South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-03-13
THEINTELLlGENCER
FRIDAY. MARCH Is. 1891.



ment 10 make TO Mrs. Marstou, lie It's
sacrifice would add to her hap pincss.
l was bound to her service by ties OF
gratitude aud affection that were new.
err absent from my heart, and when
she died. l gladly promised to give 10
Meta. her only child. the devotion OF
my life.
Meta Marston had grown from
child TO woman In the years follow
Ing her mothers death, under nv
care as iursery governess. upper
servant and housekeeper; scarcely
know what my pos ton in the house
hold seemed to outsiders. MIR. Mars.
ton lett everything in my care.
When Herbert Lane Was chosen
from many who courted Miss Mas.
ton, there VAS no cloud upon their
engagement. and my old eyes and
heart were gladdened by Metals en-
tire happiness.
But knew-perhaps others also
saw-that one of those who had tried
to gain my darliDg's favor did not
accept his disappointment willingly
The intimacy between the Lanes
and the Marston's had begun before
Mrs. Marston died, aud knew
much Of tue family history. Inclrd
ed In this knowledge was tie condi-
ton Of old Mr.. LANES will.
lie left a large estate to his only
child. Herbert, to revert to his neph-
ew, julius Lane should Herbert die
unmarried or before he was of age.
The cousins had always lived to.
getGer, and julius inherited a small
fortune from bis uncle, but very
much less than the estate that would
revert TO him if Herbert died before
coming Of age.
The two had been rivals for Net
ta's love since she was old enough to
have lovers. anil many were surpris-
ed ut her choice. since she did not
need wealth, and Julius was q far
moro brilliant man than his cousin.
But it was Herbert that won my
darling's love, while l, old fool that /
was. thought that che rejected the bet I.
ter man.
The lime had been set for the we'd /.
ding, that WAS to be in July, vheu
Herbert Lane was taken i'll, with
what old Doctor Arnold. the Water
Valley doc or. thought was malaria
fsver. 1t was in April when he was
first 100 Ill TO leave his room, and il
was In May that Doctor Wick ersham
came 10 Wa:er Valley. There had
been SINE complications ia Herbert
Lanes illness that Julius loudly Pre-
tested were caused by improper med :
ical treatment, and Doctor Arnold
was dismissed, Doctor Wickersham
taking bis place.
There vas, too, constant trouble
about the nurses, who stayed = few
days then lefs, and ODD hlIs. Hunt.
the housekeeper, said it was because
DIR. julius interfered so much.
so 1t came about tina! in May, NOV.
ed by my dar!IDg's entreatiea, un1
dertook TO nurse Herbert Lane.
Never had I seen such change az
the few weeks OF illness had made in
Herbert Lane, He was not hapd-
some map, nor very robust one but
he seemed TO have fairly melted
away, and was IS weak as q child.
was not surprised 10 find mis-
mind dwelling CONTINUALLY upon the
fear that lie would die before his
twenty frat b friday, which vas also
to have been his weddIDg.dsy, the
fifteenth of july.
lie had insisted upon having two
wills drawn up for his signature, one
o be signed II be lived over that day.
unmarried one, in case, as vas pro-
posed, he should be married, even on
his death bed. Aud bo.h Wills left
b property to Meta.
Father has already provided for
julius be said, and 1 doubled that
legacy when l tol him Of m1 en-
gagement, 50 that be would not feel
she loss OF his old home, in pecuni.
airy sense
was quite ready to believe the
stories OF the nurses regarding the
interference Of julius Lane, when I
had Oeen few days in tie sick
room, Restless, fuzzy, over-anxious,
he was constantly moving about.
making suggestions, altering the arr
rangement of the bed, tue table, the
light, the heat.
Greatly to my surprise, Doctor
Wickersham d.d not pay any heed
to my remonstrance and request that
more quiet nursing should be insisted
upon.
Every day my patient grew weak
ef, aud my darling paler and more
sad. 1t gTieved me TO the heart q
see her mournful eyes and quiyerinq
Ups as she turned away, after daily
inquiries. for Doctor Wickersbam bad
s'rlckly forbidden her TO see Herbert
The excitement OF an interyie y
would be fatal be said.
And although I did not agree with
him' 1T was not my place to advise
any risk.
The night Of the fourteenth OF July
was close, and Herbert lane, with
every sense strung up To fever pitch,
was lying at sunset, watching, pray,
ing for one day more OF the life that
"aa slipping away from him 50 rap.
idly.
had been IN the kitchen, mixing
8 cooling drink, when tue terrors oil
that dreadful night commenced
There was narrow pSssage-way