The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-31
THE POISON VIAL.

"a
| sent out enormous volumes OF smoke.
| Madame Brounker, and her children
were gone to masked ball, so the two
| friends, sure of not being Interrupted,
conversed confidentially.
"What can be the reason" said Grote
to Brounker, s'that you will not consent
to the marriage of your daughter with
the son of Birkenrode?'
"My dear fellow, do not oppose the
match; it is my wife who will not hear
Of it,"
"But what reason can she have to re-
fuse her consentW
II can not tell you," answered Broun-
ker, lowering his voice.
"a mysteryV exclaimed Grote.
"Come, you know how discreet am; let
me know all about it,"
"But will you promise to be seeretW
"Do you wish me TO swear to itW
"Welll 1t is now six-and-twenty
years since l was married, and frank
| ly confess to you that was excessively
jealous of my wife. My position
obliged me to see great deal of COM
pany at home, and l feared that some Of
| my numerous visitors would rob me OF
my Clotilda's affections; one of these
particularly, the gallant Colonel Birken-
rode, caused me the greatest tear, mas
much, as he passed, in general, for a
most accomplished lady-killer. l could
not deny him access to my house, as he
belonged to very powerful family,
neither had anything in his conduct
given me reason to do 80.
sat the time speak of l bought this
house, where L previously had co..
structed III secret behind this stove, a
narrow closet, from which could hear
all that passed in this room, wherein
my wife received her VISITORS. For a
long time Blrkenrode contented himself
I'with depicting in the most vivid colors
the passion which consumed him; my
wife listened without making any an
swer. AT last one day he became more
impatient than before, and threatened
10 blew his brains out before her eyes,
if she would not show a little more pity
Greatly distressed at this proof Of love,
ClOtlda burst into tears.
"'But l am not at liberty exclaimed
she. in voice interrupted by soDs.
"'And il your liberty were restored
to youT urged the LoChario.
"'slrp said my wife.
"It you become widow insisted he
swear to give me your hand.'
s'ro this proposition my wife an
swered only with her tears, and he left
her much distressed.
"We both passed the night a prey to
the most violent agitation, preserving
however prudent silence ON the events
OF the day.
"rhe next morning an extraordinary
occurrence greatly increased the agita.
tion OF Clotilda. During breakfast q
servant came and Whispered in my eal
that the cook wished to speak 70 me
privately.
> "'Let him come in said I; 4 have no
secrets from my wife,
"Ihe cook came as pale as death and
with long face, he told me that he Ma d
that morning received packet contain.
ing three hundred forms, small VIAL
and a note telling him to put the con.
tents Of the vial into the first eel pas.
try tnat he made. (You well know my
extreme fOndness for cells, while my
wife can not even bear the smell ol
them.) He was promised even a great
er recompense if he faithfully executed
the commission. Fearing some treach
ery, he had FASTENED TO give me the vial
= and the three hundred forms. l imme
diately put few drops of the liquid con
Lained In the vial on a lump Of sugar
and gave it to my wile's little dog. The
|, poor little animal was in an instan
taken with convulsions and expired in 6
lew moments, in the most cruel tortures
There was now no doubt that the inten
ton was to destroy me. At the sight 0
the dying animal Clotilda had thrown
herself into my arms, shedding tof
rent OF tears.
"Poison! an assassinp exclaimed she
clasplng me tightly, as il to protect me
from some peril which menaced me
'mercilul Heaven have pity on usv
81 consoed her by saying that, on the
contrary, ought to be very thankful t.
= The unknown enemy, who had proved T.
me the great affection which my wit
possessed for me. The same day Birk
eurode came as usual, but Clotilda re
fused to see him, and wrote TO him t.
say that she would confess all to heI
husband, if he ever dared to show him
self again. Having uselessly tried t
! calm her anger, he resolved at last t
| marry; and since that our families nav
had no communication, except that M,
son has fallen in love with his daughte er
and although l have given my consent
F.. my wife opposes it,"
"She is right" Indignantly eXclaime
Van GroLe. 81 never should hav
thought Birkenrode capable of such
vile action"
cha, na, hap said Brounker, burst tin
with laughter. "Do yOa. then, too, &C
:, cuse himw
"Who, then, could it be, if he was no
the culpriLW
at was myself, my dear fellow; th
adventure cost me 300 forins, which
gave to my cook. IL "as rather dear
/, but at the same time | got rid of a daI
gerous rival, and lap-dog which
equally detested-ha, ha, hap
''In your case, should confess all
. nv wife," said Van Grote. "The actio
S was very cruel one; it is very wron
10 allow any one to rest under the impu
Z tation of being capable Of poisoning
fellow-creature; besides, are you nc
barterlng the happiness of your daugl
. teri"
It "Well, perhaps am; but how shall
4 undeceive my wife"
At this moment the door opened, an
Madame Brounker entered the room.
II thought you were at the ball, Cl(
: tilda," said her husband.
! "No; do not leel very we'll, and al
! going 10 bed. Maurice has aecompanie
, lis sisters. l have brought you a key
a which L found on your desk; and as
n does not seem to belong TO any OF th
e locks in this house, some friend of your
=, nut have left it behind him"
" Brounker, deeply blushing took th
key. He had recognized it.
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