Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-06-30


riage celebrated with one whose soul
and affections are placed on another
object"
Here she hesitated, while /, with
anguish of mind almost insufferablc
begged her to proceed.
"About six or eight months after
your departure" she continued, ''it
was reported to Miss Reynolds that
she had rival in the West Indies;
that you had there found an English
beauty upon whom you lavished those
endearments which belonged Of right
to her alone. This at first made a
deep impression on her; and whether
from this cause, from fickleness of
disposition, or that she never sincere
ly loved you, know not; but this l
do know, that youth has been for
some time past her constant compan-
ion. TO convince you of this, you
need only visit the old, uninhabited
house bordering on the river, about
nine or ten this evening, when you
will undoubtedly surprise Miss Rey-
nolds and her lover, enjoying one of
their pleasant, loving interviews. If
1 should be mistaken, 1 will submit
to your censure; but should you find
it rs l have predicted, you have only
to rush from your place of conceal
ment, charge her with her perfidy,
and renounce her forever"
OF all the plaques, Of all the tor
ments, of all the curses which torture
the soul, jealousy of a rival in love
is the worst.
Enraged, confounded and astonish-
ed, it seemed as if my bosom would
instantaneously burst. TO conceal
my emotions, l left my sisters apart
ments, after having thanked her for
her information, and proceeded to
obey her injunctions. 1 retired to
my room and there poured out my
execrations.
"Cursed woman % l cried, sis it
thus you requite my tender love?-
Could a vague report of my inconsis-
fancy drive you to infdelity? Did
net my letters breathe alteration, and
did not yours portray the same sim
cerity of affection? No; it was that
wretched passion for novelty which
more or less holds a predominacy
over your whole sex. To new low
er you will sacrifice your most sacred
engagements, though made in the
face of heaven %
The clock struck the hour of ten.
I sprang from my seat and rushed in
to the street. The "trysting hour"
had come, but the storm without had
made me oblivious to the hell with
in. The scenes, externally and in
ternally, were well fitting to the
black and damning deed l was that
night destined to peform.
was alone in the street, Not one
Of the hardy inhabitants of the town
dared venture out on such an even
ing as that. On l went, with burn
ing fever consuming my inmost soul.
On and on, unmindtul Of the terrible
aspect of the raging elements. The
boiling, seething, turbulent river, as
it flowed angrily on, the bowling
winds, the lurid lightning, the loud
bolts of thunder, were uncared for
and unheeded by me. l arrived in
view of the old house by the river
side. l looked-all was dark, silent
and gloomy. l closed my eyes,
clenched my hands, and swore by
the black heavens above me to be
avenged.
l opened my eyes, and Il bright,
lurid, fantastic light was streaming
from one of the lower windows
The light at first was so dazzlingly
brilliant that 1t almost blinded me-
| crept stealthily up nearer to the
window, and there witnessed scene
which paralyzed every fibre in
my organization, and caused every
drop of blood to CONCEAL in my viens.
saw Miss Reynolds closely locked
in the arms of a young man elegant
ly dressed, and of singularly delicate
appearance. They were earnestly
conversng in a low tone Of voice,
and the hand of my fair one was
gently pressed in the hands of the
stranger. / drew close to the win
dow, applied my ear to a crevice,
and, with the fury of pandemonium
in my heart, I listened.
The stranger clasped Miss Rey-
nolds in his arms.
dearest angel !" he exclaimed,
"what an interruption to our bliss by
the return of my hated rival"
With very fond caresses and en-.
dearing Establishments, she replied:
"Fear nothing. I have promised,
and must yield him my hand; but
you shall never be excluded from my
heart. We shall find sufficient op.
portunities for private conference"
I could hear no more. My brain
was on fire; and, rushing from my
place of concealment, I with bound
sprang through the window and con-
fronted them.
"Ungrateful and false-hearted wo-
man," 1 exclaimed, "is it thus you
return my ldolatrous love? You
have deserted me. You have per-
jured your most sacred vows, and
thus l am avenged"
And placing pistol at her breast,
I shot her through the heart; and
turningto her companion thou,
perfdious contamination and destroy
er of my bliss, 90 attend thy compan-
ion in iniquity, death too good for
so foul q crimep-and Immediately
drawing my knife, l stabbed him to
the hilt in tho breast.
With the words: "Oh, George /!
Your wife, your sister," he fell faint
ing to the floor.
My God! That voice! 1t rang in
my ear like funeral knell. 1t rings
to-day and will continue to ring
requiem of remorse as long as time
shall last.
1t was, indeed, my betrothcd wife;
it was, indeed, my beloved sister,
The one lay dead before me, the 9th
er wcltering in her blood.
raised my sisters head into my
lap. In faint and dying voice sne
told that in q weak moment thew had