The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-11-11

AVA 4AN as Il IL ~ lVN1)A4 1
facts are actually aware that they are
ny deceased brothers children and that
The only reason l foolishly allowed my
self to become their sponsor was to
enable my brother to make an advan-
tageous marriage which would be i'm
possible if the true facts were known.
Nothing that / could tell M adge
would convince her of the falseness of
her visitors assertion. Over and over
again she would reiterate: 4 have been
blind, blind to the truth and you have
lied to mer One word led to another
and from one accusation to another is
only short step. In the first bitter
ness of false accusation l am sorry to
say that also gave way to recrimina-
tions and said things that no selfre
specting husband would name to his
wife. Our previous quarrels were ca
pable of being bridged but this one spells
6nality. Of all my efforts to reg ain her
affection, to prove my innocence, and
to overcome her determination to Sc
cure divorce l will not weary you.
Hours have L speat endeavoring to put
into words the outpourings of heart
surcharged with love only to destroy
my labored efforts as inadequately ex-
pressing all felt. My excessive love
for my wife may be madness-perhaps.
l am mad for 1 cannot understand the
devilish desire which possessed me,
when we parted, to say unkind and an
just words when love alone reigns su-
preme in my heart. My wife's pride is
outraged by my conduct and what she
believes my past to have been, and it is
her friends who dwell upon this to my
undoing. If could only see her once
more, and alone, am sure all would
end we'll but as this find to be utterly
impossible l am resolved to fight no
longer against the wild beatings of my
heart, and if in few days am not
mercifully taken, or lose my reason, then
am resolved to do away with myself,
for life has no longer any joy for me-
without her."
While listening sorrowfulIy and
intently to Jacks account of all that
had led up to his present sickness had
been carefully considering the best
means that could adopt to assuage
his grief and put an end to this unfOr-
tunate affair. His concluding words
gave me the cue which had been fairly
seeking. He said. "if could only see
her once and alone am sure all would
end WE'LL" determined Immediately
on my course of action, after extracting
a faithful promise from my friend
that he would do nothing rash for one
week and that he would, for that period
place himself unreaervedly in my hands.
1t was evident to my practised eyes
that what must do must be done quiet
ly. There was no doubt very canker
eating & into Jacks heart and that
his reason might fade way at any mo.
ment, or death ensue. Preparing a
powerful sedative, left him, with some.
what rising hopes, to mature my plans
after having arranged that he should
spend the ensuing week at my house
and away from the surroundings which
were was so painful.
On the following morning, after my
usual round of visits, called for Jack
as agreed, to find him in an almost total
mental collapse. With some difficulty
1 got him into my carriage and finally
to my house. In my surgery was q
shakedown which it was my custom to
occupy when expecting night calls. A
faiEting spell overcame Jack in this
very room and then q brilliant idea
presented itself to me to solve the diff
culties which previously had appeared
insurmountab BILE. "Why," urgued
SHOULD 1 not place my friend in that
very shakedown? Why should | moi
take advantage of my knowledge of g
certain opiate which will not only pro
duce deep sleep, but also cause 9
deathlike pallor to overspread the fea
lures? EYES," l answered, 81 will dc
this" And trust to luck for which
was proverbial.
Calling my servant we carefully un
dressed Jack and without resistance or
his part, l gave him sufficiently large
dose of this to insure at least a few
hours merciful repose even If nothing
else should result. After some thirty
minutes restless tossing l was pleased