Morris tribune., 1903-03-07
Ny Inheritance

j dying"
i I went downstairs and again
! found myself before the half open
/ Hoor, where for the past two days [
had been watching the agony of my
uncle. He had brought me up and
4 had been the kindest of guardians.
He had banished me from his pres
ence. He had commanded that I
should not be admitted to the cha
teau. He had done all this without
motive, without any ofense on my
part, but simply because he had dis
! inherited me for her.
Her? I see her moving about in
/ the dying mans room, few steps
from me. There she reigns as a
sovereign. She devotes herself to-
the patient. She obeys each request
of the doctor, who, with her, watches
by my uncle's bedside. I watch her
every movement, and wild hatred,
mixed with agony and humiliation,
burns in my veins.
On my return from Germany I
found her living at my uncle's, and
he said to me:
'She is my old friend Senart's
daughter. He died ruined, poor old
fellow! I hope that you will not
object to my giving her a small
dowry. You will still be million
aire."
She was very beautiful, but proud
and naughty. She received me cold
ly and in a very dngracious manner,
but in spite of that I fell promptly
in love with her. Her, step made me
tremble, and her fine profile charmed
me. At the end of month I would
have given heaven and earth for herI
love. I dared to tell her so, to ask !:
her to marry me, but she refused
me without hesitation.
':Never!" she declared positively:
All, that "never!" 1t broke my:
heart, but l answered her calmly.
'FYo GU might have told me SO more
gently"
cit would have been less efica-
cious, she returned calmly. And
| admired the barbaric frankness of
her answer, like the sentimental
fool that | was.
Today I know what the girl with
the dark eyes was hiding! | now
understand her silence, her cold re-
ception, her insulting rejection. It
was because she was sure of her po-
sition. Already she knew that she
should rob me of my fortune. And
to think that during the past two
days l have not told her how I de-
spise her! To think that l was salts
fed 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:
EDO you wish to kill the patient?
It can be done in a minute. A sud-
den emotion, surprise, and he
goes"
Thus even nature is in favor of
the spoiler. Again l look at her.
She is leaning over the bed with the
expression of 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
confused whispering, then cry:
II am suffocating. Ah-T"-
A dead silence, then a rafting in
the throat-and again silence.
Then the doctor leans over the
bed, listens and finally says in low
voice:
'SHe is dead"
Laure hides her face in her hands.
] approach. I would like to accuse
her, but puerile sense of respect
keeps me silent, and it is she who
speaks first. 81 would like to say
something to you.
her eyes are hlled with tears, but
her voice is resolute. It seems as if
she we're defying me.
However, | consent and lead her
into the next room. There we re-
main looking at each other for
minute without speaking. 1t is she
who continues:
You will excuse me for not hav-
ing sent for you sooner, but your
uncle refused absolutely to see you,
and considering his condition l had
only to obey. That was at least the
opinion of the doctor. Believe me,
I am sorry"
81 should think sol" l exclaim,
with an insulting laugh.
She looked me full in the fare