Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-23
oHE TERRIBLE HIGHT.

her happiness. L was bound to her serV-
ice BY ties of gratitude and affection that
were never absent from my heart, and
when she died l gladly promised to give to
Meta, her only child, the devotion of
my life. I only mention this that the
reader may understand the motive for my
conduct on the night when Herbert Lane
lay between life and death; the night
whose incidents are printed indelibly upon
my heart and brain.
Meta Narston had grown from child
to woman in the years following her
mothers death, under my care as nur-
sery governess, upper servant and house
keeper; scarcely know what my position
in the household seemed to outsiders.
Mr.. Marston left everything in my care.
| selected servants, controlled the house
keeping and took care of Meta until she
was old enough to have teachers in studies
far beyond the limit of my education
She was very pretty. very loving, and her
fathers idol. Our home at Water Valley
was fitting nest for so dainty little lady
as my darling, and Mr.. Marston was hos
pitality itself
When Herbert Lane was chosen from
many who courted Miss Marston, there was
no cloud upon their engagement, and my
old eyes and heart were gladdened by
Netta's entire happiness. But l knew,
perhaps others also saw, that one Of those
who had tried to gain my darling's favor
did not accept the disappointment will
| ingly. The intimacy tetween the Lane:
and the Marstons had begun before Mrs
Marston died, and | knew much of the
family history Included in this knowl-
edge was the condition of old Mr.. Lanes
will.
He left large estate to his only child,
Herbert to revert to his nephew, Julius
| Lane. should Herbert die unmarried or
before he was of age. The cousins had
always lived together, and Julius inherited
a small fortune from his uncle, bat very
much less than the estate which would re,
vert TO him if Herbert died before coming
of age The two had been rivals for
! Nettas love since she was old enough to
have lovers, and many were surprised al
her choice, since she did not need wealth
and Julius was far more brilliant man
| than his cousin. He was very handsome
talented, of good social standing, and, as
far as the world knew, Of moral worth as
WE'LL. Herbert was quiet, reserved, never
in very strong health, and showed to little
advantage beside his cousin. But it was
Herbert who won my darling's love, while
l, old fool that | was, thought that she re
jeeted the better man.
The time had been set for the wedding
which was to be in July, when Herber
Lane was taken i'll, with what old DR.
Arnold, the Water Valley doctor, though
was malarial fever. 1t was in April wher
he was first too i'll to leave his room, anc
it was in May that DR. Wickersham came
to Water Valley There had been some
complications in Herbert Lanes illness
that julius loudly protested were caused
by improper medical treatment, and DIR
Arnold was dismissed, DIR. Wickershan
taking his place. There was, too, con
slant trouble about the nurses, who stayed
a few days, then left, and old Mrs. Hunt
the h6asekeeper, said it was because Mr.
Julius interfered so much.
So it came about that in May, moved by
my darling's entreaties, undertook t
nurse Herbert Lane. l think his cousir
would have refused my assistance if he
could have given one reasonable excuse
for doing so, but as there was none, | tool
nv place beside what seemed, even then
dying man.
Never had | seen such a change as the
few weeks of illness had made in Herbert
Lane He was not handsome man, MOI
very robust one, but seemed to have
fairly melted away, and was as weak as g
child.
| was not surprised to find his minC
dwelling continually upon the fear that ht
would die before his DIST birthday, which
was also to have been his wedding day
the 18th of July. He had insisted upor
having two wills drawn up for his sigma
ture, one to be signed if he lived over tina
day, unmarried one, in case, as was pro
posed, he should be married, even if on bi
death bed. And both wills left his prop
erty to Meta.
'Father has already provided 70
Julius" he said, Hand doubled that leg
acy when l told him of my engagement, s.
that he would not feel the loss of his OLE
home in pecuniary sense"
was quite ready to believe the storie
of the nurses, regarding the interference O
julius Lane, when | had been a few day
in the sick room. Restless, fussy, over
anxious, he was constantly moving about
making suggestions, altering the arrange
ment of the bed, the table, the light, the
heat, until it was a marvel to me that ht
had not already driven his cousin into
delirious fever. Greatly TO my surprist
DR.. Wickersham did not pay any heed t.
my remonstrance and request that NOR,
quiet nursing should be insisted upon.
tried in vain to secure the repose tina
seemed to me essential for one so ex
hausted, for even in the night Julius Lane
remained in the sick-room or the one mex
it. Every day my patient grew weaker
and my darling paler and more sad. Il
grieved rae to the heart to see her mourn,
full eyes and quivering lips, as she turned
away, after daily inquiries, for DR. Wick
ersham had strictly forbidden her to SEE
Herbert.
"The excitement of an interview would
be fatal" he said !. and although did no
agree with him, it was not my place 10 ad
wise any risk.
The night of the l4th OF July was close
and Herbert Lane, with every sense strung
up to fever pitch, was lying at sunset
watching and prdying Tor one day more o
the life that was slipping away from hin
so rapidly. I had been in the kitchen
mixing cooling drink, when the terrory
of that dreadful night commenced.
There was a narrow passage way be.
tween the dining room and the small
room the cousins called the study, anC
used for sitting room, and through this
passed ON nay way upstairs. My blood wa:
like ice. my heart seemed to stop, as Juliu;
Lanes voice, low but distinct, came to Int
from that room.
81 tell you he must die tonight, for
am beggar tomorrow. Every dollar o
my money is gone, and the estate mus
come to me if Herbert dies tonight"
DR.. Wickersham's voice, timid, pleading
answered.
But the risk! l have run an awful
risk now. Think of it Think, if there
should be any suspicion and post NOR.
tenn
"The risk was taken long ago. Every.
body knows he is dying, aud a few hour:
more or less will make no difference. Give
me some stronger dose that will not fail
You gain $4,000 and | swear to return to
you the notes forged on my uncle. II
Herbert lives till morning will give the
notes to the police"
| HNof ,of II will do vhot vo,, yrant