Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-07-06
He went to London the next day in

me when she spoke OF my age before HIM.
One day we three were walking in the
shrubbery when she suddenly exclaimed !:
why, Hanna, dear, | do believe there is
gray hair in your head. 1t is right be-
hind your ear. Stand still moment"
Never mind" l replied, Grossly. "Let
it remain" But she insisted upon pulling
it out.
"Let me see it." / asked. But she had
already cast it away, and, somehow, l
knew that there was no gray HAIR there.
Hanna, you must be getting old. / am
just II; and" counting upon her fingers,
you are twelve years older than l, which
will make you 90. 1t seems too bad to
grow old. doesn't it? A man at 80 is In
his prime, but woman-oh, horrors"
| am going into the house." | replied.
My heart seemed turning against her. She
is cruel to me-to me who has been both
mother and sister to her for years. l am
frightened at myself. Twice there has
came a. strange, dreadful feeling in my
heart. will write it murder; and now it
is written look at the word with shud-
der. Can it be jealousy which causes it
Yes. Mother, forgive me-" l prayed at
my bedside that night, must be going
mad, for l am on the verge of hating
her."
Ernest had not spoken once about our
marriage since the night of his arrival.
They were always together-him and her.
| never attempt to join them now, and
later, tell HIM he is free.
"What does it mean, Hanna p, he
asked.
1t means YOU care for my sister, and /
relieve you so that she may have my
place."
Hanna, do you think l am hound to
do as you say? If you will not marry me
l return to Spain tomorrow" he said.
But tomorrow came, and he still ling
cred; and one day she ran into my room
her cheeks flame: "Oh, Hanna! you
cannot guess-you never could guess what
has happened"
"Yes, | can," replied, gently. az am
not quite blind nor deaf"
"Oh you dear old, sly goose, won't you
congratulate me? am so happy. We
are to be married almost Immediately. |
have loved him so long ever since | was a
little girl, and always intended to marry
him myself. Oh, Hanna how stupid you
were. But it was good of you to relieve
him, he was so honorable. He would
never have said word to me if you had
not set him free. Come, kiss me, and give
me your blessing"
She came forward to embrace me, but |
sprang to my feet with my blood boiling,
and, with my clinched fist, dashed her
away.
my blessing" | shrieked. az would
rather give you my curse. Why should l
bless you? You, the viper, who has
turned and stung me. You, that twit me
with my age; but for your sake would
be happy wife and mother now with
children Of my own, instead of which |
have spent my years of youth for you.
Go. Leave me-"
She turned and left the room without a
word; and l sal for hours with that dread
full feeling in my heart again.
The next morning her maid rushed to
my door: "Oh! Miss Hanna, your sister,
is sick; dreadful sick. Do come quickly"
My heart leaped with joy. "That she
may die" whispered to myself, 1 fol-
lowed the maid and found my sister tossing
in delirium. My father was at the bed
side trying to quiet her.
"No! no" she screamed. "She wants
to kill me. saw it in her eyes last night"
"Who does she mean ?" asked my faith
err"
81 say, take Hanna away. She wants
to kill me. / saw it in her eyes last night.
Take her away. Oh ! take her away" said
my sister.
My father thinking her words hurt me,
said: "Don't mind her, Hanna, child /;
people in delirium often take strange no.
tons"
The doctor came and pronounced her
illness severe attack of lung fever, and
gave the usual directions. She lay with
her cheeks burning hot, and seemed to be
quite unconscious only when approached
her, then she screamed in terror.
Ernest was almost distracted. / can see
him now kneeling at her bedside with the
tears streaming from his eyes, praying for
his darliDg's life. He noticed me no more
than if / were not in the room. In a
weeks time the doctor told us there was
hope if she is kept so that breath of
outside air cannot touch her she will re-
cover. If she suffers relapse the AL
mighty alone can save her."
She lay very weak and white. I sat
and watched her with that same horrible
feeling in my breast again, and my lips
"the Almighty himself cannot
save you"
There were two windows in the room.
one on each side of the bed. looked at
them with a strange fascination She had
heard the doctors words; and her lover
had bent over the bed before he left the
room and whispered, "Get well, darling,
for my sake" and her lips had answered
him with smile.
/ was left alone in the room and sat
with my back to the bed. His words are
in my ears: SECT well, darling, for my
sake" / looked around-she was sleeping
quietly. / arose, moved to the bed and
softly turned down the cover. Then
quickly opened both windows l turned
again to my former seat and watch. Then
/ slowly turned again towards the bed.
She was lying with her eyes wide open
looking at me with strange horror. Her
hand had vainly tried to pull the cover
over her again, and the moisture stood
upon her forehead in drops. l replaced
the cover, she still watching me with that
look of horror and dumb despair. Sud-
denly the door was burst open and Ernest
rushed in. He caught me by the should
ers-his face like death" What have you
done? you fiend," he asked horsely. He
threw me from him and sprang to close the
windows. Then turning to the bed he
took her in his arms" Darling, / saw the
windows open from below. This wretch
wanted to kill you. pray God am not
too late" l stand as though turned into
stone. "What have l done? OF what
am | accusedw
My father and the doctor hurried in.
My sister is dying fast. l moved to the
bed, she covered her face and motioned me
away. Then remember nothing.
When / came to my senses it is months
later, and my hair is snow white. / have
had brain fever. The doctor said it had
been working upon me for weeks before l
was struck down, and he tells me shall
never be well again, and it is better so. 1
write this knowing am soon to die; and,
perhaps. in another world she may forgive
and understand.