ek. The husband, who was a good Roman Catholic himself,
blessed God and the Virgin Mary that he had the privilege of living with
such an angel of piety.

Nobody had the least suspicion of what was going on under that holy and
white mantle of the most exalted piety. Nobody, except God and His angels,
could hear the questions put by the priest to his fair pentitent, and the
answers made during the long hours of their _tete-a-tete_, in the
confessional-box. Nobody but God could see the hellish fires which were
devouring the hearts of the confessor and his victim! For nearly one year,
both the young priest and his spiritual patient enjoyed, in those intimate
and private secret conversations, all the pleasures which lovers feel, when
they can speak freely to each other of their secret thoughts and love.

But this was not enough for them. They both wanted something more real,
though the difficulties were great and seemed even insurmountable. The
priest had his mother and sister with him, whose eyes were too sharp to
allow him to invite the lady to his own house for any criminal object, and
the young husband had no business at a distance which could keep him long
enough out of his happy home to allow the Pope's confessor to accomplish
his diabolical designs.

But when a poor fallen daughter of Eve has a mind to do a thing, she very
soon finds the means, particularly if high education has added to her
natural shrewdness.

And in this case, as in many others of a similar nature which have been
revealed to me, she soon found how to attain her object without
compromising herself or her holy (?) confessor. A plan was soon found, and
cordially agreed to, and both patiently awaited their opportunity.

"Why have you not gone to mass to-day and received the holy communion, my
dear?" said the husband: "I had ordered the servant-man to put the horse in
the buggy for you as usual."

"I am not very well, my beloved; I have passed a sleepless night from
head-ache."

"I will send for the physician," replied the husband.

"Yes, my dear; do send for the physician--perhaps he will do me good."

One hour after, the physician called. He found his fair patient a little
feverish, pronounced that there was nothing serious, and that she would
soon be well. He gave her a little powder, to be taken three times a day,
and left; but at nine p.m., she complained of a great pain in the chest,
and soon fainted and fell on the floor.

The doctor w