The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-28

we shall meet. / am sending you check
care Banker Bros, Calcutta. You must
accept it, dearest. am rich. You are
struggling with poverty. Now, premise
me you will use 1t for MY
'' II could read no more Mad with joal-
ousy, my worst fears confirmed, crept
back to my room, determined to end my
life and set her free to go back to India to
the man she loved. / had medicine chest
In my room, in the bottom of which kept
a bottle that contained an Indian drug
that promised certain and swift death. l
opened the chest and saw it lying among
other poisons. Then 1 sat down to write
to my wife, telling her / had discovered
her treachery, and that by the dawn of an
other day she would be free to return to
India to marry tho man she loved | took
out my will, read it carefully, that there
all my property without trouble or annoy
ance. The other man is poor thought.
'Ah, well, If l make any sacrifice, may
as well make all. Yes, she must have ev-
erything 1t will make up for the three
years she has waited for happiness.
"While engaged in writing could hear
her moving in her own room All, she
cannot sleep, / thought. She has one OF her
attacks of neuralgia. Her nerves are
broken down. Well, she will have rest
when l am dead. Then heard her door
open. l listened. She was coming to my
room. had scarcely time to close my
writing desk when she knocked. went
to the door and found her in loose wrap
per, standing on the threshold. oh, Ar
thur, she said, i am SO sorry to disturb
you, but am suffering such agony viii
you give mo some laudanum out of tho
medicine chest, that | may get some caseH
As l did not speak, but held the door
open, she entered and went toward where
kept the medicines, but seeing the chest
open in an instant she forgot her pain,
and rushing to my side said: Arthur, Ar
thur, are you ill' Forgive my being self
ish lately. / was hurt by your manner
toward me- but | SEQ now you have been
i'll, very i'll perhaps. What is the mattor2
Do forgive me, darlingT
II longed to take her in my arms, but l
could not, dared not. could not trust
myself to speak, for feared my voice
would falter and would break down. In
the morning, | thought, my letter will
speak. She will know then what know
now. puzzled her from me roughly, per-
haps brutally in my anxiety to cut short
such n painful interview, and quickly
handing her small BOTTLE just sufficient
for one dose, turned back and resumed my
seat at my desk. Slowly and reluctantly
she went toward the door She paused for
moment on the threshold. Our eyes met.
She said Good night! said 'Goodbyp
Troubled and disturbed, / recon-
menced my letter. did not like what l
had written. 1t seemed too harsh, so
tore it up and commenced another. did
this again and again until l was surprised
to find the day breaking and my deed not
done. After oil, l said, "a few lines will
do, so again l took my pen and hastily
wrote:
"'Goodby! I have discovered all. You
are now free. May you be happy!'
II put the letter in an envelope, adj
dressed it to her and then made few
other preparations for the end. She will
be asleep now, thought. will steal in
to her room, kiss those lips l have loved
so much, then return to my own room
and-well, the rest is easy.
II stole softly into her room, and stand
ing at tho door watched the first rays Of
dawn gliding over her pillow. Creeping to
her side, brushing back my tears for fear
they would wake her, bent down for that
last kiss. Her lips were cold as ice. My
God! What is the matteri' cried. l tore
back the clothes l pressed her to my heart;
I kissed her hands, her face, her breast, till
suddenly a cold finger seemed to write
across my brain the awful thought-she
was dead.
You can easily understand what had
happened. In my excitement had given
her, instead Of laudanum, the poison l in