Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-05-09
LOVE.
az CHARLOTTE N. sRAEME.

HEGEHtFfFF]
kill me. I have had within the last tive
months q trouble-a terrible trouble
one that have had to bury In the depths
of my heart. I could not speak Of It, or
hint It, or place confidence IN any living
creature concerning 1t. I have shut my
secret In my heart, and It has been prey
Ing upon 1t. 1t has eaten my heart away.
The constant repression, the desperate ef.
forts l have made to seem as usual, have
been too much for me; and now I feel
sure that l have some affection Of the
heart which will soon put an end to my
hfe."
He began to understand something cf
the case.
do you want to liver he asked brief.
ly.
''No: want to die," she answered.
Then came a string Of questions, all OF
which she answered candidly enough.
The doctor knit his brows, and was ei-
lent for some time; then he listened to
the action Of the heart and grew graver
stiu
II think" he said. that you have al
ways had a great tendency to heart dis
ease; and now, 1 am sorry to say, it is q
confirmed case"
Her face frightened, and she murmur-
ed a few words to herself which he did
not hear.
Tell me, DOCTOR" she asked, "how
long do you think have to live?'
Not long" was the grave reply. I'm
great measure It lies in your own hands.
II you could get rid Of this care; il you
over it; II you could rouse yourself, you
might live a little longer"
II could not" she said: "the restraint
has been too great and too persistent.
VIII you tell me what the end will b
Hkew
II wish you would not ask me-" he
answered, looking pitifully at the fair
face.
"It will be the greatest service you car
render me-" she said. "It matters 30 lit.
tie to me. II have some months tc
live, shall carry out an intention which
l have formed; II not, l shall forego It.
Tell me, doctor"
You will not live for months." !" he said
the greater the pity"
The greater the 5oyw she cried. "Wil
1t be weeksT
Weeks in all probability" he replied
"And the endT' she asked again.
1.-The end will be sudden and peaceful,
he answered. 1T may be at any time
Any sudden sorrow or joy might prove
fatal. Calmness, peace, resignation, are
your greatest helps. Poor child" he said
in an outburst Of sudden tender pity
poor child! Life has been hard fol
you'll"
Every hard" she declared
II wish," he said. "that you would fol
low my advice. I could not save you
life. but might prolong it."
NO." she replied. II am staying hers
ut Mentone; shall die here, and, when
die they will be sure to send for you
You will not say that you have seen ME 2
Il will not" he promised.
There followed two quiet, peaceful ant
nappy weeks, Of which Hettie liked I,
think afterward. 1t struck her at time
made no complaint. Letters and news
giving them all the news Of Glen and o
Brentwood-above all Of the election
Hettie enjoyed talking about 1t with tn,
duchess, but Leah never uttered a word
She had made up her mind to the great
est sacrifice any woman could make--sh
would die and give no sign
News came from England that 81
Basil had been returned member for tn
county. The Duke and Duchess wer
delighted. Hettie was pleased, and talk
ed more about 1t than she talked abou
anything else. Leah said little, but sh
looked happier.
The next day came a letter to say tha,
the election being over, Sir Basil and tn
general hoped to run over to MentOne
| even il they were able to remain only
week. When Leah read that letter. he
! face grew white.
Leah went to her room; the sun shon
bright and warm, and the air was fu
| of the perfume Of flowers. She was tire
with peculiar feeling Of longing for res
which was new to her, and her sense,
| had been suddenly sharpened. She coul,
see further; she could hear with almos
painful distinctness. She had letter t.
write. but the feeling Of fatigue wa
so strong upon her that she was hardl!
| inclined to commence her task. Il viii
| do it at once, and then it will not trou
bic me-" she said to herself.
She sat for some time with the pen u
| her hand. 1t was the one great tempta
|
not? When she came to die, should sh'
| feel any the happier that she had lef
| him with this sting in his breast. thi
memory which would always be to hin
| one of bitter pain? 1t would be amp.'
| veneeance. II he knew that her unhap
piness had killed her. he cOnld never b.
| happy again. He was honorable ant
| sensitive; the chances were that if h
| knew the truth he would never MARI,
] Hettie. 1t was a great temptation. He
| heart throbbed with it, her whole fran,
| trembled; and then with u supreme ef
| fort she conquered it.
| Swiftly, suddenly, as had been foretold
| death came to her, without pain. withou
| bitterness, without agony. The pen drop
ned from the white fingers; her head fei
nnon the paper She died with q smii
ON her lips. There was not even spasn
| of pain, no faint murmur or cry. Th
throbbing, laboring. broken heart ha,
| stopped at last. With the wind tha
| chanted a requiem among the great tree
her soul r,se to heaven and the body Ief
behind srew cold and beautiful ih ths
embrace Of death.
CHAPTER Xxx.
| So they found her, dead. The duchess
was almost frantic. She refused to be
lieye that Leah was dead. 1t was ut
terly impossible, she declared. She call
ed for brandy, wine. hot wherever,
possible restorative. She would not se'
the mark of death on the beautiful face
She sent for doctors, and one Of the hrs
who came was DR.. Evan Grimths:
He recognized her at once. This wa
the despairing girl who had come to MIN
A. 1tAsA ~