The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-01-15

man should be-thereforo as he kept at a
respectful distance, she was not dspleased
to find that he followed her to ascertain her
place Of residence.
Benjamin determined to become acquaint-
ed with the beautiful Edith, and soon sue
ceeded, for he found that salesman, a resi-
dent of Chicago, whom he had known in
business way for years, was frequent visi-
tor at her mothers house Of course his
friend knew nothing Of his antecedents, but
judged that he was respectable, and sup
posed, too, from his conversation, that he
was unmarried, therefore he introduced him
10 the Widow Conway and her daughter
without hesitation.
And now, not an evening passed, without
his being found at the widows house.
He had fluent, persuasive tongue-a gift
of throwing off small talk-onlivenod by
anecdotes, snatches Of poetry and witticismsi
with the news of the day he was au fat, and
conversant with the on dts of society.
Then, too, he was aided by pair of fine
eyes, 50 full of loving expressions made to
order, that one could not well believe that
their language was counterfeit, and not the
correct Interpretation of the emotions of his
heart.
Fine eyes do not in any case denote fine
minds, but Edith was too inexperienced to
know this, consequently they seemed TO her
TO be mirrors of truth and beauty, and, fas-
cinated, she did as girls generally do when
a young man pleases their iancy-gave him
her love, and invested him with all the
virtues.
Hattie, in her cottage home, kept "a swarm
of bees worth having-be patient, be hum
bic, be mild, but Edith was proud
and imperious.
While Hattie danced attendance with
fussy anxiety, she exacted attentions, capric-
iously smiling and frowning as the humor
pleased her, keeping Ben on his best be-
havior.
When he returned home carrying the
image Of Edith in his wicked heart, the ten
der ministrations of his young wife vexed
and annoyed him, and he became peeyish
and melancholy by turns.
Duty and passion were struggling for the
mastery, and when business again called
him Chicago, he allowed the old enemy of
souls to have his own way-thus Satan con-
quered, and Benjamin Wheeler "sold his
birthright for mess of pottage."
Taking due precautions to conceal all
knowledge of his history from Widow Con-
way, by plausible false representations, he
persuaded her into giving consent to his
marriage with her daughter, and the we'd
ding day fixed upon-he forgot his duty to
his wife, to his country and to his God, bu.
it must not be presumed that he had no mis-
givings or torturings of conscience.
The first step in wrong-dong being taken,
others followed in easy and rapid succession,
until his better instincts seemed stifled, and
he was ready for almost any crime.
Oftentimes it is difficult to draw the divid.
ing line between sanity and insanity, and
it becomes mOoted question.
At home Benjamin was generally moody
and morose, as if meditating some dark de-
sign, but one day, returning after long alb
sence, he surprised Hattie by an unwonted
pleasant mood-she was prostrated by illness
brought on by loneliness, and the depress-
ing thought that she was rot now necessary
to his happiness.
Darling" he said, "I grieve TO soc you SO
i'll; rouse yourself for my sake, and sit upon
my knee, dear, as you once used to do"
Hattie, overioyed, chided herself for har-
boring an unkind thought of her hero, con-
tentedly reclined her head upon his should
er, happy at being carressed.
'You are SO thin and pale, sweet" he con-
tinued, "that am sure you must have a
poor appetite. See, have brought in some
baked apple. nicely sugared to tempt you,'
at the same time movings small table near
er, placing the plate upon it, he fed her with
the apple by the spoonful, as she sat upon
his knee, she looked into his face with low
ing eyes, and said.
"Benny, you are just your dear old self
to-day, and am so happy" then as she re.
turned 10 the lounge, with half.clcsed eyes,
followed his every motion as be carefully
gathered the remains of the apple before
leaving the room, excusing his absence on
the plea of business.
When he returned home at late hour
that night, he was met at the door by friends,
who cautiously communicated the intelli-
gence that his wife had been found dead by
the landlady, about an hour after his de-
parture. He turned pale and trembled, and
when he saw her lying cold and still, he
gave way 10 an outburst of intense grief
eliciting pity from all around.
At the inquest, it was stated that Mrs.
Wheelers mother came to her death by
heart disease, so without much further in
vestigation il vas concluded that her daugh-
ter died in similar manner, and verdict
was rendered accordingly; and poor Hattie
was laid away but not forgotten, for Mem
esis pursued her husband.
Her trustiag, artless manner, while he
was daintily feeding her with the poisoned
apple, was ever before him.
II is asserted that murderers are continu-
ally baunted by their victims certain it is
the Good Book declares that "sin shall not
60 unpurished" Remorse and retribution
invariably follow in some form.
Having stained his soul by the greatest Of
crimes, be hcsitated at nothing further, and
before proper respect and decency permitted,
hurried to Chicago, where Edith was hasten
ing preparations for the marriage.
II wanted but week or two to the time
fixed upon, and her handsome lovers re-
turn was welcomed with delight. She tried
to talk and sing him out Of his dull mood,
and was as merry as bird. Then he cast
aside bitter memories, and abandoned him
self to the magic Of her sweet tones, engag-
ing manners, aud bewitohing beauty.
During the evening longtime friend,
who was visiting the city, called upon Airs.