Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-03-19
The STEP-SIsTER'S STORY.


After the unutterable horror whose end
was that blessed loss of consciousness.
my first sensation was that of painful
struggle after lost memory; desperate
choking and wild, mad pulsation of my
heart. which beat SO thickly and so fast as
almost to suffocate me Then. as began
to breathe with greater ease, | abandoned
the effort at recollection. and letting my
feeble thoughts take their own channel, |
began to notice where | was, and with
whom.
was undressed, and lying in large
four-post bedstead in handsomely -Turn-
ished old fashioned room; windows and
bed were draped with sombre sage green
moreen hangings. A bright fire burned
on the hearth beside me stood bottles.
glasses and basins. Over against the fire
sat woman's spare. angular figure,
dressed in deep mourning. A woman
with an ashen gray face. white hair, and
hopeless, desolate expression sad be-
yond description. She sat in a hgh-back-
ed. embroidered chair. and looked YEARLY
into the fire. On her face were deep
lines. which seemed traced by grief quite
as much as by age.
lay and noticed all this. but the power
of movement seemed withdrawn frem me.
| could not have moved finger or uttered
a sound if my life had depended on it
The door open softly, and another wom-
an entered. little younger in appearance
than the one who sat by the fire. but in
care lines, in black gown, in white hair
she was the same.
"Has she moved, Nary" said the new
conner in a low voice that thrilled me bv
its suggestion of resemblance to some
other voice had known Osabel's, as
know now.)
mo. sister Martha" said tie other.
raising her faded eyes from the fire: ..she
has been like this now for nearly three
hours. Has Jane not returned vet ?''
Yes she. has Just come in. 1t seems
some distance to E., you know, and DR..
Jaikes was out; but she has brought that
new doctor from the High street, who has
the name of clever young man. He had
better come up now think"
l closed my eyes; | felt could not
bear to be called upon to take even the
part of recognized listener in any con-
versation. Presently hand took mine.
felt my pulse smoothed nv hair back. and
mans voice said
'foOr cnliu, tnere mas been severe
shock have YOU any idea what could have
caused ite
"Yes." said Miss Martha's voice; ..she
has had very serious shock
I'VE can do nothing more than you
seem to have been already doing" he
went on; lit is best to leave the nervous
system to right itself naturally. Perhaps
you will tell me what causes this.''
al will show you," she said, and the
two left the room together.
The lady who had been called MARY
came to my side and bathed my temples
with vinegar. and presently heard the doc
tor and Martha" speaking in the next
room. My nurse heard them too. and
after moments hesitation. slipped awav
10 JOIN them leaving the door ajar. Nv
nerves were highly strung and my every
sense was alert; though their voices were
low heared distinctly every word that
was uttered. could not connect what |
had seen and undergone. for in respect
OF any memory of what had passed in the
earlier part of the evening, my mind was
utterly blank, though felt ia every fibre
of my body the vibration of the horror
that had overwhelmed me.
"A dreadful sight indeed. - aid the doc