The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-04-13
MY INHERITANCE.
1t Was Received in a Very Pecul-
lar Way.

Martha. the old servant awakened
me. She said: Your uncle is dying"
! went downstairs and again found
myself before the half-open door, where
for the past two days had been watch
ing the agony of my uncle. He had
brought nrc up and had been the kind
est of guardians He had banished me
from his presence. He had commanded
that l should not be admitted to the
chateau He had done all this without
motive, without any offense on my
part, but simply because he had disin-
herited me for her!
Her? / see her moving about in the
dying mans room, few steps from
me. There she reigns as sovereign
She devotes herself to the patient She
obeys each request of the doctor, who,
with her watches 10y my uucle's bed
side watch her every movement, and
= wild hatred, mixed with agony and
humiliation, burns IN my VEINS
on my return from Germany / found
her living at my uncle's, and he said:
she is my old friend Senart's daugh-
ter He died ruined-poor old fellow!
| hope that you will not object to my
giving her small dowry. You will
still be a millionaire"
She was very beautiful, but proud
and naughty. She received me coidly
and in a very unGrac,ous manner, but
in spite of that | fell promptly in love
with her. Her step made me tremble.
and her fine profile charmed me. At
the end of Il month / would have given
heaven and earth for her love. dared
to tell her soto ask her to marry me
but she refused me without hesita-
ton.
..Neverr' she declared positively.
All, that never it broke my heart,
but l answered her calmly:
You might have told me SO more
gently"
ut would have been less efficacious,"
she returned calmly. And | admired
the barbaric franl<ness of her answer,
like the sentimental fool that | was
To-day know what the girl with
the dark eyes was hiding. | now
understand her silence, her cold
reception, her insulting rejection. 1t
was because she was sure of her posi-
ton. Already she knew that she
mould rob me of my fortune. And to
think that during the past two days
have not told her how | despise her!
To think that was satisfied to avoid
her, not to talk to her! How she must
laugh at my folly!
As this thought enters my mind / am
about to enter the room But the
words of the doctor still sound in my
ears:
DO you wish to kill the patient? II
| can be done in minute sudden
emotion, a surprise and he goes"
Thus even nature is in favor of the
spoiler, Again | look at her. She is
| leaning over the bed with the express
| sion of Il madonna.
! Suddenly the old man moves and
| means like little child My heart is
! filled with pity for him. Then he calls:
| Laurel"
The doctor moves quickly hear a
confused whispering, then cry:
Il am suffpcating, All"
4 dead silence-then a rattling in the
throat--and again silence
Then the doctor leans over the bed,
listens, and finally says in low voice
s'iie Is dead"
I.aurc hides her face in her hands.
approach. | would like to- accuse her
| hut 4 pucrile sense of respect keeps me
silent, and it is she who speaks first
Il would like To say something To YOU
Her eyes are niicu WIN ltsiio, oub h'i
voice il resolUte- 1t seems as if she
were defying me
| However. i consent and lead her int
| the next room. There we remain look
ing at each other for minute with
out speaking. II is she who continues
..You will excuse me for not having
sent for you sooner. but your uncle re
i1sed absolutely to see you. and con
sidering his condition i had only t.
obey That was nj least the opinion
of the doctor. Believe me. / am sorry.
Il shouid think so!' | exclaimed
with an insulting laugh.
She looked ut me full in the race he'
eyes flashed and she stopped crying
.:You will regret that laugh" she sa'd
baughtily. ''lt is cowardly fou
dntv As a gentleman is first to listen t.
me"
was struck with her attitude al
though I believed il to be only anothe
form of duplicity, and l replied grave
| ly: