Cedar Falls Gazette

An Unfortunate Girl Attempts to Poison Herself.—A few days ago a gentleman and lady registered themselves at one of our hotels as man and wife—but they were not. On Tuesday evening the man, a runner for a Cincinnati tobacco house, had come to doubt the fidelity and constancy of his mistress, and told her that they would have to part company. The girl took on very badly, but her lover obstinately refused to yield in his purpose. She declared that she would put a period to her existence, and during that evening procured a piece of opium, about the size of a chestnut, she says, which she took without the accomplishment of her object. Wednesday morning as the man was about leaving to take the eastern train he gave her twenty dollars in money. Soon after he had gone the girl went to Mixer's drug store and bought an ounce of laudanum, which, as she was leaving, she spoke of in a manner to arouse suspicion of her design. Mr. Mixer in company with Squire Clark, soon followed to her hotel, where they learned that the unhappy girl had been ejected from the house a few moments before, and her baggage was then being removed for conveyance to the depot. She had taken the laudanum and told her story. She was followed, overtaken, and conducted into Mixer's. Doctor Pierce was called and prepared an emetic, which she at first refused to swallow; but by dint of hard coaxing and numerous promises finally took, and was soon vomiting freely. Just here her lover very unexpectedly made his appearance, having been too late for the train. Before he was presented to the girl his story was obtained, and he made the recipient of some wholesome advice. The girl at first refused to recognize him, but soon renewed her friendship, and the pair departed the drug store together.

They both tell substantially the same story. The girl has led a gay life for some years. Her parents are highly respectable people of Des Moines, where her father is a hotel keeper. The girl is about twenty years of age, well educated, and for a number of years was a successful music teacher. She lost her character, and became an abandoned woman. When she met her present lover, she was stopping at the Central House, in Waterloo, tired of her life of crime, and anxious for reformation. She determined to find some man whom she could love, and be constant to him. This runner came along who took up with her after hearing her story and her pledges, he being well acquainted with her parents, and knowing to the respectability of the family. She says if this man deserts her, she will not continue to live.

Whether they will succeed in getting an effective patch over their difficulty we have no means of determining. The man states that he had indubitable evidence of the faithlessness of the girl, in which we opine he was not grievously disappointed. There is considerable doubt expressed that it was the determined purpose of the girl to terminate her life with the poison. She certainly was not very secret in her operations to that end.

Poor girl!