The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-03-14

"Not married yet nor going to beT'
mo"
'Why, Frank, I thought surely by this
time
The doctor moved uneasily in bis chair
and turned so that the electric light over
his desk did not shine full on his face.
As for me, paused abruptly, feeling
that l had hedgcd on painfully delicate
ground.
II meant to have written to you of a
matter that has concerned me very deep
ly, Jack, but somehow have never felt in
the mood. I've gone through a tough cx-
perience since saw you last"
Looking at his haggard face, could
well believe this.
"Why, dear old chap" said l, forgive
me for rubbing you on a sore spot. l
hadn't the slightest idea"-
"How should you? You are the only
person to whom l shall ever mention the
subject, but il you care to hear
"Tell me-" said.
"Do you remember, Just before you
went west my speaking to you of a Mrs.
Selwin, whom l had been called to at
tend, and of her daughter Carlotta?"
"Quite well. You raved about the girls
beauty and fine qualities and tilial affec-
ton, ETC., till thought
~ did not overestimate her." interrupt
ed the doctor, with flush. Mrs. Sell
win was suffering from a complication Of
diseases that reached climax, or rather
an anteclimax, in the alarming attack
which Occasioned their sending for me.
l pulled her through-that is, Carlotta
and l pulled her through. / knew that
she was destined to have more of these
seizures and would eventually die in one,
though the end might be staid off for
some time. The Selwins were southern
ers and had lived in little out of the
way place in Virginia. l never knew ex-
actly why they came north. The only
relative they had was sister of Mrs.
Selwin's, who lived in Baltimore, and
they had made no friends. They were
well off and amply able to afford every
luxury and comfort that might help to
make Mrs. Selwn's illness more beara-
Bile. However. when suggested the fca-
sibility Of trained attendant to relieve
Carlotta Of some Of her responsibility in
caring for her mother the girl begged
earnestly to be allowed to wait upon the
patient herself, and the mother, who had
some old fashioned notions about trained
nurses and hospitals, seconded her. And
so it followed that saw great deal of
Carlotta In the sickroom and out Of it.
Il am not given to enthusiasms, but no
man could see and know Carlotta Selwin
as l did without being deeply impressed
by her beauty, her lovelincss of DISPOSE
ton and her intelligence. She had few
queer little conservative notions, such as
it would have been impossible for her to
escape. brought up in small place and
under the influence Of woman like Mrs.
Selwin, whom she regarded as nothing
short of an angel. but in most matters
the girl was liberal and wide minded to
an unusual degree. Well, to make long
story short, l fell desperately in love
with her, and two months from the day
we met we were engaged. was SUI
premcly happy, and so Carlotta seemed
to be, the only cloud upon our horizon
being Mrs. Sclwin's health, which could
see was failing fast.
"One evening Carlotta and had gone
for short walk and were returning
when we were met by one of the maids
who had hurried out in search of us and
who told us that Mrs. ScIwin had be-
come desperately i'll. We FASTENED to her
and found her suffering agony that no
effort of her strong will could conceal.
She was sitting erect in her bed prop
ped up by pillows, position in which
1t was absolutely necessary to place her
during her parOXysms. From all the
symptoms judged that the end was not
far off, though she might last some days.
Carlotta, with her usual dizziness and
presence Of mind, helped me TO do all
that there was to be done to relieve her
mother, and before morning she was
somewhat easier. With strict injunctions
that her position should not be changed,
! left the house. Later | returned to
find her again in agony and begging
pitcously to be put out of her misery.
1.-The three days that followed were
indescribably painful. On the evening of
the fourth l returned from my round
of visits and found message from Car
lotta. hurried to her at once. The
girl had her arms about her mother, who,
in wild puroxysm of pain. was strug-
Cling to draw the pillows from behind
her. During momentary lull in her
suffering Carotta slipped to my side and
asked:
"'How long will this lastT
"1t may last for days. replied.
"'For Gods sake, if you have any
end it! 1t is wrong-aIl wrong,
that she should suffer so. End it, beg
Of youp
AT this moment there was another
fearful paroxysm, ana the girl returned
quickly to her post.
"'Carlotta,' l said, stand aside n mo-
ment.' She obeycd. am not sure that
she knew what meant to do, but IL she
did she offered no resistance. drew
the pillows gently away from Mrs. Sell
wins shoulders and laid her down. For
a moment she was perfectly quiet the
dawn of smile on her lips and her eyes
seeking Carlotta's. Then there was q
eursling sigh. The smile deepened, and
all was over.
".NIotherr cried Carlotta. You are
betterr
ayes; she Is hetter,' l replied. Car
lotta, don't you see?
1.-THE girl took her dead mothers hand,
. look Of horror deepening In her eyes.
"'Ah,' she exclaimed, she is
"Carlotta, don't you knowT
"'Yes,' she answered, falling upon her |
knees aud burying her face In the bed
clothes; 4 know-I know--she Is dead
you have
II bent over the girl, but she repulsed
me coldly, saying only:
~ know-l understand-please leave
me-