Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-02-13

tittN Out Win
sightseeing. she expressed desire to
return To America. and we came. At
her desire purchased a princely home
in New York City aud we settled down.
AS secretly hoped, to quiet do
nestle life.
las my love was infinite. my con-
fdence was uubounded. How l de-
spised those jealous husbands who APP
peared to act as dragons to their beau
tiful gay young wives. Hence. when
innumerable invitations poured in up
on us. l willing accompanied her to
each gay scene, happy in seeing her
enjoyment But soon wearied OF so
much social duty and, when, one day.
she sweetly begged me to stay at home
with my books as she knew | wished
to do. l consented.
What was intended for single oc-
casion soon became settled arrange
ment. Dear Paul remained at home
gladly welcoming the sweet. sunny
face when it beamed upon him from
lace or fur after an evenings enjoy
ment with strangers.
Infinite love. such "a mine was. can
have no doubts. Daily she assured me
of her boundless affection and how
proud was To be her husband!
But in moment. i'm the twinkling
of m eye, from the happiest of beings
l was plunged into the deepest he'll OF
misery. rage and despair.
Il was called TO Boston To look after
some investment | had made there
few years before. and left on Monday
evening, not thinking it possible |
could return before the following Fri
dav.
by n fortunate combination Of cir
cumstances / was able TO finish my
business in short time and Immediate
ly started for home.
Twenty -four hours earlier than she
expected me, gaily trippcd up the mar
BILE steps Of my home. thinking of her
Joy as should suddenly appear un-
expectedlv before her. Almost stealth
lily inserted the night-key and turned
the latch and on tiptoe FASTENED along
the carpeted stairway. The servants
were not yet stirring. Oh how sweet
to be at home!
The sound of n light laugh fell on
my astonished ear. | paused before
the curtained doorway of my wife's
boudoir. Lightly lifting a corner of
the soft, silken drapery / saw my
wife with man knew we'll by sight
So much OF roue. gambler aud
scoundrel was he that l would never
have had even business acquaintance
with him.
II stood outside for several minutes
and then entered quietly. With wild
cry of horror. Lire rushed toward me
with her arms outstretched. but | re-
pulsed her and Indignantly threw her
companion out OF doors.
Then turned to the covering wo-
man. Not one atom of pity remained.
In n voice rs calm as usual thus de-
nounced her: Madame. | have a name,
one that my parents bore with honor
and that | have never shamcd except
in giving it to you. You shall not pub
licly drag it in the mire. Tomorrow
YOU will accompany me 10 Chicago.
There | will throw such safeguards
about you during the rest of your nat
ural life that you can not sin again.
do this only because | am resolved TO
save my fathers name. One more
transgression and YOU shall die
We came to Chicago, where. under
the name by which ! am known. we
took an urpretentious flat in an I'M
fashionable quarter. When left New
York. left the world behind me. A
stranger in strange city-my future
was to carefully guard my family
honor.
Three months passed. During this
time the only acquaintance l formed
was Henry Sommers. and ! only knew
him by accident During that time
never left our apartments except on
necessity and then locked Lire within.
We kept no servant. our meals were
sent from "A restaurant, we visited no
one, formed no acquaintance. attended
no theaterS or races as had been our
former custom. This was not living.
it was painful existing.
Lire did not bear this new and con-
slant surveillance with composure. At
times she would burst forth in
passion. and beseech me to let her go
forth. to kill her or do anything to end
her present miserable life. Gladly
would l have sent her out if l could
have saved my name from dishonor.
"Onc night about three months af>er
our flight to Chicago. | was suddenly
aroused from deep sleep to alert wake
fulness. At my side stood Tyre. look
ing like an angel with crown of golden
hair. AS my eyes opened | saw
her pour the contents of vial into the
water bottle from which | invariably
took "A nightly draught. Maddened by
memories aud brooding and disap-
pointed love. sprang toward her
and confronted her in her crime.
Denial was useless. ! forced her To
confess that she had placed poison in
my drauyht. The insidious drug she
had obtained from n Hindoo the year
before our marriage. 1t was "A subtle
poison. Given in small doses the
victim failed slowly. but surely. Given
in large quantity, death was immedi-
ate. Calmly she confessed that she
had been administering the poison
to me gradually, that l was slowly
dying and that no power on earth
could restore me. She freely admitted
that she would have killed me long be-
fore. had i, as she expected when she
,,.; In