National Republican., 1884-06-21


The popular belief that murder will out
will be strangely enough shown in the fol-
lowing sketch:
In ono of tho Rhine provinces there lived a
married couple, seemingly happy, although
the husbands years were moro than twice
that of his youthful spouse. Her
marriage to one SO much her senior
was effected through the directive
influence of her parents, who saw
in the union large accumulation of worldly
stores and riches for their child. False sight!
They were tillers of the soil, and had in their
employ a young servant man whose diligence
was extolled by all. Why did fate destinc
him to be there? They were married but
some thing over year when it was given out
that the husband, being full of years, had
suddenly sickened and died. News of his
death caused no especial surprise, it being un-
thought of among the good neighbors that it
could be otherwise than natural.
Time grew apace, and becoming hour saw
her the wife OF the young servant man. Their
years of welded life flew on. Surrounded
with the comforts that their thrifty yoars of
toll had secured, their lives seemed to en-
brace universal happiness. But was II SO
A score Of years had now elapsed since her
former husbands deCease. Little now was
his name or the subject of his death men
toned by any of his former friends in life.
In death he was quite forgotten. And had 1t
not been for singular circumstance the sub
ject of his dying, in the tomb, might have
remained hushed forever! 1t was this: Tho
sexton in making grave alongside of
the dead man's-for this is a customary
manner of disposition and burial of the dead
in those countries met with tho
upper part of his remains, which, curiously
viewing, his sight was more than amazed at
actually seeing the skeleton head move at
intervals For an instant dumbfOundly
gazing ut its strange action, trembling fear
seized him and without stopping to investi-
gate the cause of the phenomenon he at once
repaired with all possible speed to the parish
priest, to whom he earnestly related the
marvellous occurrence. The priest unaccus-
toned to believe in things of SO sensational
character, which by somo are supposed
to have no existence at all, regarded
the old mans story incredulously, and was at
first disposed to pay no attention to his i'm
portunity to accompany him back to tho
grave to SEQ himself the truth OF what he
related. However, observing tho mans un-
usual earnestness, he at last consented to go.
Upon arriving, he indeed saw that the simple
sexton had spoken from the evidence of his
senses. But satisfied that it could be found
to proceed from natural causes, and what had
filled the humble sexton with wonder had no
III WAN ubShSico VI
world, he at once approached
and made an examination, aud
found within the head-a mouso's nest n
revelation that quickly dspelled all previous
mystery. Yet, while ho was still narrowly
peering within the hollow cavity, dou tless
musiug on tho all-engrossing power Of death,
the unmaker of breathing things, no saw what
suddenly filled him with dread aud horror,
and crowded his mind with dark conclusions,
grave speCu latiOns and shadOwing Susniciona
1t was a nail that had boen driven deeply into
the head Presently, bethinlting who the man
was, his sudden death, and his widows sub
sequent marriage with tho young serving
man, his mind misgave him that u foul deed
had slept long unpunished, and suspicion
pointed to them. 1t could be shown with
reasonableness that motives were not wanting
toward the perpetration of the horrid crime.
Untimely and by heartless treachery had the
old man lain in death.
The priest communicating tho whole cir
cumstan;e ;es Of the affair to the proper author
tiles, officers were Immediately dispatched tC
make tho arrest. AcGosting tho faithloss
wife at her own door she. burdened with her
wretched load Of guilt, OWNED tho motive OF
their coming, and, without waiting for them
to disclose the object of their presence
openly confessed the murder Of her former
husband.
Such was the strong conception Of her own
guilt, and her constant dread of its detection
that it is moro probable, if the grave had still
kept its secret, and tho officers at any other
time, inOtticially meeting with her ut her owI
door, or perhaps elsewhere, she, sin haunted
would have made the same guilty confession
Her second husband having no hand in tn,
murder, though aware of its existence fo
some time back, little later on witnessed
her execution.