Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-04-16
A WOMAN LEPERs STORY.

itor 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, writes Phila-
delphia Press correspondent, and in
duced a number of the white lepers to
talk about themselves.
''You must not mention my name,"
said she, when she finally yielded to
persuasion and consented to tell her
story, 'for, though l have husband and
several children, to say nothing of
large circle of friends, in the United
States, there is only one person, If, in
deed, she be still alive, who knows any
thing of my condition or whereabouts.
''My father was Methodist minister
in Connecticut town. I was educated
at an Eastern college. When 1 was
nearly twenty 1 accompanied my par
erts on visit to Washington, D. G.
1t was there met my husband, or, to
be more accurate, the gentleman who
was to be my husband a few months
later. He was New Yorker, but had
been to California, where he then had
valuable mining and landed interests.
Within year from the time we met we
were man and wife, and settled down in
one Of the contest 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. 1 went q great
deal into society. Ny husband hated
the social world, but that did not deter
me. l went just the same, and led
ruled the highest circles.
est had been fifteen years since
lady, friend of mine, induced me to
accompany her on visit to some of her
acquaintance at Honolulu. At that
time trip across the ocean was not
what it is now, but, nothing dauntcd, we
started On the journey and in the course
of time reached our destination. At
Honolulu met q man and l sinned, as l
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
skulked among them a wretched trail
tress to every trust my load of shame
heavy on my heart. 1 Stunned society
and held my polluted self aloof from all
my friends. My life was a prolonged
misery, and longed for death. I don't
know why didn't, in that sore trial, cut
the thread of life and set free my sim
ladened soul.
"Throughout all this never blamed
any one but myself-never until years
after my return home, when l made q
discovery. Oh, that was worse than the
bitterest misery; it was utter damna-
ton! fled from home in frenzy of
excitement and rage which was utterly
now to me. The friend whom ] had ac-
companied 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 VEN
goance filled my hearG. 1t was mission
of murder.
rival at Honolulu l vailed 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. l fair
ly gloated over the prospect of 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 wanted. l breathed the cursed
name. At it's mention the man seemed
thunderstruck. IIimp he cried; why,
he fled the country long ago, to escape
Molokai.
"They told me that night at the motel
that had swooned and remained I'M
conscious for hours. All the next day
laid in bed, half oblivious Of all about
me- 1 left note for my friend, say
ing:
Tomorrow shall be ut MololSai. Fate
has damned me and there q M nacnne fro,,, ,ho