Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-03-15
TOLD BY A WOMAN LEPER.
The Strange Confession Heard by Wis
itor in aIolokai.
From the Philadelphia Press

itor in MolOkai.
From the Philadelphia Press
The difficulties in the way of the seeker
after information at Molokai are numerous
and great, but / finally managed to over
come them, and induced a number Of the
white lepers to talk about themselves.
One of these is a woman nearly 80 years
old. Though she has been at the settle
ment number of years, she is almost en-
tirely free from any visible taint Of the
dread disease. Her face is without blem-
ish, and she would be even handsome, if
one could forget while one looks upon her
that she is a leper. Moreover, she is
highly intelligent woman, and it must be
believed from her own story that she was
not many years ago a society lady Of intlu-
enee and popularity in city not 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 husband and several chill
dren, to say nothing of a large circle Of
friends, in the United States, there is only
one person, if indeed she be still alive, who
knows anything Of my condition or where
abouts.
u propose TO talk to you frankly" con-
tinued the unfortunate woman. Il have
sinned-sinned grievously, and sometimes
l think this is my punishment. Be that
as it may, | am here and ! must remain
for life | care not how soon the end
comes-the sooner the better-but TO my
story.
"My father was a Methodist minister in
a Connecticut lown | was educated at an
Eastern college. When | was nearly
twenty accompanied my parents on a
visit to Washington, D. c. 1t was there l
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 a year froDa the time
we met we were man and wife, and set
tied down in one of the cosiest little
houses in all the West. The town in
which we lived grew rapidly into city of
importance My husband became a very
wealthy man.
-Four sons and two daughters were born
TO us, and we were the happiest family in
the world. | went great deal into So
ciety. My husband hated the social world,
but that did not deter me- l went just the
same; and led ruled the highest cir
cles.
at had been fifteen years since lady, a
friend of mine, induced me TO accompany
her on a visit to some of her acquaintance
at Honolulu. At that time a trip across
the ocean was not what it is now, but moth
ing daunted, we started on the journey, and
in the course of time reached our destina-
tion. At Honolulu l met a man and
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 ocean.
MY husband and children met me with
open arms and loving kisses But | skulked
among them a wretched traitress to every
trust my load of shame heavy on nv
heart. l Stunned society and held my
polluted self aloof from all my friends
My life was prolonged misery, and l
longed for death. / don't know why
didn't, in that sore trial, cut the thread of
life, and set free my sin-ladened soul.
Throughout all this never blamed any
one but myself-never until years after my
return home, when l made discovery.
Oh, that was worse than the bitterest
misery; it was utter damnation l fed
from home in a frenzy of excitement and
rage, which was utterly new to me. The
friend whom had accompanied across the
sea years before now bore me company
across the same watery waste. But 1t was
not trip for pleasure this time. A thirst
for vengeance filed my heart. It was a
mission of murder.
my real object was not confded TO my
companion until we were far out at sea.
then told her all. At first she sought to
dissuade me from my purpose, but failing
in this, she soon fell in with my design
Tor seemed to, at least Sometimes l think
she deceived me-
"On the day, nay the hour, of our ar
rival at Honolulu | veiled my face, caught
up pistol, hailed passing hackmen and
was driven straight to the business house
of the man who had wrecked my life and
willfully chained me to living, loath-
some death. l fairly gloated over the
prospect Of a quick revenge.
q 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
dllSl me- dSh4ile wiz IL NtlS L NdAttA. L
breathed the cursed name. At its mention
the man seemed thunderstruck. Him he
cried why he fed the country long ago,
to escape Molokai. He was last heard Of
in Italy
'They told me that night at the hotel
that l had swooned and remained uncon-
scious for hours. All the next day | laid
in bed, half oblivious of all about me-
When night came my scattered senses re-
turned, and taking advantage of short
absence of my friend hastily dressed my
self and hurried from the hotel left
note for my friend, saying:
Tomorrow shall be at MOloksi Fate has
damned me and there is no escape from the
harsh decree. l must suffer for my sin. Invent
any story which seems plausible. say that
have gone to JapGn-anywher but let no liv-
ing soul know what has been the fate of yours
trustingly, -.
"And So" concluded the poor woman,
Il suppose am the only inmate of this
terrible place who did not have to be
dragged here by the authorities. l came
of my own will Have l regretted it?
Look around you and you have my an
swer."