The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-01-08
nlpStic IlIe.

peareu to act rs dragons 10 their beau
tiful, gay Young wives. Hence, when
innumerabe invitations poured in up
on US. | 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 sweeily begged me 10 stay at home
with NV books as she knew | wished
to do, l consented.
What was intended for a single oc-
casion soon became a settled arrange
ment. Dear Paul remained at home
in his library with his dogs and pipe.
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 is mine was, can
have no doubts. Daily she assured me
of her boundless affection and how
proud | was to be her husband!
But in a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, from the happiest of beings
| 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 lef. on Monday
evening. not thinking it possible l
could return before the following Fri
day.
''By 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 tripped up the mar
BILE steps of my home, thinking of her
Joy as should suddenly appear un-
expeetedly before her. Almost stealth
ily inserted the night-key and turned
the latch and on tiptoe FASTENED along
the carpeted stairway. The servants
were not yet stirring. On how sweet
10 he at home!
The sound of a light laugh fell on
my astonished ear. | paused before
the curtained doorway of my wife's
boudoir. Lightly lifting corner of
the soft, silken drapery | saw my
wife with man | knew we'll by sight.
So much of Il roue. gambler and
scoundrel was he that l would never
have had even Il business acquaintance
with him.
Il stood outside for several minutes
and then entered quietly. With a 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.
la voice as calm rs usual thus de-
nounced her: Madame, have 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 to Chicago.
There | will throw such safeguards
about you during the rest of your nat
ural life that you can not sin again. L
do this only because | am resolved to
save my fathers name. One more
transgression and you shall die.
I'VE came to Chicago, where, under
the name by which | am known, we
took an uEpretentious fiat in an un-
fashionable quarter. When left New
York, | left the world behind me. A
stranger in a strange city-my future
was to carefully guard my family
honor.
Three months passed. During this
time the only acquaintance | formed
was Henry Sommers and | only knew
him by accident. During that time l
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 a
passion, and beseech me to let her 60
forth. to kill her or do anything to end
her present miserable life. Gladly
would have sent her out if | could
have saved nv name from dishonor.
One night about three months after
our flight to Chicago. | was suddenly
aroused from deep sleep to alert wake
fulness. At my side stood Lyrc. look
Ing like an angel with crown of golden
hair. As my eyes opened l saw
her pour the contents of il vial into the
water bottle from which | invariably
took nightly draught. Maddened by
memories and 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 draught The insidious drug she
had obtained from Hindoo the year
before our marriage. 1t was 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 | 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 l. as she expected when she
married me, made will in her favor.
| She was Il revelation to me. For the
first time she cast aside all hypocrisy
and appeared in all her hideousness.
| She declared she loathed me- and pre-
ferred death il thousand times to the
wretchednesS of being imprisoned with
me.
II was dying By inches. Now was
explained the lassitude and wearinaSS,
the sudden sharp pains | could not
| understand Enraged and furious rs
! | was over her diabolical confession
vet could reason. Taking my pistol
from beneath my pillow, where l had
invariably placed it at night since
had learned her treachery. and in my
left hand holding my watch, | looked
steadfastly at the crouching woman
| and said:
'"If within five minutes you have
not swallowed the contents of the little
box you hold, l shoot you. Choose
| your death.
"A look of infinite terror spread ovel
her countenance, yet angelic in its con
tour. and she directed Il gaze of piteou.
entreaty nj me.
Il returned the look with one of de
termined. pitiless resolution, toying
with the deadly weapon. Onl,
separated by few feet. we gazed, bu
neither spoke.
''One, two. three, four minute
passed. Only sixty seconds remained
Seizing the pistol firmly | began slow
/ no.,