The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-04-27
CHAPTER xxIIL

l. Wild, groteSque phantasma-a sense
OF intense suffering. aching pains. parch-
+ ing thirst. and an awful oppression up
L ON the BRAIN And then seemed to
awake from a long. troubled sleep, and
an agony beyond my power to describe.
made an effort and succeeded in
drawing little apart the curtains at
the foot OF the bed. Almost within my
reach stood table. upon which was
moderator lamp. burning low, jug,
tumbler, and some bottles.
The faint rays OF the lamp showed me
large. gloomy oak-panelled room. with
the ceiling painted TO match Tie win
dows opposite me were covered with
heavy curtains, and the furniture was
dark and very old-fashioned. On one
side was huge fireplace. decorated with
OAK carvings; in the crate burned a
cheerful FIRE. and there, sitting beside il.
DOING. with her face half towards me,
was an elderly woman. a stranger to
me.
Having finished my survey, | crawled I
back TO my pillow and lay still for
time. feeling very much exhausted with
my slight eSertion. Presently the wom-
an woke up, came to the side OF the he'd.
drew the curtains, and looked at me.
You are better" she said. kindly.
Il am so glad You have had long.
weary time of it, but the doctor said
there would be a change one way or the
other tonight You're with friends. who
have taken every care OF you"
Tell me. is Clara foundy' | asked.
eagerly.
-Oh. yes. she's all right and will come
and see you as soon you grow strong ,
er. but you mustn't talk. or you'll have
a relapse. ,
II / had asked for the Emperor of |
Russia, l believe she would have told 4,
me that he was coming to see me as :
soon as | was better. Her answers were
by no means satisfactory. but | could ),
perceive that it was useless to try to
extract others from her.
Several days passed. and | saw no =
person except the nurse and the doctor.
put some questions to the latter but =
he answered crabbedly. that if wished
% get well. l must keep my mind calm. -
md not ask questions !.
To keep my mind calm with such "
memories as were haunting me was i'm -
'ossible, yet. in spite OF my anxieties, :"
grew stronger and better day by day vi
But the anguish Of my mind waxed
trength with my body.
r. Il must know where | am. under a,
hose care. and l must have certain v,
uestions Of vital Importance TO me solv-
l. l know you are concealing these e
lings from me for a good motive. hut IN
is a mistaken one. Instead of calm
g, this incertitude is torturing me, re-
riding my recovery. For heavens sake.
ii me where | am, whose house this is W,
ID what people I am with p
We'll. sir she answered. Il am only
eying my instructions: il | was to 90 m.
ON them, | should offend my employ 81,
$ and the doctor. too. and | can't az
I'd to do that. l will ask leave to tell
u what | know. which | can assure
u is very little. But if you make haste yot
d get strong. and get about. you will the
able to find out everything for your /.
r. /.
That day l got out Of bed for the =.
4 time, and sat at the window. IL m
kcd into an extensive garden. encom- =.
ssed, as far as | could see. by a high
H. lined within by rows of tall poplar am
es- My room was upon, the ground say
IT. and this wall and the trees bound ries
my vision could see naught beyond q
m. a.
'ne afternoon | had fallen asleep over a.
b<e. yuddenly | awoke with Jerk. a.
rays OF red. autumn sun were hoo,
aiming across me. and falling full -,
N the face Of Judith. who was lean
against the fireplace, looking at me. '"u
4 first. J thought it was a specter Of room
sleep i could not believe my eyes: Il
| was not long left in doubt as to -
reality OF the vision An ironicaI II
e e"iieu ner ups al the sight Of my ever
,ay:. a.
ne,ts5 ,,Iaas,,ra - - -, an OF n
prep
could not answer her: could only e
my face in my hands and shudder one
Ter appearance. ever
,nis my reward Tor all the tender the 2
that has been given you during 200
illness?-for bringing you away Nv
might have J;ads where lieye
$ likely to be a bright one" mons
fonld TO heaven you had left me TO there
cried. you are 10 wife OF "Tl
is a
on VIII ind II rather difficult to coo. ..
. that. or to shake me Of" was ,
hat pleasure can il be TO vop IN | -,
re me in this manner?'' | cried. 49,
: not leave me to myself?" %.
ecause / hate you. and because I tested
motives Of my own. Ii gives me You
Ire to torture you. No living being they
yer made me feel so deeply the deg sStr
ion OF my life as you have: YOU a vol
able, spiritless outcast; you. whom. a,d -
brat. have beaten with n rod. - :"
always despised; you shudder at "iass'
1proach, and turn your eyes from get OF
III loathing- and you ask me what that 1
re II can be to me TO torture You, But
the hour Of my birth, my life has said /
me torture. 1 have ever been the fresb
At last, the tables are turned
are my victim; and as others have
BY me, so will / deal by you. No "Yot
was ever shown to me; why. then, baking
] show it to othersT' ooh
was still standing against the fire .Ite,
| dared not look at her, but / o,,.,,,,,,,
feel the tigerish ferocity OF her ..[,,.
did not come here to rave. can m'
came, like dutiful wife, to eat. =
tulate my husband on bis conya-
e. she went on, resuming the old "Dar