
left her much distressed.
ave both passed the night a prey
to the most violent agitation; pre-.
serving, however, a prudent silence
on the event Of the day.
"The next morning an extraordin-
ary occurrence greatly increased
the agitation of Clotilda. During
breakfast a servant came and whis-
pered in my ear that the cook wish
ed to speak to me privately. "Let
him come in," said 1. "I have no
secrets from my wife" The cook
came as pale as death; and, with a
long face, he told me that he had
that morning received a packet con-
tanning three hundred forms, a small
phial, and a note, telling him to put
the contents of the phial into the
first eel pastry be made. You well
know my extreme fondness for eels
while my wifscannot bear even the
smell of them He was promised
even a greater recompense if he faith
fully executed the commission.
Fearing some treachery, he hasten
ed to give me the phial, and the
three hundred forms. / immediate
ly put few drops of the liquid con
tanned in the phial on a lump of su-
gar, and gave it to my wife's little
dog. The poor little animal was
in an instant taken with violent con
vulsions, and expired in a few mo-
ments, in the most cruel tortures.
There was no doubt that the inEen-
tion was to destroy me. At the
sight of the dying animal Clotilda
had thrown herself into my arms
shedding a torrent of tears. "Pois-
on! an assassin p' exclaimed she,
clasping me tightly, as if to protect
me from some peril which menaced
me: "merciful Heaven, have pity on
u.s." 1 consoled her by saying that,
on contrary, 1 ought to be very
thankful to the unknown enemy,
who had proved to me the great af-
fection which my wife possessed
for me. The same day Brkenrode
came as usual, but Clotilda refused
to see him, and wrote to him to say
that she would confess all to her
husband, if ever he dared to show
himself again. Having uselessly
tried to calm her anger, 'he resolved
at last to marry; and since that our
families have had no communication,
except that my son has fallen in love
with his daughter; and although l
have given my consent, my wife op-
poses it."
"She is right" Indignantly ex-I
claimed Van Grote. 81 never should
have thought Birkenrode capable of
such vile action"
''Ha, ha, hap said Brounker,
bursting with laughter. do you,
then, too acuse himF"
"Who then, could it be, if he was
not the culprit?"
"It was myself, my dear fellow;
the adventure cost me 300 1orins,
which 1 gave my cook. 1t was
rather dear; but at the same time L |
got rid of dangerous rival, and
lap-dog which l equally dstested-
ha, ha, ha, ha"
''In your case, 1 should confess
all to my wife" said Van Grote.
.gTbo oction was q very cruel one; it