SAMUEL WRIGHT, Editor and Proprietor VOLUME XXIX, NUMBER 30.1 PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING Office in Northern Central Railroad CC77Z pany's Building, north-west corner Front and rulnul streets. Terms of Subscription eke Corry per annum,' f paidtn advance if not paid within three raontitsrromeommenecntentof the year, 200 4 Claza.tiss za...Cc>32-37. No subscription received for a lees time than I -ix artonths; and no paper will be diecontinued until all alrearages are paid, unless at the opttonof the pub •tshcr. iv - Money may beremitte d by mail atthepublish er's risk. Rates of Advertising. k square [6 lines) one week, three weeks each ,uhsequentinsertion, 10 9.lltines) one week. 50 three weeks, 1 00 la each subsequenlinserti o :15 Lorgerailvertisement , in proportion A liberal discount will be made to ounrserly t bulf yoarly. oryearlysilvertisers,who are strictl , :tonfined o their business, gtlEttiDlts. The Mother-in-Law With a spark of something more than mischief in her dark eyes, and with lips more compressed than the gentleman at her Bide thought quite consistent with amiabil ity, Bertha Donaldson hummed: "I'll be no submissive wife; no, not I; no, not I." "Psha, Bertha!" said her companion, somewhat petulantly, "don't be foolish; I merely mentioned it as a proposition of my mother's; but we can do as we please in the matter, you know, and if you prefer having I the wedding at Becchwood; and starting from thence on our tour, lam perfectly willing. My mother only objected to it on the score of trouble, I suppose." Bertha's fingers trembled so that the piece of fine cambric which she was embroider ing received a rent as she jerked the work ing floss through it, and the flushed chock and tapping of the little foot, and the sup pressed tones of her voice, all betrayed the excitement under which she labored. "She is kind," replied Bertha, without looking up, "but let her rest assured that the servants at Beechwoud think nothing too much trouble fur their mistress. My wed ding takes place in my old home, by the sanction of my old guardian." Cecil Hamilton looked steadily at his be trothed as she uttered her determination in afirm voice, and a shade of annoyance passed over his tine and dreamy face, as visions prophetic of discord, and scenes which ho detested, rose before him as he thought of his calm, domineering mother, and his passion ate but high-spirited bride. And so the wedding took place at Beech wood. The heiress willed it so, fur she was without a near relation in the world, and until sho knew Cecil Hamilton, Beechwuud seemed to be the only thing fur her love, connected as it was with memories of a hap py childhood, end the loving eyes and voices of her parents. Luring a visit to a school companion one summer vacation, Bertha became acquaint ed with Mr. Hamilton, who was also a guest in the house. She wus at once fascin ated by his elegant person, his wonderful conversational powers, his refined intellect, and above all by the calmness of his man ner, which she thought was the ropy-0 of a great mind, and not as it really was, the in dolence of a dreamy nature. Onhis side, Cecil Hamilton was enthralled by the beauty, the wit, and vivacity of Ber tha Donaldson. The light which ever flashed over her face, the gay repartee which sprang from her lips, and the sparkle of her manner, kept him in a kind of dream- , ing wonder as to what she would do or say next, but it gave him no trouble. Ile was ,not obliged to arouse himself to exertion, for her quaint thoughts brought out his own without effort; and beside that, he know of Bertha's dream-side also, fur he had some times seen her eyes cast down, her little bands folded Madonna-wise, an 'l a holy quiet settle ever her face and form, and ho at once recognized in these moods the ideal which he had so long sought to find real tzed. The engagement soon followed, with the approbation of Bertha's guardian, who, be ing a bachelor, was glad to bo SJ easily rid At what ho considered to be a troublesome, flighty girl, who was , to lead bins an :ign is faluus chase through society af:er a husband. Indeed, the good man had at one time se- Xiously thought of marrying her himself in ,order to eecape the vexation and responsii ibility of guardianship. .fstf her future mutter-in-law Bertha Don- Aldsoa knew but little. With her sanguine 'spirit and unchilled affections, she was pre pared to love deeply one who was so nearly related to Cecil, and at once proposed that his mother should live with theta after their marriage, for Cecil was an only child, and Mrs. Hamilton's life would bo very monoto nous if living by herself. Little did Bertha know that even without this invitation, such had been Mrs. Ham ilton's intention. Her son had a fortune as large as Bertha's, and if the heiress would live at Beechwood, she argued, iu prefer ence to any other place, why then she felt under no obligation at receiving hospital ity. Mrs. Hamilton had been accustomed all her life to manage fur those around her.- Bhe had completely swayed her intellectual but dreamy, indolent husband. and as a matter of course she now swayed her intel lectual, dreaming, indolent son. That that son's wife would rebel at such long estab lished authority never occurred to her. To be sure, the decided stand which Bertha took at having the wedding at dear old Beechwood, and asking all her friends, caused Mrs. Hamilton to raise her eve brows for a moment, but she looked upon it as the ebulition of temper of an unrestrained child, and speedily forgot it. So, as we said before, Bertha Donaldson's wedding took place at Beechwoud. It was a disagreeable drizzling evening on which Cecil Hamilton and his young wife returned from their wedding-tour; an evening, that albeit June had come with her roses and all her summer glories, made the fire which blazed in the little sitting room look cozy and comfortable to the tired, wet travelers. The fire was the only thing which lighted the room in the twilight, but the quaint silver tea-service which stood on the already prepared table, glittered bright ly in the light, as if rejoicing in its kindly old-fashioned way that a mistress once more reigned in Beechwood. OM EIN Bertha Hamilton was both tired and nor sous as she approached the tempting tea table. The novelty of the position as mis tress of the house made her feel as awk ward as it was possible for one of her frank independent dispositiun to feel; and with a shy, half lingering step, but with a smile breaking over her face as she thought how ridiculous she would look presiding at the tea-tray, she reluctantly approached the bead of the table. Mrs. Hamilton made her comfortable at once by taking what should have been Burtha's place as quietly as though she had sat there and poured tea out of that very pot fur years. The poor tired little little wife said nothing, but was secretly grateful for what she considered her mother's kindness and tact iu relieving her of such te..-rible duties when 6he felt so IMEIZED The nent day and the nest Mr:. Hamil ton again took possession of the seat at the head of the table, and Bertha began to de bate in her own mind whether she should not now elaiin her place as mistress of the family. let something in the manner of her mother-Ist-law deterred her from making the proposition. The lore which Bertha had seemed so so ready to give her seeme,tl forced back into her own bosoal by Mrs. Hamilton's coil, selfsuflieient manner. Another trouble too aroused the new wife to a sense of her real position at Beechwood. Old Mrs. Dowell, had been housekeeper there since the last Mrs. Donaldson had ar rit as a bride, suddenly appeared in Ber tha's room one morning, jingling her basket of keys in her excitement, and. plumping down into a chair without waiting for au imitation; a piece of disrespect of which the formal, old fashioned lady had never been guilty before. "I can't stand it any longer, Miss Ber tha; it's nu use," exclaimed the good wo man, quivering with indignation; "I can't play second fiddle to nobody," "What is the matter, Mrs. Howell!" que ried the young wife looking up with aston ishment from the book whien she was read- “11'hy,” sai•! the old lady, "there is you, tho mistress of the house, that never gave an order hut just like a lamb, while madam she goes dictating about, just as if Week wood was hers!" `•I really do not know what you mean, Mrs. Howell: I have seen nothing of the kind in my mother," was the reply. Mrs. Howell was more indignant than ever on finding that her young mistress did not advocate lice cause. She, who had held undisputed sway in Beachwood so long, to stand calmly by and see another interfere with her rights. "Why," continued the old housekeeper, "from the very day you were married and she was left in the house, bile has been domineering and dictating to us, just as if we were a pack of slaves. Just now she came while 1 was putting up my strawber ries, that's as beautiful and clear as crys tol, and told me, that preserves done in that way would'nt keep. Just as if I didn't know! She says she will do the rest of the preserving herself. Well, she may; but if she's going to be housekeeper, I'll leave, and she may take the keys." "Mrs. Howell," said Bertha, in a tone intended to be severe; but poor child, it was all she could say, for domestic difficulties were such new things fur her to manage; Mrs. Howell, however; was in too full a tide of injuries to be easily stopped by Bertha's half timid reproof, so she went on with in creasing excitement. • "And there's Jane, the housemaid, that's been under my control ever since she was as high as my knee; madam looks after her, and takes a hair-pin and goes around the edges of the carpets to see if they arc clean in the corners; but she don't find much dirt I know, fur I'll back Jane against the whole nation for tidiness. Wiliam says he expects that next she'll go out and show him how to harness the horses or wash the carriage; and John too, he says she knows more about forcing the hot-house vegetables than he does." Mrs. Howell stopped hero for want of breath, or it is most probable that Bertha would have found a separate grievance in each separate department of the establish ment. "I think, Mrs. Howell," said the young mi9tres., "that you have all been so aecm tomed to having no one to interfere with you, that you must have mi,taken my moth er's manner. She is naturally distant to every one, and you have misapprehended 'NO ENTERTAINME,NT 1S SO CHEAP AS READING, NOR ANY PLEASURE SO LASTLNG." COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA, SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 29, I her. 1 suppose she thought I was young and inexperied, and has kindly intended to relieve me as much as possible. Take your keys, however, and have no fear of any one usurping your place." Bertha said this apparently tery calmly, but in reality with her anger rising every moment. She now saw that she held the position of guest rather than of mistress nt Bcechwood, and she was determined to re gain her pluce. An appeal to her husband she knew was out of the question, fur she loved him too much too be willing to dis gust him with a woman's quarrels, and it wuuM he either against his wife or mother that he must give judgment. Poor child! Mrs. Howell had played the Eve in the little Paradise in which Bertha had been living. and made her taste of the tree of knowledge much against her wishes. That very day some guests were to dine at Beeehwood, and its young mistress soon de cided upon her life of conduct. As they entered the dining room, Bertha quietly stepped up to the head of the table, laid her hand upon the hack of the chair, which Mrs. lltuultun was already approaching, and said in a low tone, "I am much obliged to you, mother, but 1 will take this scat for the future." Mrs. Hamilton made no remonstrance. but her eyes flashed, and a Nv hite circle spread around her mouth. She withdrew a little to one side, and stood with a kind of conspicuous humility till all were seated• Till that moment Cecil had noticed noth ing of this quiet warfare. A look of'annoy once and reproach, which did not escape the anxious eyes of his wife, was cast upon her as he asked his mother to be seated. "I really did not know where to sit, as I had nut my accustomed place," was the reply. A feeling of constraint and uneasiness passed over the guests, as they all felt as i though they had been the usurping patty. Puor Bertha's face flushed a painful crimson as she said in a half ap.mlogetic, half laugh ing time, "Ladies and gentlemen, "you see fur the first time at the heaml of my own table, for mamma has been kind enough to relieve me of this duty heretofore, and we fa r o hot accustomed yet to the change of places." The tact and pleasant manner of the young wife soon made all ns comfortable as they had been before, and Cecil secretly thought she had never appeared to so much advantage. Never once during the rest of the day did Mrs. Haniiiton address her daughter in-law, and only answered in the shortest p)ssible manner if Bertha spoke to her, I :flaking the poor thing as uncomfortable, as possible. As they stood on time piazza to gether in the evening, bidding adieu to the departing guests, Bertha said in a recon- I eiltatory tone, "Are you nut afraid of taking I cold without your shawl, mother? I'll get I it for you." "Th not trouble yoursmelf, Mrs. 'Hamilton. I do not take hindLlCFs upon sufferance," aq the icy reply. The daughters eyes filled with tears, and her hand trembled as she twitched off a twig of jessamine to hide her emotion. Cecil walked up and dotw•n the piazza with Isis hands in his pochet4, whistling a disconsolate air in false time, pitying his wife, whom he dearly loved, yet feeling as if his mother was really in some unaccount able way the injured party. In truth, Mrs. Hamilton had a knack of always making people feel this, in spite of Weir better judgment, and Bertha was beginning to to think that she only inuat be in fault, when her mother approached her and said, "I should not so far forget my dignity as to allude to the insult which I received to-day, wore it not to request that, hereafter, for your own sake, you will select a time when there are no guests in the house to make a display of your authority." . . The tears which before were dimming Bertha's eyes were dried up by the flash of indignation which shot from them as she replied, "I did not mean to insult you, madam! I have too much respect fur my self to forget what is due to those connected with me; but as the mistress of Beechwood I felt that it was a duty I owed to my guests as well as myself to appear here after in that character. I am obliged for the charge which you have heretofore taken of my affairs, but I will relieve you of it for the future." The tone this time ,vas anything but conciliatory, and with a defiant air Bertha entered the house and retired to her own room. She awaited her husband's coming with sonic anxiety, not knowing from his manner on the piazza whether to expect sympathy or reproach. His presence did not relieve her much. The whistling still continued, interrupted only by the mono syllables with which he replied to his wife's remarks, and when she said humbly, "Will you not kiss me, and wish mo good night, Cecil?" the half-reluctant "Yes," and the kiss smothered by a sullen eight, made her repent having made the reque , t. The wife's tears were again quenched by anger, and after tossing restlessly fur many hours, she at last cried herself to sleep, in conse quence of her fertile imagination having pictured the gloomy unloved future before her in the darkest colors. The breakfast the next morning was most uncomfortable for all. The wife felt that her peace-offering of the night before had been only half accepted—the mother that another now stood between herself and her son, and one, too, who sot her will at nought; whilst Cecil thought of the annoy ance it would he to have such constant bickerings as he foresaw, and wondered why two people whom he loved so much could not live happily together. Cecil Hamilton was in everything a man of compromise, and, like all persons of that class, he pleased neither party; so he quickly walked into the library, and shut himself up with the old dramatists, to revel in their delineations of character, when . there was a page or human nature in the nest room, which he, in his indolent ego tism, had not troubled himself to rend. Mrs. Hamilton "pursued the even tenor of her way" in haughty silence, always frigidly polite, but never cordial to Bertha; but this was a mood to which her son was so accustomed that ho did not even remark it; and consequently the change in his wife's manner struck him the more forcibly. He saw nothing fur her to resent, and se cretly regretted what he thought her sullen disposition. All the sPar',.le and vivacity which formerly characterized her had dis- appeared, and Cecil sadly missed the tender caress and light kiss which ho used to re ceive so frequently. He was a most un demonstrative man, and little knew how his coldness and indifferent manner had chilled the warm heart of his wife. So time passed, Bertha yearning fur a reconciliation with her husband, for which her proud spirit forbade her to ask since her former repulse, and he coolly waiting till her fit of petu lance should be over. Mrs. Hamilton no longer took the bead of the table, nor interfered with Mrs. Howell, nor too elubely scrutinized Jane's work; yet her influence was felt neverthe le,s. The scr‘unts complained that there was nu possibility of pleasing her in any thing they (lid, and those who had lived in the family fur years constantly threatened to leave. It required all the tact and dig nity of Bertha's character to retain her servant:, yet nut to cumpoinke her mother in-law. A year s passed thus at Beeehwood. Bertha Hamilton's heart was now suffering for the want of early discipline, Her temper had become haughty and irritable under the cold surveillance of Mrs. Hamilton. She had formerly yearned for the old carers aid kind words of her husband, for which her pride forbade her to aSii; but she was now almost beginning to despise him for the manner in which he yielded everything to his mother. Cecil. on his part, wondered how he could have been so mistaken in a character. His wife, in some unaccountable way, always appeared to greatest disadvan tage. before his mother. It pained him to the heart to think that it had only been a childish fancy on Bertha's part fur him, and he determined not to trouble her with remonstrance: su the two went on outwardly indifferent, but inwardly sorrowing, with Mrs. Hamilton swaying . her son its of old. And thus it was when an heiress was born to the united fortunes of the Donald sons and Hamilton. The young mother shed wild tears of joy as she la cooed her child to her bosom, and thought that now she would have some one to love her exclusively, though for a mo ment she , rembled as she thought of her woman's destiny, "to make idols and find them cloy," as she herself had. done. Cecil Hamilton heaved a deep sigh as he saw the lavish tenderness which Bertha bestowed on his daughter, and seedy envied the un conscious little thiu,g, whilst Mrs. Hamilton declared that the mother was too delicate to nurse the child; so, both for her 19ftitC and its own, a wet nurse must be provided. Bertha listened in silence when in Cecil's presence one evening Mrs. Hamilton pro posed it to her, but her color rose and her eyes flashed long before her mother-in-law had concluded. "Madam," said the young mother, "you have governed your own child through hie his whole life, and I shall do the same by mine. In this thing I will nut be thwarted. I am perfectly able to nurse my b' by, end I would rather lay her in the ground than on another's bosom. This is never to be mentioned to me again." "But, Bertha," commenced Cecil, who was really alarmed fur his wife's health, from his mother's representations. "I hare decided the matter," interrupted the wife, in a tone of such icy coldness that it left no room for further remonstrance. Mrs. Hamilton lifted her eyes and hands with the air of a martyr, which graphic pan tomime was not lest on either Bertha or her So till little Marion Hamilton was three Tears old, was she a source of contention between her grandmother and her parents. Mrs. Hamilton looked upon the child as be longing to herself quite as much as to its mother; she interfered with its food, its ex ercise, its dress; she scolded its nurse, and often contemptuously chided Bertha her self. Bertha watched every encroachment upon her maternal authority with :jealous eye, and often with angry words; and Cecil petted his darhng, and appealed to his mother with regard to its c lucation. "I tell you Cecil, she will grow up as headstrong and passionate as Bertha her self, if you lot mattnrs go on in this way." said Mrs. Hamilton, one morning. "Iler mother humors her in every whim, and I really believe the child takes a pleasure in disobeying me." "She ii perfectly obedient to Bertha or her nurse," argued Cecil. "I think she is a child who must be managed by love and not harshness, fur severity seems to call out all the bad qualities of her character." After four years of marriage Cecil Ham ilton was beginning to have glimmerings of his wife's heart through his child. But what Mrs. Hamilton had said was true. Little Marion defied her authority to the greatest possible eztent; for her whole na ture was roused to antagonism by her 2.rand mother's manner. At that very moment she had espied n bed of fine carnation pinks, Mrs. Hamilton's especial favorites and care. which she had been ordered not to touch, and with a mischievous laugh she flew at it, and commenced pulling off buds and blos soms, her little hands_ trembling with haste, lest she should be discovered before the work of destruction was complete. With a sigh of satisfaction Marion contemplated the wreck; then gathering up some of the flow ers in her apron, she seated herself on the piazza steps to play with them. The nurse's voice was heard calling Marion, and child's answer from the bottom of the steps caused Mrs. Hamilton to look out of the window. In a moment her sewing was tossed on the floor, and with the swoop of a hawk she rushed upon the child. _Marion was so en grossed with her flowers that she did not hear her grandmother's approach, and with a scream she turned her eyee, wild with af fright, upon Mrs - . Hamilton's face as she seized her by the arms with a grip which her anger made like iron. Blow after blow reddened the little face and neck, and the sharp finger nails sank into the child's flesh as she pulled her along the hall. With a shake and a push that sent the little thing reeling against a shelf, she pushed Marion into a dark pantry and locked to door. The child's screams attracted Bertha, who was in another part of the ground giving direc tions to the gardener. Fearing some dread ful accident bad happened, she clew to the house, and on entering the hall the whole was explained by her mother-in-law's face, the broken flowers and the shriek from the closet. With a bound she reached the door, ' turned the keytand seized Marion, who was almost in convulsions from pain and terror of the darkness. Without a word she car ried the child to her chamber, where her husband was sown attracted by the continued crying. "What is the 'natter, Bertha?" asked Cecil. ":„sZuthilig, except that your mother has nearly killed the child," was the reply, as she still gazed into Marion's face, and walked hurriedly up and dawn the room with her in her arms endeavoring to quiet her. It was a long while before the shrieks subsided into sobs, and the little thing sunk into a fevered sleep on her mother's bototn. bail had paced up and down the room beside Bertha, in her hurried walk, not daring to ask a question, as lie saw her stern, white face. "Cecil Hamilton," said she, at last, es she turned upon her husband like an angry lbnes , , "your mother and I can live to gether no longer. You must choose now between her and me and your chi d. You eeased to love inc soars ngu, Cu I suppose your preference is soon mode. I thought when my baby was born you 71111 Si love me: but I wits mistaken. It tvas Ti) little thing, Cecil Hamilton, to wreck my happiness sit carelessly us you did, but your mother has ever stood between us. My child's temper shall not be made as irritable as mine has benome through her presence; and if she ever touches Marion again I give you tio choice fur decision—for I'll take her and leave your houso;" "But what was the matter to day, Bertha?" a.ked her husband, in a voice which differed very much from his usual noucku/aut tout. "Look there, and there, and there' was the reply, as the mother bared little Marion's shoulder, and pointed to the check and arms, on which the marks of Mrs. Hamilton's fin gers still lingered. "Marion was to blame, I have no doubt; but I was the proper per son to punish her in a suitable manner.— Had she been shut up in that dark closet five minutes longer she might have been an idiot for life." The father's brow grew dark as he lie toned. In Bertha's excitement the whole story of her trials with her mother-in-law was poured into her husband's ear, the more readily perhaps, that ho had never evineml so much interest in them before. "But, Bertha, I never suspected all this!" Ile said at la•t. "I have dune wrong in let. ting my indolence and love of peace so long close my eyes to your troubles. I have been accustomed all my life to being ruled by my mother, without knowing the fact, perhaps, and I was really afraid that my wife.was becoming irritable and an:unit - dile without a cause, little thinking or noticing how much yen had to annoy you." "I could have borne it all if she had only left me your love, Cecil; but to take that, too!" and here Bertha burst into a passion• ate fit of weeping, brought on by her hus band's change of manner; for had she not been sure that he now heartily sympathked with her, her old pride would have forbid den her to regret to him a lore that was lost. "My poor little wife! you love me yet, much as when we were first married, and so happy, do you not?" and Cecil imprinted a tender kiss on her forehead, as she lay sole Bing on the bed eller() she had at last placed Marion. Bertha threw her arm around her hus band's neck, and amid tears and blushes she confes. , ed how unhappy - his indifference $1,50 la7P yrAP IN ADITANCE; $2,00 IT NOT IN ADVANCE. B 3 had made her, and blamed herself more than she need have done for the domestic trouble, declaring that now she saw that it was only her pride and haughty temper that had caused it all. Mrs. Hamilton was herself alarmed at the effects of her violence, as little Marion con tinued her screams after being carried to her mother's room, and she was about fol lowing to make what amends she could when she saw her son go into the chamber. She awaited his return with much impa tience, and when an hour passed by and he did not make his appearance, she felt that he was no longer under her authority, that her "kingdom was divided" already. This fact, combined with the events of the day, and Bertha's independent disposition, made her determine to accept from a bachelor brother, who had returned from India but a short time previously, an invitation to take charge of his house. Cecil and Bertha in the meantime were debating as to the kindest mode of asking Mrs. Hamilton to leave; Bertha. with her sudden revulsion of feeling, caused by her happiness, having in vain endeavored to persuade her husband to let her remain.— But he was inflexible. Cecil Hamilton now understood both wife and mother too well to see much chance for happiness in such on ar rangement, :tad he had suffered too much for four years to be willing to run another risk. They did not all meet again till dinner time, when Mrs. Hamilton said she hnd re ceived another letter from her brother that morning, renewing his request for her to live with him, and that she had already written to say that sho would accept the in vitation. Both Cecil and Bertha breathed m we freely, for it was an unpleasant duty to ask a mother to leave the house. At the end of the week they were stand ing on the piazza, bidding Mrs. Hamilton adieu, though little Marion to the last re fused to be friendly. Many years have passed since then, and there are other little feet now beside Mar. ion's, pattering through the garden -walks and along the halls, and Bertha, Hamilton has proved to be all that her Cecil's fancy had pictured her before he was merrried, and she only counts her life as really begun since the departure of her mother-in-law. The Maniac's Confession A few years ago I visited an insane asy lum. The woman in charge conducted us through various apartments, giving us all the information in regard to the occupants she was able, and kindly answering all the questions, until we came to a room where one of the patients had lately died, and:now lay awaiting the disposal of her friends. who had been apprised of her decease. We en tered, and gazed reverently on the face of the sleeper. She was a woman in the prime of life and bore traces of great beauty.— What greet sorrow had bereft this beautiful creature of her rea3n? and by what rela tive, mid fur what notice, had she been in• careernted in this living tomb? wens queries which were in my wind as 1 gazed upon her lindoss rontairt. My eyes involuntarily wandered over the apartment. A. little table stood in the cor• ner, beneath the grated window. A Bible lay upon it, and as I took it up a paper slid front between the leaves and fell at my feet. I raised it. It was a closely written sheet, and a glance eons inced me that it wag some sort of a revelation which had been written there during the last hours of the life that had fled. 'What is tiii,?” I asked, as I held tip the BEM "Oh, that is probably some of Aggy'e scribbling. She used to call for pen and paper, and sho would write over several sheets, and then destroy them. This is probably one of them—of no consequence, I presume," said the woman. I asked if I might retain it. "Why, yes, if you wish to," she replied. I hid it away in my bosom, and we soon left the premises. "What could you possibly want of that crazy woman's scribbling?" my companion asked, as we left the building. "I fancy there is something here worth preserving," I replied• "Let us examine it." I replied. "Let us examine it." As we rode homeward, I read it aloud to my friend. It was written in a trembling hand, and read as follows: "I was the only and idolized daughter of wealthy parents. I possessed a haughty and imperious temper, which was never sub dued or restrains 1. My parents were nut religious, and no care was taken to impress upon my mind religious truths. Conse quently I grew up unprincipled and ex tremely passionate. While every pains was taken with my education and accomplish ments, my heart was left to run wild, over grown and choked by the briers and thorn of selfishness and love of tyranny; yet 1 NV 5 passionately attached to my friends, and as long as they did not cross my imperious will I got on nicely with them. "Thus I grew to womanhood. Chance threw me into the society of a young lawyer of distinguishe t abilities, who had begun what was predicted to ho a brilliant career. I soon learned love him with ell the depth "I" my rosionato and impulsive nature; and was wild with joy, when ono day he came to me, and i.i eloquent language told me' how long and devotedly he had loved me, and asked me to be his wife. "We were married. If I occasionally felt a twinge of distrust of my own qualifications for a wife, I soon silenced it with the argu- [WHOLE NUMBER, 1,487. meat that my love was strong enough to make up for all deficiencies. "My husband was all that was good, and noble, and generous. I was eften passion ate and unreasonable. But be would take me to his bosom, kiss me so tenderly, and say su gently, 'You must subdue this un happy temper, Aggy. It is making you "Then when ho was gone, I would fly to my chamber, lock the door, and give myself up to an uncontrollable fit of weeping for very shame. "We had been married about a year.— One evening (would to God I could blot front the record of time that fatal night; bat it lives like a hissing fiery serpent in my memory, and has doomed me to utter de spair in this world, and I fear the next!) my husband did not return at the usual hour. I watched long at my accustomed place, at the parlor window. his slippers and dress ing gown were warming by the grate, and everything was in readiness for him; but he did not came. Twilight deepened into dark- Iles's, and 1 began to grow uneasy. All my selfish feelings were roused, and I felt my self sorely grieved. An hour more, yet he came not. I paced up and down the floor in a fit of impatience. A ring at the door, I. waited to hear his step upon the stairs; but it was a lighter step titan his, accom panied by the rustling of silk. Nellie , an intimate friend, bounded in.— She was dressed fur the opera. She said their carriage waited at the door for myself and Ernest. I told her Ernest had not yet refurned from his office, and I could not go. Site looked disappointed. A sudden thought seized me. Would it not be capital revenge fur his neglect of me to find the parlor de serted when he came? I went to the opera. We were scarcely seated in our box when a party entered the box opposite. The blood rushed buck to my heart, and my pulse stood still as I recognized Ernest, my Er nest, my husband, and leaning upon his aria one of the most beautiful young crea tures my eyes ever beheld. This was my first impression,lfor there quickly followed so deadly and jealous a hatred as made her look positively ugly. I quickly drew down my veil that my husband might not discover me, and from my concealment, I watched them with glaring eyes. I heard nothing, saw nothing elsoCand once when rallied by my companions, I replied that I was not well, and Legged to be left to myself. "Then with fierceness of a tiger fearful of loosing his prey, I turned my eyes to wards my husband, and his 'guilty para mour.' She seemed to be enjoying the per formance intensely, but he seemed to see nothing but her. If is head was bowed to wards her, and she would occasionally lift her eyes to his face. Then I saw him.smile (just as he had smiled upon the a thousand thoes,) while he bent still lower over her with renewed devotion. "Each movement was like a red hot dag ger piercing my heart. I know not what demon possessed are; I think I must have !wen ursd elan i vow•- , 1 a le•rtible revenge. 'Twere better, I reasoned; that ho should die while, yet there existed its his heart a spark of love fur me, than to see bins little by little drawn away by the syran, till per haps I should be utterly deserted, and left with all my blind love eating away my heart sir:llgs like a consuming fire. "At my request we left the opera at an early hour, and with a terrible purpose en tered my home. But what was that home now to me? The love that had brightened it was no longer mine. Some demon fur nished me with resolution to execute my desperate purpose. "It bad been our custom s3metimes to drink a glass of sweet wine of an evening when we were alone. I drew the table to the fire, placed the decanter and glasses.— Then with trembling howls I brought a der.dly opiate; the nature of which I well knew. The first effect it produces was a deep sleep, whioh in a few hours terminated in the deep sleep of death. I filled the glasses, and into one I dropped the drug.— All was done with rapidity lest my resolu tion should fail me. "When all was ready I paced up and down the room, nursing the fire which raged within my bosom, by recounting to myself the wrong which I had suffered. I pictured to myself my idolized husbani ly ing stil and cold before me, and I fell into a passionate fit of weeping. Then I drew another picture. I saw him drawn from me, giving his love to another. I ,thought of all the agony I had suffered that night, and imagined how much deeper would be my wrong if I spared him. At that mo ment I heard his night key in the latch, and he soon entered the room. I stood in the recess of the window, where he did not nt once observe me. The wino first sttract ted his attention, the fatal glass. I saw him lift it to his lips, strain itecontents, and fell fainting to the floor. •'I knew no more for seyeral hours. When I railed I was lying upon the sofa; the lamp Ras burning dimly—an easy chair Was wheeled to my side, and in it I saw the form of my husband. I sprang quickly up. The drug was doing its work. He was in a heavy slumber, and already his breath came thicker and shorter, and his pulse beat but faintly. "My anger had passed away, and all the wild worshipping love which I had cherished towards my husband came rushing back upon my heart. I chafed his hands. I kissed his lips, I strove to muss him, but
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers