The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-12-28
& DEAD MANS LUNCH.

thoy tounu MN hlttinB DOiJ uprlRnb on
pilc Of boards just baok Of the little tool
house whero the mon were building, hold
ing In his stiff, dead hand lunohbox like
those that children often carry, and after
glancing at his dirty working clothes and
tho roughness Of his somewhat slender
hand they wero astonished at his suinptu-
GUS dinner.
Within tho box were fruits and cako
that any king might envy. Tho napkin
was of daintiest damask, and the chicken
tender and delicious.
No one knew him as other than one of
their own kinda laborer, strangely sad
and morbldly retiring.
After examining his companions ms far
as possible the authorities at last decided
to investigate his dinner. Every crumb
was tested with an experts care, and the
presence of poison proved beyond oil ques-
tion.
Then they took the body TO tho morgue
and began right search for the oyildoer,
At last boy was found who said that
for several weeks he Ind boon employed
each noon to carry tempting lunch to
the murdered man and gave the nnino Of
the lady living in tho magnificent house
across tho way as tho ono who had thus
employed him.
lady's husband was worthy millionaire
and sho Of excellent reputation. But thero
was no other solution forthcoming, and at
last the lady admitted her guilt In open
court with her still adoring husband by
her side and insisted upon giving the fol
lowing explanation;
''When was but girl, I loved this
man, the ono whom / have killed." she
began unsteadlly land, oh, how dearly
was beloved by him who Is now my VIC
tim Happy as tho birds, we strollcd
about our native heath and swore eternal
faith to one another He was noblo lad,
handsome and strong, and our souls were
knit together until 1t seemed that death
alone could part u.s. And then the war
broke out and my lover left my side. l
bore the parting bravely, but wept and
pined when ho was gone, certain that
nothing could console me.
"The days went by and finally they told
me he was dead, and after two long years
Of grief l married him you sec beside me-
He was poor then, but gentle and alton
tive, and, his affection soothed me for u
time until one glorious morning whom, ro-
turning from early prayer, I met my
former lover.
"Oh, how 1 wept upon his breast, for
now realized that love had never died,
and from that dny we lived for one another
as wholly rs wo ever had before my wretch
cd marriage. Twas his wife and his alone,
/ lived for him and every passion of my
heart seemed satisfied by his affection.
"I6 was then that tho ambition to be
rich first entored my lawful husbands
mind. Knowing nothing of my secret
love, he pictured to me visions of wealthy
homo, position, luxury and joys that wom-
on dearly prize and gradually rs these vi
sions were realized found myself turning
slowly from my first love to bask in pleas
ures that he could not give.
''At first tried to wake in him this
same ambition TO be rich, but Roland,
poor dear Roland, only laughed at my do
sires and twittod mo of growing worldly
like all the others of my sex.
"lho change was gradual, but no less
sure because months passed before it grow
apparent. l loved him still, in strange,
remorseful way but tho thought that ho
could not give mo gold at last resulted in
bitter malice His happy nature chilled
mo when remembered how little satisfied
his soul while my husbands s all absorbing
greed for what would give us comfort and
position inspired me with u keen regard
and made my lover small IN consequence.
"Thcu there wore years OF silence after
we lad 1lercely disagreed, and when /
looked upon his face again 1t was to SOC
him clad in homely laborer's garb and
struggling day by day to earn his meager
living From the windows of my lovely
homo looked upon his hnggard face and
felt down deep within my heart tho twingcs
of romorse and sorrow.
IL loved him while I wronged him SO.
j loved him still, even when his low posi-.
tlon should awaken my disgust, and as
tho days passed slowly by heard his ham
Incr ring upon tho stones until the echo
tortured mo with thousandfold regrets.
At last Iventured upon plan to be ol
some substantial aid, and thus, without
making myself known in any way, / daily
sent dainty lunch aud watched his pleas
ure from my curtaincd window. Ant
day on day as l stood and watched thu
same old hungcring pain of love crep
back, and l would willingly have giveI
! tho half l owned to rest upon his bosom
as In the days of old, before ambition
came between us.
"Then frenzy took possession Of m,
soul, and moro than oneo raised my win
dow wide and would have called his nam
with eager voice, but something, SON
small remnant of my PRIDE restrained me
and closed the sash unheard
so God the horror of those daysl Il
know that he was near, TO even SEQ hi
earcworn face and know that he was still
alone, was almost more than could bear
Each day with my own hands packe
his dainty lunch and each day grew NOR
cagor 10 rush forth and clasp him In IN
arms, but always pride and caution hel
me back, and in the struggle that gre,
daily intense my very reason tottered o
its throne. Then to my brain there cam
sudden thought. / must be FREQ of olthc
love or pride, and after groveling in tn
very drcgs OF woe, l placed the poison
his food and sent him TO his DEATH"
The sins which pride commit tho glir
of gold will cover, oftcntmes for thOug
they judged her guilty Of an awful erin
her husbands wealth secured the wrctcho
life, but never since the day they foun
him dead has wealth. position, lovo or cas-
brought happiness or comfort to her sou
Exchange.