Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-02-13
TIE CONFESSIONS OF A. CORPSE

TIE CONFESSIONS OF 4 CORPSE
'"Yes 1t IS just the old story, as ). you and
Bertha had married old Gage: Don't you
know you said that if she wanted to be happy
she had best keep as araway from Eugeneal
p "Yes@1 reco1lect that 7 had .misgiving
then. The truth is,that she always lovet
Eugene, and all the marriag e-ceremonies il
the world could not have made her one will
True enoug Oh. Women are the, most ex
traordinary beings on the face of the earth
Eugene is well enough to do in the pecuniary
way, to have married Bertha, and made hel
happy. Their families liked each other al
around, and IlcopM never see any: reason fol
her accepting old Gage, except that he is al
rich as Crnsus."
swell, there is no accounting for a woman't
nature. OF such is the kinddom of crino
Eugene Isle 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
falls In love, and is loved in return, it separates
him from his masculine companions as newt
ably as death. Eugene was no exception to
the rule. He met Bertha Linton, got &C.
quainted with her, and loved her. For while
they were considered to be betrothed; but
ere1ong John Gage-a retired broker, cold Of
eye, harsh of voice and slow of action-laid
his money bags at her feet and bought her
with their glittering contents.
With aculpable weakness for one who had
the strength to make such a bargain, Bertha
persuaded her husband TO- take lodgings in a
house where she knew Eugene intended to
take up his abode also. Gage had heard
10TH ~f az g. D@.k
sented without fear or suspicion. The young
man came shortly to the house, met Bertha
and, as might have been expected, mutual I'M
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 mesheo of her long,
graceful ringlets-comparing those days to
the present, with its scatteredfriends, its with.
cred blossoms of. hope, and it's lowering pre-
sentiments of an evil hour yet to GOMEZ was
startled by tap at the door.
The plump and buxom housemaid entered.
"A boy is waiting, sir, at the door. He
my dear boy: Come in and see me. l. am
sick, frightened. Can you come Immediate
"Tell the boy 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
friend lived.
found him lying on the sofa before the fire,
in dressing gowc, smoking-cap, and slippers
the guady figures of which made his face
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
inIiooto1 Sovhoncfinr hot I'LL a
mental storm.
whats the matter now, old fellow?
asked, with an assumption of gayety.
1T is all up with me, Pm afraid. have
been fool, an egregious fool, and now comes
the consequences"
Don't be mysterious"
"Well, must tell some one and you are
the best m an know for a confidant; so had
best give you the whole story. Sit down.
There are cigars on the mantel-piece"
lit.a cigar, drew a.ca|3acious, softly cush-
toned arm chair up to the head of the lounge,
and prepared myself to. listen to his version
of story y, the outline of which had already
anticipated. 49,:
It touched me to see how he shielded Bertha
from all blame in telling this sad history. ~
I'VE are all human, you know, George"
said Eugene; land l am equally blamable
with her; indeed, am the most in fault"
Then he told the terrible sequel to the
romance. It 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 unturned to get proofs OF her incon.
thence; and when he got them he would
ruin Eugene if it cost him his entire fortune
He had even gone so far as to strike Bertha 8
heavy blow on the face, and then had stalked
away, muttering horrid oaths, while the pool
girl, terrified beyond. measure-a little TO,
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
ceiling of impotence-ofb being on the unpop
ed more than his life was suffering, and liza
BILE to violence at any minute, yet he coult
not interfere without making matters worse
He talked, foolishly enough, about suicide
and asked me, with great naivete, whether
thought prussic acid or laudanum was prefe,
able!
+ use tobacco, by all MEANS" said I. "Pro
hearing, that a single pipeful Of tobacco
smoked in the ordinary way, would kill I
man. I advise you to try it, and dismiss
all nonsensical ideas of any other kind of poi
son, now and forever" =
Icheered him up as best could, and CAV
him open assurance that, comic what might
+ Charley Hale and myself were ready to be
| Plainly, the best service Charley Hale ant
Icould render our friend was to send him OF
| to the antipodes or anywhere else as soon a
| possible He was In a continual sort of Low
! nervous fever that bid fair to bring him dow
! unless something were done to change tn
tention to be revenged on the poor fellow
He would not kill Eugene. he said, but weul
follow him up with his malice, and never al
low him moments peace again
He was just the man to do 1t, too. Rich an
cruel-a golden hearted mamie had tn
means, as well as the desire, to ruin hi
enemy.
! Eugene was fully alive now to the necessit
of going away omewhere-anywhere out q
scandal. He was satisfied that Bertha woul
be treated more harshly while he was near
I so, after AN impassioned leave-taking wit
her, he went of, away into the wilds of Min
nesota, with q heavy heart and a blank futur
| We tried to keep It q secret where he ha
gone, but it was impossible. Gage found
out, and sent police officer to arrest him 70
having stolen q diamond ring belonging
Bertha. So Eugene was brought back; an
Bertha was compelled to swear, in court tha
she gave him the ring herself!
This double humiliation nearly killed hin
and for a long time he was confined to hi
cred sufficiently Charlie and 4 sent him o
again, ineognito, to far Southern city.
But Gage was too keen for us again. II
found out where his enemy was once NOR
and by hiring two abandoned women to swes
that they were both married to him had hil
brought q second time before q New Yor
Judge, accused OF bigamy.t The greatest POI
sible publicity was given to both these trials
and although the two women were proved
be VIGOROUSLY bad characters, and would hay
been indicted for perjuIers had it not been Il
: the lavish use of Cages gold, yet Eugene
81 fair fame was furnished. Nobody knew WI
was right and who was wrong. It was di
! reputable charge anyhow, and the youn
man found himself an object Of distrust an
/ suspicion everywhere: sa52?f zE@5l2: &":ti -
q II am sick of this" said he, one day to hin
a self and myself; Eugene Isle is q bad nam
3 It has fallen into bad company, and he wi
d bears it is worse than dead. IEwish he We
really So" .8yra2 10 2ah h s5s ~ .Y1:is5ss.
"Then, Why the deuce don't you die?'' ask
Charlie; I'VE will help you."'44a -. b..:rsz
what do You meanr' sas@.sstg.si'5 i. Il
"Simply that have an idel. Stand T
alongside of George there SO; that's it7y
yyes-l think 81! can do IT. .,zis IL. Il a
Viewer mind; m show you.u ss.s 80 ss,. ..&
. sBut what did you want us , 70 stand up !
"OnlY "a Zee whether Va YOU could be fnSpda