Year: 1859

mate friend, bounded in. She was dress
ed for the opera. She said their carriage
waited at the door for myselfaud Ernest
/ told her Ernest had not yet returned
from his office, and / conld not go. She
looked disappointed. A sudden thought
seized me. Would il not be capital re-
venge for his neglect OF me to End the
parlor deserted when he came went
10 the opera. We were scarcely seated
in our box when party entered box
opposite. The blood rushed back to nv
heart, and my pulse stood still as rec
ognized Ernest, my Ernest, my husband,
and leaning upon his arm one of the
most beautiful oung creatures my eyes
ever beheld. This was my first impress
sion, for there quickly followed so dead
ly and jealous hatred as made her look
positively ugly. / heard nothing, saw
nothing else; and once when rallied by
my companions, l replied that was not
well, and begged to be left to myself


Then with the fierceness of a tiger
fearful of losing his prey, turned my
eyes towards my husband and his guilty
paramount She seemed to be enjoying
the performance intensely, but he seem
ed to see nothing but her. His head
was bowed towards her, and she would
occasionally lift her eyes TO his face
Then l saw him smile Gust as he had
smiled upon me thousand times,) while
he bent still lower over her with renewed
devotion.


Each movement was like red hot
dagger piercing my heart. l knew not
what demon possessed me; / think
must have been mad when | vowed a
terrible revenge. 'Twere better, rea-
sohed, that he should die while yet there
existed in his heart a spark of love for
me, than to see him little by little drawn
away by the syren, till perhaps should
be utterly deserted, and left with all my
blind love eating away my heart string
like consuming fire.


At my request we left the opera at
an early hour, and with terrible pur-
pose | entered my home. But what was
that home now to me? The love that
had frightened it was no longer NINE
Some demon furnished ma with resolu-
ton to execute my desperate purpose.


1t had been our custom sometimes TO
drink glass of sweet Wine of an even
ing when we were alone. | drew the
table to the fire, placed the decanter and
glasses. Then with trembling hands
brought deadly opiate, ,he nature OF
which | well knew. The first effect if
produces was a deep sleep, which in a few
hours terminated in the still sleep OF
death. filled the glasses and into ont
dropped the drug. All was done with
rapidity, lest my resolution should fail
me.


When all was ready paced up and
down the room, nursing the fires which
ragged within my bosom, by recounting
TO myself the wrong had suffered.
pictured to myself my idolized husband
lying still and cold before me, and / fell
into passionate fit of weeping Then
drew another picture. | saw him
drawn from me, giving his love to anoth-
er. | thought of all the agony | had
suffered that night, and imagined how
much deeper would be my wrong if
spared him. At that moment heard
his night key in the latch, and he soor
entered the room. stood in the reces.
Of the window, where he did not at one.
observe me. The wine first attracted
his attention, the fatal glass. ! saw hin


ift it TO his lips, drain its contents, and
fell faintingto the floor.


knew no more for several hours
When ! rallied was lying upon the So
ia the lamp was burning diml y-an eas,
char was wheeled TO my side, and il
it / saw the form of my husband.
sprang quickly up. The drug was do
ing lis work. lie was in a heavy slum
Der, and already his breath came thicker
and shorter, and bis pulse beat but faint
ly.


Ny anger had passed away, and al
the wild worshiping love which hat
; cherished towards my husband cam,
rushing back upon my heart. ] chafe,
, bis hands, | kissed his lips, | stroye {,
rouse him, but all in vain. Again
paced up and down the floor, but Oh
: what different emotions possessed m,
= now.


"A little folded paper, which bad no
before noticed, and lying upon the table
caught my eye. Scarcely knowing o.
caring what / did, took il % aud open