Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-07-24

IOrlDeI pOsstsSt5-
We'll, dear, III get you canary
bird, or "a poll-parrot, or a Maltese =
scat, Charles" / cried, half anus
ed and half yexed. you know have
often told you that | dislike those
things The piercing notes Of a can
airy 90 through my head parrot is
odious, and / have detestation for
the whole feline tribe But / wish
YOU could see this little beauty. /
! know she has not her equal in New
4 York city"
"Pshaw (" cried my husband. How
YOU women do carry on.
IF you could only see her for your
self. Charles, know you would be Of
NV opinion. | retorted warmly.
I But Charles only "pshawed" again,
and said he had no use for such small
| fry.
So, finding my husband so unsym
pathetic on the subject, did not men
tion it again, but continued my daily
walks IN the Square and my constant
meetings with Floribel. AT these
meetings / always took her in my
arms. and lavished a thousand car
esses upon her. / had learned to love
the little thing dearly, and | believe
she loved nae in return. She would
always run to meet me with a glad
little cry Of recognition, and she did
indeed beguile many of my weary
hours.
But the more l saw of her, the more
I lonced for her. | wanted her for
NV very own. / should then and
there have fed temptation and never
looked upon her again. But ! could
not That innocent face, those sweet,
bright ewes which had learned to
know me so well, possessed a fascina-
ton | could not resist. / coveted her
possession so earnestly that 1T became
The one absorbing subject Of my
thoughts. / resolved to steal herr
Who can understand the workings
Of the human mind? Who can tell
what conflicts Of conscience | endured
ere I came to so sinful resolutions
Judge not, ON man. thou that judgest
thv brother; and, oh woman. that
mdgest thy sister woman Wait till
We also are tempted, ere ye condemn.
Know yCu not that one idea long
dweIt upon in secret dominates over
The mind till insanity is producedl |
can offer but one plea IN my behalf
Il believe | was temporarily insane,
and hardly accountable / certainly
became q monomanlac
Inever breathed my intention to my
husband. lie would most certainly
have prevented its execution. ! did
not thiuk what account | should rem
der TO him afterward, should / succeed
in my design.
If / had thought that the treasure
could have been purchased, there Is
no sum | would have considered too
exorbitant to have given to get her
into my possession. But / felt sure
such offer would have been worse than
useless.
From the moment | made up my
mind to commit the theft, ] watched
for my opportunity, but for some
time none presented itself, | never
saw her without the nurse, or some OF
the family, who always kept close
watch upon her. But one day | met
her as usual in the Square with the
nurse, and a bright thought occurred
to me.
Here, nurse / said, for we had
become quite well acquainted now,
and drawing some small change from
my pocket, take this and go across
the square to that candy chop and get
some sugar-plums, and well have a
little feast under the trees. Florlbel
looks as though she would enjoy
some and I'll take care of her while
you are gone The nurse readily
assented, but Eesitated when she rose,
"Of course ma am you won't let
Floribel stray Off And you'll be
here when | get back3 You know,
ma'am, I'm responsible.
1"You can certainly trust her with
me-" / returned, 80 be off, nurse"
And the woman went | waited
until / saw her enter the confec-
toners door. Then ! sprang up.
"F'loribeln / called and at my voice
the little one came toddliRg up. |
snatched her up in my arms and com
menced TO walk, slowly at first, but
gradually quickening my pace, in the
direction of my own home, casting
occasional glances behind me- ] had
gone two blocks and was about to hail
a stage when l heard pattering feet
behind me, and the nurse came rush
ing up breathlGss.
ooh, maam,n she cried, you
gave me such a scarel When | got
back to the Square couldn't see you
anywhere and q kind policeman
SAID you had come up this way-and
then caught a glimpse of her little
head over your shoulder. Oh, ma'am,
what turn you gave met
Here the nurse stopped and painted.
My intention had not been suspected 4;
that was clear
Il got tired sitting there | said,
! turning to retrace my steps, and
thought I'D walk about till you re
turned. Did you get the candyl
/ Well, then, well go back and eat it
under the tree
So / was fcitd for the once, but
determined to bide my time.
A few days after | was slowly
sauuteIing by the house which con
tanned my DARLING when inst as | pOt