The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-08-29

glance told me what these letters We're.
They were loye-lettersl The packet
was tied BY pink ribbon with silver
edge. A. touched the ribbon the
thought occurred 10 me: j. this rightP
l. this work worthy of an honest man?
To steal the secrets Of woman. SEE
crets which belong to the time when she
was 4 young girl! Can l ask her 70
render an account Of the thoughts she
had before she belonged to me? Can
be jealous Of time when she did not
know mep Who could suspect her of a
fault? Who? was base enough to do
SO. and the devil again whispered IN my
ear: Surprising that these letters were
If time when had already right 70
all her thoughts, a right 10 be jealous
even of her dreams, when she was al
ready mine? united the ribbon. No
one saw me. There was not even a
mirror in the room "a make me blush
for myself. | opened one letter, then
another. and read them to the end.
..Oh what fearful hour that was
for me, What did those letters con
tana The vilest betrayal Of which n
man was ever yet the victim and they
were written by one Of my most inti-
mate friends! And in what strain,
what passion. what certainty of his love
being shared, How he spoke If sccre-
cy, What counsels he lavished on the
art Of decciving husband! And all
these letters were of time when was
married and perfectly happy! Shall ]
tell Won what | feltP Imagine the in
toxication caused by deadly poison.
drank deeply Of that poison. read all
the letters-all Then refolded them,
retied the ribbon, replaced the packet
and shut the drawer.
~ knew that if did not 20 for her
al ~ o'clock she would come back from
the Countess in the evening. And SO
il happened. She got down hastily from
the carriage and ran towards me ~
stood waiting for her on the steps. She
kissed me with extreme tenderness and
seemed 70 be very glad 70 be with me
again let nothing be seen on my
face. We talked. we supped together
and then retired to our separate bed
rooms. did not close my eyes. Wide
awake, counted every hour. When
the clock struck a quarter past midnight
got up and passed into her bedroom.
There was the beautiful blonde head
buried in the white pillows. Ii j. thus
that angels are depicted in the midst Of
white clouds. What a frightful lie was
this on the part Of Nature; vice with a
face Of such innocence. My resolution
was taken. | had the stubbornness Of
the madman haunted by fixed idea.
The poison had corrodcd my whole soul.
II placed my right hand gently under
. n lar.
She opened for one moment her large,
bark blue eyes, looked 1T me with az
constituent. then closed them and died
She died without struggling against me,
| as II falling asleep. She was never an
/ CRY with me, not even when killed her
: One drop Of blood fell from her mouth
| on the back Of my hand. You know
/ where; did not perceive 1t until til,
next day. when it had dried. We bulie,
: her without any one suspecting tn,
I truth. I lived there in complete soil
: tude: who was there 10 control my ac
: tons? She had neither relatives moi
E protectors 10 question me on the subjec
= and ds-signedIy put off writing to m,
A friends, 50 that none Of them could ai'
i rive in time.
Z .On coming back from the vault
: did not feel the slightest weight on IN,
Y consciedce. had been cruel. but sh'
= deserved ii. l did not hate her: | coul,
: forget her; hardly thought about it
A Never did Il man commit murder will
r less remorse than /
: ..On my return. found in the chateau
r the Countess 80 often mentioned. Nj,
I. measures had been 10 well taken tina
~ l.t.. 81.
r She seemed much agitated on seeing me
: Terror. sympathy, grief know me-
{ what made her speak 50 confuSedl
b that could not understand what III
/ said to console me.
2 ibid | even listen TO her? VIVA
! need had Of consolation? was no
Il sorrow stricken. Finally she took me fl
i miliarly by the hand and said in 10,
}, voice that she was obliged 10 confide /
o me secret and that she counted on m
4 honor as nobleman not to abuse il
She had given 10 my wife to keep for he
n a package Of letters that she could no
II keep herself, and she begged of me I
a give them back 10 her. While she wa
il speaking felt several times that ! shi,
i cred from head to foot. With apparer
GOODNESS / questioned her on the con
j tents If these letters. At this qucstio
/ the lady started and replied with indit
= nation:
y ..'Sir, your wife was more gcnerol
y than yon. When she took charge I
q these letters she did not ask me the
!. contents. She even gave me her wor
j. never 10 look at them, and am col
pr WINGED that she never even glanced
: them. Hers was noble soul, and y
= would have disdaincd 70 break IN seer
her given word.
u alt l. well, replied. How shall
N recognize the packagep'