Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-08-28

cOncluQed that the pain had not re-
turned, for if it had ne could hardly
have held pen.
The letter ran as follows:
"MY DEAR DOCTOR: do not wish that
either you or medical science should be
left IN doubt as to the mystery of the
strange disease which will soon bring
me to my grave-and even elsewhere.
81 am about to describe to you the
origin Of this terrible malady. It
broke out week ago and can struggle
against it no longer. At the present
moment can only manage to trace
these lines by placing on the sensitive
part piece of lighted finder, to serve
as cataplasm. As long as the finder
burns L do not feel the other pain-and
it is nothing in comparison.
Six months ago was still a very
happy man. 7 lived, without care, on
my income. [ was on friendly terms
with all the world, and took pleasure
in everything that can interest man of
thirty-fiVe. had married a year ago,
married for love, a most beautiful young
girl, Of cultivated mind and with the
best heart in the world, who had been
companion to certain countess, my
neighbor. Ny wife had no fortune, and
the love she had for me was not only
gratitude, but also the genuine affec-
ton Of child. Six months passed in
SUCH way that the morrow always
seemed to me happier than the eve. If
sometimes / was obliged to go to Pesth,
and leave my home for day my wife
had not q moments peace. She would
| fTErn I los 4hn - ~
me. IL | was belated she would stay
awake all night waiting for me, and if,
by dlnt of entreaty, she was prevailed
upon to go and see her former mistress,
who was still very fond other, no power
IN earth could keep her there more
than half a day, and even then her re-
grets for my absence put the others out
of temper. Her fondness for me went
SO far as to make her give up dancing,
SO as not to be obliged to put her hand
into strangers; and nothingc aused her
such grave displeasure as the compli-
ments she was apt to receive. In q
word, | had for my wife an innocent
child; who had no thought but for me,
and who would confess her dreams to
me as enormous crimes if she had not
dreamt Of me.
"One day [ know not what demon
whispered in my ear, Surprising all
this were only dissimul&ted? Men are
mad enough to seek how they can tor
ment themselves in the midst of the
greatest happiness.
Ny wife had workable the draw
er of which she kept carefully locked.
| had noticed this several times. She
never forgot the key, and never left the
drawer open.
"The question ran in my head,
What can she be hiding from me there?
Ihad taken leave Of my senses. [ no
longer believed either in the innocence
of her face or in the purity of her eyes,
IN her caresses or in her kisses. Sup
posing all that were nothing but hypoc-
risy?
Zone morning the countess came
again to fetch her, and after much en-
treaty succeeded in deciding her to
spend The day with her. Our estates
were some miles apart, and | promised
my wife to 60 and join her.
AS soon as the carriage had left the
courtyard [ gathered together all the
keys OF the house and tiled them in the
lock Of the little drawer. One of them
opened it. | felt like man commit
ting his first crime. | was thief about
20 surprise the secrets of a feeble wO-
man. My hands trembled as | drew
from out the drawer, prudently, care
fully, one by one, the obie contained
therein, so that no confusion should
betray that strange hand had ran
sacked them. My breast heaved; /
was well-nigh suffocated. Behold, sud-
denly, beneath mass of lace, had
placed my hand on packet of letters
felt as if flash of lightning had
passed from my head to my heart.
Alas one glance told me what these
letters were! They were love-letters!
THE packet was tied by o ribbon
with silver edge.
Gas I touched the ribbon tn thought
occurred to me: Is this right? Is this
the work of an honest man? To steal
the secrets of a woman Secrets which
belong to the time when she was
young GIRL Can | ask her to render
an account of the thoughts she had be-
fore she belonged to me? Can | be
| Jealous Of time when she did not
know me? Who could suspect her of
fault? Who? I was base enough to
do so, and the devil again whispered in
my ear: Supposing that these letters
were of time when | had already a
right to all her thoughts, right to be
jealous even of her dreams, when she
was already mine? [ united the rib
! bon. No one saw me. There was not
| even a mirror in the room to make me
blush for myself, [ opened one letter,
then another, and read them to the
end"
"Oh what Il fearful hour that was
for mel What did these letters con-
tain? The vilest betrayal of which
man was ever the victim; and they
were written by one of my most init
mate friends! And in what a strain!
what passionl what certainty of his
love being shared! How he spoke Of
secresy! What counsel he lavished on
the art Of deceiving husband! And
all these letters were Of time when [
was married and perfectly happy!
Shall tell you what [ felt? Imagine
the intoxication caused by a deadly
poison. [ drank deeply of that poison.
[ read all the letters; all. Then [ re-
folded them, retied the ribbon, replaced
the packet, and shut the drawer.
~ knew that if [ did not 60 for her
at II O'clock she would come back from
the countess in the evening. And so
it happened. She got down hastily
from the carriage and ran towards ne
as [ stood waiting for her on the steps.
] Shn IL cd