Daily globe., 1879-02-09
THE CONFESSIONS OF A CORPSE

THE CONFESSIONS OF A CORPSE
& "Nes-it is just the old story, as you and
fOretold you remember, when we heard that
Bertha had married old Gage Don't YOU
know you said that if she wanted to be happy
she had best keep as far away from Eugene as
pOssible?"
"Yes-I recollect that I had misgivings
then. The truth is, that she always loved
Eugene, and al the arriage-ceremonies in
the world could not have made her one with
John GAGE.
True enough. Women are the most ex.
traordinary beings on the face of the earth
Engene is well enough to do in the pecuniary
way, to have married Bertha, and made he1
happy. Their families liked each other all
around, and could never see any reason fol
her accepting old Gage, except that he is as
rich as CrpSus."
"Well there is no accounting for a woman's
nature. OF such is the kinfidom of crino
line!"
Eugene Lisle had been one of my few true
friends. We were boys together-had grown
up side by side-shared everything between
us for many years, and were far more brother
ly than most brothers are. But when a man
falls in love, and is loved in return, it separates
him from his masculine companions as newt
ably as death. Eugene was no exception tc
the rule. He met Bertha Linton, got ac
quainted with her, and loved her, For while
they were considered to be betrothed; but
ereiong John Gage-a retired broker, cold ot
eye, harsh Of voice and slow of action-laid
his money-bags at her feet, and bought hel
with their glittering contents.
With culpable weakness for one who had
the strength to make such a bargain, Bertha
persuaded her husband to take lodgings in a
hO1Sn whnrp She know ipto Io5 ~
take up MS abode also. Gage had heard
nothing of Eugene's love for Bertha, and con.
sented without fear or suspicion. The young
man came shortly to the house. met Bertha
and, as might have been expected, mutual un-
happiness was the result.
AS sat gloomily thinking of the bright old
days before Bertha had ever pierced the poor
fellows heart with her darkly- splendid glance
or entangled it in the sable meshe5 of her long,
graceful ringlets-comparing those days to
the present, with its scattered friends, its with
cred blossoms of hope, and it's lowering pre-
sentiments OF an evil hour yet to come-I was
startled by atap at the door.
The plump and buxom housemaid entered.
"A boy is waiting, sir, at the door. He
brought this"
MY dear boy: Come in and see me. l. am
sick, frightened. Can you come immediate.
~? EUGENE"
. Aei Cue oOy Will come, Joanna" said to
the girl, and began dressing myself to 20 out
on the instant A brisk walk of half mile
brought me to the quiet little house-halt
hotel, half boarding -house-where my old
friend lived.
found him lying on the sofa before the fire,
IN dressing-gown, smoking cap, and slippers
look quite CHASTITY. His sharpened features
and the blue black crescent underneath his
eyes told OF sleepless night; and his languid
action, as he arose and came forward to greet
me, indicated the exhaustion that follows a
mental storm.
"What's the matter now, old fellow ?' I
asked, with an assumption Of gayety.
ut is all up with me, Pm afraid I have
been fool, an egregious fool, and now comes
the consequences"
Don't be mysterious"
"Well, l must tell some one, and you are
the best man I know for a confidant; so I had
best give you the whole story. Sit down.
There are ci gars on the mantel.piece"
lit cigar, drew q caDacious, softly-cush-
loned arm chair up to the head Of the lounge,
and prepared myself to listen to his version
OF story, the outline of which had already
anticipated.
1t touched me to see how he shielded Bertha
IRON all blame in telling this sad history.
I'VE are all human, you know, George"
said Eugene; "and I am equally blamable
with her; indeed am the most in fault.''
Then he told the terrible sequel to the
romance. 1t had only happened the night
before. John Gage had heard something
that had aroused his worst suspicious, and
there had been fearful scene between him
and his wife. He swore that he would leave
no stone untllrned to get proofs of her incon-
tinence; and when he got them he would
ruin Eugene if it cost him his entire fortuue
He had even gone so far as to strike Bertha
heavy blow on the face, and then had stalked
away, muttering horrid oaths, while the poor
girl, terrified beyond measure-a little for
herself and great deal for her lover-ran to
Eugene's rooms and sought refuge in his
arms. 1t had been wiser had she sought that
refuge before the altar.
This made Eugene fearfully angry; and his
feeling of impotence-of being on the unpop-
ular side-made him i'll. The woman he low
cd more than his life was suffering, and liza
BILE to violence at any minute, yet he could
not interfere without making matters worse.
He talked, foollshly enough, about suicide
and asked me, with great naivete, whether
thought prussc acid or laudanum was prefer
able!
use tobacco, by all MEANS" said I. sPro-
fessor Youmans once demonstrated, in nv
hearing, that a single pipeful of tobacco,
smoked in the ordinary way, would kill a
man. l advise you to try it, and dismiss
all nonsensical ideas Of any other kind of poi
son, now and forever"
cheered him up as best | could, and gave
him open assurance that, comic what might
Charley Hale and myself were ready to be-,
friend him.
Plainly, the best service Charley Hale and
lcOuld render our friend was to send him off
to the antipodes or anywhere else as soon as
possible. He was in continual sort of low
nervous fevec that bid fair to bring him down
unless something were done to change the
TIDE OF his life Gage openly, avowed his in
He would not kill Eugene. he said, but would
follow him up with his malice, and never al
low him moments peace again
He was just the man to do it, too Rich and
cruel-a gOlden-hearted mamie had the
means, as well as the desire, to ruin his
enemy.
Eugene was fully alive now to the necessity
OF going away somewhere-anywhere out Of
scandal. He was satisfied that Bertha would
be treated more harshly while he was near:
SO, after an impassioned leave-taking with
her, he went off, away into the wilds of Min
nesota, with heavy heart and a blank future
We tried to keep it secret where he had
gone, but it was impossible Gage found It
out, and sent a police officer to arrest him for
having stolen diamond ring belonging to
Bertha. So Eugene was brought back; and
Bertha was compelled to swear in court that
she gave him the ring herself!
This double humiliation nearly killed him.
and for long time he was confined to his
bed by severe illness. As soon as he recoy-
cred sufficiently Charlie and I sent him of
again, incognito, to far Southern city.