The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-03-13

Thank you, friend Barton. you were
| thong htful but see no cause for dis
quietude The young people are able, l
presume, to choose for themselves with
out our interference If they are suited
with each other. shall be satisfied with
their marriage.
The niser left the Office chuckiing over
the continued success of his scheme.
Hurry your wooing,' he said to
Charles, whom he met upon his return
home. If you would save your father
from disgrace.
I'm do it father, replied the heart
broken fellow; ''but Gcd knows the
struggle it costs nc.
Two weeks after this portion of New
York fashionable society was aston;shed
by the reception of cards announcing
the prospective union of Charles Barton
and Bertha Langdon. Nobody had ex-
pected such ali event, although the con-
tracing parties had been seen much to-
qether for short time. Circumstances
had favored the miSer's scheme Miss
Langdon was young lady of notions.
Pretty, petted, and self-wiIled she turned
like weather-vane with every new
breeze. Charles Barton was handsome
and popular His infatuation for Cora
had made him neglectful of the society
in which ne had previously moved, The
bellies to whom he had before been defer
eptial and attentive became neglected at
which they were one and all piqued.
But now npon his return to the shrine
of the heiress, that flighty young lady
grew vain-glorious. 1t was marked
triumph over her rivals, to whom he
was politely cool He proposed. and
she accepted. He suggested an early
marriage. and she agreed, There were
| no protestations of love on his part. nor
demand for it. on hers. It was all set.
lied expeditiously and without senti
ment He sought her hand and the
life long regret, to save his father from
disgrace. She accepted him in freak
| of gratiied vanity.
1t was the night before the wedding.
and Richard Barton sat in his room
Earlier in this history il was stated that
he did not ALLOW his misery proclivities
to interfere with his own comfort His
sleek proportions and rubicund face
| showed it. Before him, overspreading a
| capacious table, were the remnants of
sumptuous repast which he had just fin
ished. His fat face shone greasily. and
his full stomach protruded. A bottle of
wine stood before him, While he slipped
the contents from a glass, musing COM
iortabiy as he did so.
Tomorrow tn, lay" and he chuck
led as he thought g it now that's
what [ call wei! conceived and we'll
managed plan. 1t reflects credit upon
it 5 author. and its author is myself
Here's the correspondence in the case.
Charles handed it over to me-said he
hadn' t tho heart to keep them. Strange
how poorly that fellow appreciated his
good fortune-not z bit like his father"
Taking two notes from the table, he
opened the first and read as follows:
MIR. CHARLES BARTON " our letter
asking for my hand in marriage is now
betore me. Upon the consent of my
father, and fully realizing the honor con-
terred, | accept.
Yours truly,
BERTHA LANGDON.
Decidedly cool and business like"
commented the miser, draining another
glass, but satisfactory and to the point
Wonder what's the other" and he read
the second note,
''MY DEAR CHARLES it said. ''for
you are still dear to me. although you
have broken my heart. Yoar note is an
enigma. but ] comprehend that you de,
sert me for the wealth of an heiress.
May her money bring You the happiness
which | can only hope for in another
world, Farewell.
Cora
These poor PEOPLE will be ridiculous
~ sentimental, groWled the miser, fill
Jag his glass again, and growing drowsy
from his inordinate eating aud drinking.
Hello, whan's the matter with me |
Ny head feels queer. I've been drunk |
before, but | never felt like this Per-
haps another glass of wine will help
me.
lie drank it down at a gulp, but it |
did net bring relief On the contrary,
he felt decidedly worse. His head felt
as if bursting. his veins seemed running /
with molten lead, and he fel! heavily on
the floor. \ servant, hearing the noise |
ran in and lifted him on bed. A doc
tor was sent FOR, bat before he arrived, /
the rniser was dead.
Nv hat was the mattor?'' asked Charles
tearfuly
'Aporlexy. induced by heavy eating
and drinking, " replied the doctor, point
ing to the Uttered table.
The schemer had killed himself in
the success of his schemes
did the doctor come in here ?" asked
a brelthless boy. "'cos there's girl dy-
ine just around to Mr.. MERGERS. and
they sent me for him -
The doctor went at once.
81 can be of no further use here" he
sai,i, and life depends perhaps upon
my going
Hslf tewildered by these occurrences,
50 closely followed each other, Charles
Barton went with the doctor. They
found Cora Mercer lying pale and gasp
ing upon lounge in her fathers hum
tie parlor An empty bottle that Rad
contained . familiar poison stood on
table
For Gods sake save her," cried
CbarleS; If yeu don't her death viii be
on my hands, -
Without needing the young mans
lncoherent remarks, the doctor coolly but