The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-04-30
TOLD BY A WOMAN LEPER.
The Strange Confession Heard by Visitor
in MOlokai.

The difficulties in the way of the
seeker after information at Molokai are
numerous and great, but | finally man.
aged to overcome them, and induced a
number of the white lepers to talk
about themselves. One of these is
woman nearly so years old. Though
she has been at the settlement num-
Der of years, she is almost entirely free
from any visible taint of the dread dis
ease. Her face is without blemish, and
she would be even handsome if one
could forget while one looks upon her
that she is leper. Moreover, she is a
highly intelligent woman, and it must
be believed from her own story that
she was not many years ago a society
lady of influence and popularity in a
city not a great distance from San
Francisco.
You must not mention my name,
said she, when she finally yielded to
persuasion and consented to tell her
story, '.for, though have a husband
and several children, to say nothing of
a large circle of friends, in the United
States, there is only one person, if, in
deed, she be still alive, who knows
anything of my condition or where
abouts-
II propose to talk to you frankly" "
continued the unfortunate woman. 81
have sinned-sinned grievously, and
sometimes l think this is my punish
ment. Be that as it may, l am here and
must remain for life. | care not how
soon the end comes; the sooner the bet
ter-but to my story.
my father was Methodist minister
in Connecticut town. l was educated
at an Eastern college. When l was
nearly 20 l accompanied my parents on
a visit to Washington, d. c. 1t was
there | met my husband. OF, to be more
accurate, the gentleman who was to be
my husband few months later. He
was New Yorker, but had been to
California, where he then had valuable
mining and landed interests. Within
a year from the time we met we were
man and wife, and settled down in one
of the cosiest little homes in all the
West The town in which we lived
grew rapidly into city of importance.
My husband became very wealthy
man.
-Four sons and two daughters were
born to us, and we were the happiest
family in the world. l went great
deal into society. My husband hated
the social world, but that did not deter
me. I went just the same; and l led
1 ruled the highest circles.
''It had been fifteen years since a
lady, a friend of mine, induced me to
accompany her on avisit to some of her
acquaintances at Honolulu. At that
time trip across the ocean was not
what it is now, but nothing daunted,
we started on the journey and in the
course of time reached our destination.
At Honolulu met man and I sinned,
as I have said. 1t was the first crime
of my life. The shame of it, the horror
of it seized upon me, and forcing my
friend to cut short her visit, we hurried
away across the sea again.
MY husband and children met me
with open arms and loving kisses. But
l skulked among them, wretched
traitress to every trust, my load of
shame heavy on my heart. 1 summed
society and held my polluted self aloof
from all my friends. My life was pro-
longed misery, and l longed for death.
l don't know why | didn't, in that sore
trial, cut the thread of life and set free
my sin-ladened soul.
L
any one but myself-never until years
after my return home, when made a
discovery. Oh, that was worse than
the bitterest misery; it was utter dam
nation! l fed from home in a frenzy
of excitement and rage which was ut
terly new to me. The friend whom
had accompanied across the sea years
before now bore ME company across
the same watery waste. But it was not
a trip for pleasure this time. A thirst
for vengeance filled my heart. 1t was
mission of murder.
My real object was not confided to
my companion until were far out at
sea. then told her ali. At first she
sought to dissuade me from my pur-
pose, but failing in this she soon fell
in with my design Cor seemed to at
least. Sometimes / think she deceived
me-
''On the day, nay the hour, of our
arrival at Honolulu l yelled my face,
caught up pistol, hailed passing
hackman, and was driven straight to
the business house of the man who had
wrecked my life and willfully chained
me to living, loathsome death. 1
fairly gloated over the prospect of a
quick revenge.
Il sprang from the cab at the door,
and, hurrying into the house, called
aloud for my victim. The place was
changed. The faces were new. A man
came running after me, asking who it
was l wanted. l breathed the cursed
name. At its mention the man seemed
thunderstruck. 'Himn he cried: why,
he fled the country long ago, to escane
Molokai, He was last heard of in
Italy
They told me that night at the hotel
that | had swooned and remained uu-
conscious for hours. All the next day
l laid in bed, half oblivious of all about
me. When night came my scattered
senses returned, and, taking advantage
of a short absence of my friend, L hasti-
ly dressed myself and hurried from the
hotel. l left a note for my friend, say
ing:
'''To-morrow I shall be at Molokai Fate has
damned me and there is no escape from the
harsh decree. l must suffer for my sin. In
vent any story which seems plausible. Say
that have gone to Japan-anywhere but let
no living soul know what has been the fate of
yours trustingly. "
''And so," concluded the poor
woman. Il suppose L am the only in
mate of this terrible place who did not
have to be dragged here by the authori-
ties. | came of my own will. Have /
regretted it? Look around you and
you have my answer" Philadelphia
Press.