The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-08-16
AN ODD STORY.
By NJ I. II,

The popular belief that murder will
out will be strangely enough shown in
the following sketch:
It is generally conceded, as our noble
poet Shakespere says, that grabbed age
and youth cannot liye together; and that
uniting old and young in marriage, where
it has been done, and in most cases for
thrift, is extremely reprehensible and
against nature; furnishing occasions as it
oftentimes does, for strifes. jealousies,
desertions, miseries, suicides and even
murders. The reason is quite natural
and scarcely needs comment. 1t is not
in the nature Of things that warm sensi.
bilities should unite in harmony with
natures whom age ana time have made
cold and insensible aud fun of indiffer-
encc to matters affecting youthful minds
and bodies. Hence it is that marriages
in which there is wide disparity of years
are rightfully looked upon with dislavor
and repugnanee. But we delay our
story. In one of the Rhine provinces
there lived married couple, seemingly
happy, although the husbands years
were more than twice that Of his youth
full spouse. Her marriage to one so
much her senior was effected Trough
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 tilers of
the soil, and had in their employ a young
servant man whose diligence was ex-
tolled by ALL Why did fate destine him
to be there? They were married but
something over year when it was given
out that the husband, being full of years,
had suddenly sickened and died News
of bis death caused no especial surprise,
it being uuthought of among the good
neighbors that it could be otherwise than
natural.
Time grew apace, and a becoming
hour saw her the wife of the young SER
want man. Their years of welded life
flew on. Surrounded with the comforts
that their thrifty years of toll had secur-
ed, their lives seemed to embrace univer-
sal happiness. But was it so? score OF
years had now elapsed since her former
husbands decease. Little now was his
name or the subj ct of his death men.
toned by any of his former friends in
life. In death he was quite forgotten
And had it not been for singular cir.
clm3tance the subject Of his dying, in
the tomb, might have remained hushed
! forever! 1t was this; The sexton in max.
ing n grave alongside of the dead mans
for this Is customary manner of dis
position and burial of the dead il those
countries --accidently met with the up
per par; of his remains, which, curiously
viewing, bis sight was more than amazed
at actually seeing the skeleton henC
move at intervals. For an instant dumb
foundedly gazing at its strange action
; trembling fear seized him; and, withou
stopping to investigate the cause of til,
phenomenon he at once repaired witt
all possible speed to the parish priest, t.
whom be earnestly related the marvellous
occurrence. The priest. unaccustomcC
to believe in things of so sensational
character, which by some are believed
to have no existence at all, regarded tn
) old mans story incredulously, and wa
! at first disposed to pay no attention Il
his importantly to accompany him bacl
to the grave to see himself the truth O
what he related. However, observing
q the mans unusual earnestness, lie at las
consented to 60, Upon arriving, he in
: deed saw that the simple sexton hat
! spoken from the evidence of his senses
G But satisfied that it coull be found t.
a proceed from natural causes, aud wht
y had filled the humble sexton with wor
/ der had no connection in fact witt
agencies of another world he at once ap
e preached aud made m examination, ant
/ found within the head-a mouse's nest
: revelation that quickly dispelled al
previous mystery. Yet. while he wal
still narrowly peering within the hollow
cavity, doubtless musiug on the all en-
crossing power of death, the unmaker o
breathing things, be saw what suddenl,
filed him with dread and horror, anC
crowded his mind with dark conclusions
grave speculations, and shadowiug sus
, picions. 1t was n nail that had beer
driyen deeply into the head Present.,
bethinking who the man was, his sudiel
death, and his widows subs quent mar
riage with the young serving-man, hi
mind misgaye him that foul deed hat
slept long unpunished, and suspicion
pointed to them. 1t could be showl
with rensonahleness that motives wer,
not wanting toward the perpe,rAtion o
the horrid crime. Untimely and /,
heartless treacherY had the old man lair
in death.
( The priest, communicating the who!
circumstances of the affair to the prope
authorities, officers were immediatel,
: dispatched to make the arrest. Accost
costing the faithless wife at her owl
door she, burdened with her wretche,
load of guilt, OWNED the motive of thei
coming, and, without waiting for then
to disclose the object of their presence
openly confessed the murder of be
70 former husband.
- such was the strong conception of he
10 own guilt, and her constant dread of il
detection, that it is more probable,
e, The crave had sull kept its secret. an
the officers at any other time, inoficiall
- meeting with her AT her own door, c
he perhaps elsewhere, she, sin-haunted
le would have made the same guilty cor
TX fession. Her second husband, havin
Sc no hand in the murder. though aware
ut its existence for some time back, a littl
lt later on Witnessed her execution.