The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-10-23

hy oboChCO, dlu III u tDutllltI
to the disease of the old gentleman.
The house was thus constantly kept
in mourning, and the pale widow, in
her weeds and deep affliction, became
an object of universal interest and
cOmmiseratiou. She seemed to take
| the death Of her husband and step
children very hard, indeed, and no wife
and mother could have been kinder and
more feeling than she, as she lowered
over Il EN- in their last moments. 1t
was curious. too, that each should be
stricken down In the same manner as
the captain and when the last one
lay dead, J suggested the propriety of
opening the body to sec if any light
could be thrown upon the cause but
Mrs. Crosby, with tears in her eyes,
begged me not to make the examina-
ton, saying the idea was most repug-
nant to her feelings and to avoid Civ
ing her pain, dropped the matter, and
allowed the affair to lest in the mys-
terry which enveloped it.
Time passed on, years rolled away,
and no more deaths occurred in the ILL.,,
fated family. In fact, there were only
two remaining of the name-the lovely
widow and her only child-who rapidly
| grew up into stout aud promising
| youth, zealously watched over by the
affectionate and pious care of his moth
er. The two were now the sole inhers
itors of much landed and personal prop
erty and as the widow still retained
| the bloom of wOmanhood, and was con-
sidered an eligible match, several over
lures of marriage were made to her, but
respectfully declined, she declaring
| that she had married once for love,
| and, as she could never love again, she
| would hencef0rth let her heart be in the
| grave with her dear, departed husband,
| whom, were it not for her dear beloved
son, she would be anxious to join in
| the world of spirits.
"But Heavens will be done - she
would piously add. "It is said that
whom lie loveth, He chasteneth and
believing this, / pray for resignation.
and feel that my prayers are answered I"
The eleventh birthday of the widows
son came and passed, and left him as
promising youth as there was to be
found in all that region. Shortly after
this, q messenger came for m in great
haste and Consideration, and reported
| that the lad was drowned. His body
had been taken home to his mother,
who was nearly distracted. There
were some who hoped that the child
might be resuscitated, and my presence
was wanted Immediately. | drove to
the mansion with all possible speed,
and there became witness of one of
| ha nj of I'm
boy was dead beyond hope, and my
whole attention AMI skill were directed
to the wild and distracted mother, who
| passed from one swoon into another,
with shriekS OF anguish, filling up the
short and conscious interval,
From this last terrible blow she nev.
er recovered. 1t was too much for her
| philosophy or religion. When the child
was buried, she was perfectly insane,
and remained so for several weeks,
| gradually wasting away to mere skel-
eton. They removed her to an insane
asylum, about five miles distant, and
whenever my practice called me to that
vicinity, made 1t a rule to Wit the
institution and Inquire after her wei
| fare.
One day, as rode up, the principal
came running out, and exclaimed, "you
are just in time, doctor was about
to send for you. Within the hour Mrs.
Crosby has recovered her reason, and
Is now begging to see you, declaring
that she has something important to
say to you, and not long to live, which
latter | believe"
was soon seated by the side of the
poor woman. She had beauty yet, but
II was the beauty Of the dying Hover.
Her features were deadly pale, and her
eyes and cheeks we're sunken. At first
she called me by name, aud grasped
my hand as II with pleasure, but drop
ped II suddenly, with violeHt shud.
der, and requested me to lock the door.
" Doctor" she said, when had com"
piled with her request aud again taken
my seat beside her, am about to die
Il feel It'll know it-but heaven only
knows why, 1t seems cannot die with
out confession, and SO have sent for
you. will be brief, for there Is no
need to dwell upon guilt and crime. In
q word, am a muTdress -
"You !" exclaimed |, fairly spring
ing from my seat, as a dreadful suspi-
ciOn Of the truth flashed upon my mind.
Yes, doctor, 1t is my dying confess
sion. | murdered my husbands father
first, then himself, and then one by
one, my four step children, to obtain
all the property for my son, and you
see how heaven has punished me by
taking him away also"
"Oh, wicked, wretched woman - |
exclaimed, horrihed and aghast at the
awful disclosure show is it possible
so lovely form could contain so hid
eous q fiend %
She went on TO state that sho had
poisoned each and all with arsenic, and
would haye given me the details OF
each separate "a urder, had not refnS-
ed to listen. She then begged me not
to disclose her secret while she lived.
'If you are living twenty-fo hours
from this time, shall go before mag
istrate, and reveal, under oath, all
you have confessed I" was my stern
reply, as rose and took my last earth
ly leave Of her.
Rut sha dipd tha follOWlu0 nI0ht ami