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U I I 103tSjrbril-di-s.of1U-)D,Ofvi-iC-ll aui mviiun, jyu icrw n ciyumu ; i ^Tlae Victim of a Plot.i33 Y A D1LTK CT1V £. 1fVCmioteinn-JcIc(]X■yytXytsilt;ii'iM1Sbib3nbnsuA0tlt]tl.1howV.LlubNot many years ago, a lad3% whom .1 had known long and well, feli a victim tn selfishness. Young, beautiful, accomplished, she had many friends. She was married to a guulleimm whom she loved devotedly. Previous to her marriage, in order to support a widowed mother, she connected herself with a fashionable millinery establishment, npd by her cultivated taste and exquisite skill, soon rendered * herself indiapenablc. AJ though retired \ fiom society, there were many ’in it who still remembered her us the accomplished daughter of a wealthy merchant, honoring her independence of cl in meter and applauding her filial piety, hi time she won the affection of the gentleman whom she subsequently married, and; much to the surprise and dissatisfaction of her employer, announced bui intention of speedily withdrawing from the establishment. Every inducement was of lined her to change her resolution. It was frankly admitted that her place- could -not* be supplied ; the lady said that custom would disci 1 her, and ruin would follow on the In-els of llie separation. These considerations induced her to remain until her place could be supplied ; but it did not interfere wdh the marriage—that took place as announced. Finding that the lady was determined to go, tbo proprietress conceived the most bitter dislike for her, while yet maintain mg an appearance of friendship. The innate selfishness of her nature was aroused, and she thought hitterly of the Indy who prcfered her own happiness u tlie interest of her employer. She imagined herself greatly injured, unci brooded long and ardently over snrno plan of revenge. iShn oared not if it wrecked the character of her victim and destroyed in their bloom all the (lowers of her fife. Trcr.ehcious, vindictive and passionate, her evil mind planned a cruel wrong and carried it out unrelentingly.The proprietress had in licr possession soiuc costly luces, which she prized above nil things in her house. They were very beautiful, and many a fair votary of fashion Imd offered fabulous pi ices for them. One morning these laces were reported to have been stolen, and incredible ns H appeared to her friends, the young wife was accused of the larceny. 1 shift never forget the look of indignant surprise, theimmeasurable scorn with which she received the accusation. She stood beforethe officers like some youug Pythoness, her great eyes Hushing and the tall slender form diawn to its fullest hoighl I had seen criminals in many disguises, the young, and beautiful, the rich ; but none ever so counterfeited virtue, or masked them solves in innocence so effectually. J wfmlcl have staked my life upon the lady’s innocence.I jilt, our convictions could not aid her in this straight, or prove to those who warn already prejudiced the convictions in which we were already certain.licr trunks were searched, and the'laccs found in them. (Jniil then she had treated the charge with scorn, but now her feeling* underwent a chapgc. The indignant blood that had stained nock and face iceeded, and the poor creature, with a cry like despair, sunk sobbing, on the floor.To the careless and unthinking the .proof see mod so clear that there was no room for doijbt. llur husband stood ,by uncertain how to act. I bated him from that moment for his vacillation and uncertainty, lie should have seen us I had seen llmt she was innocent. Still, lie procured her bail, and tried manfully to procure her acquittal. I worked day and night upon the cuse, and on the very duy of trial, obtained I1,1 n clue which led to licr acquittal.From the first I believed that the proprietress was die guilty party. Tliuic was an uneasy glitter in her eye, a restless uncos tain glance wich showed the meditated wrong. On the morning of the trial, whenevery other means had failed, I determined to search her premises, iu the hope of finding- something. ^ It wua n happy thought, for in her userstoir I discovered duplicate keys of the lady’s trunk, and a war impression of the lock. With these I soon ascertained the woikmn?i who had made them, and by whose order they hod been prepared. Willi these evidences the proprietress was confronted when she testified on the trial. Never shall 1 t'orgct her expression of battled rago and hate when I produced my evidence. She looked more like a demon than a woman, and in look and gesture displayed the intensity of her malice. On the lady the scene had un effect as sad as unexpected. Her reason that bud borne such shocks of grief gave wiiy.lxmoaih the joy of hei acquittal.She rose to her feet, looked with beaming tacc at her'diusband, and then before an arm eoulcl. butelretched to save her, fell fainting to the flooi. From that moment she was hopelessly insane. Months went by, and as her reason clouded her body fiulcd a way. Not long the restless spirit fretted in die poor frame, and one night she died—died of a broken heart, a victim of a woman’s hate.a I tlutor♦11:c«PP»clt;tlt;;olla10lt; 1Si»lt;teirGDfrdihgrePta\usLhofdcLICmiindcwlnuwiorhi:\VireticiutoanLiuniftinbuwiUKtidva.mitinlesstethelie:bubei
Newspaper Details
Grand Traverse Herald
Traverse City, Michigan, US
Thu, Jan 27, 1870
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 28 May 2019
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