Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-09-25

Of the Keller family. They MI uiru ear
N from a TRANCE disease ~ the heart
They were All very pretty. and although
predestined ID die young they were very
gay and happy. All 81 them married.
though everybody knew the fate that
must inevitably be- theirs. The young
men fell madly in love with these girls
and hoped hat sooner or later a new
strong race would conquer the curse that
rested on the family
That time. however. refused 10 come,
Annie Keller was only two years old
when her mother suddenly died. a victim
to the hereditary disease which spared
the men. but He'd the women in the
flower II their youth. Annie had neither
brothers nor sisters. and was the only
girl in a very big family. her unclcs and
aunts having only s0nS, but mo daughter.
Annie became the pet of everybody. and
her health was taken care Of IN the most
careful manner. She lived in the midst
Of a crowd Of guardians who we're ron
tinually on the lockout to protect her
against every possible danger. In this
way they hoped To guide her safely
through the critical age az the Keller
girls, for once they had become twenty
four "a ~twenty-Six wears they might he
looked upon as having passed the point
of danger. Like 4 wall Ill the members
~ the family surrounded Annie. No
body ever dared contradict her. and she
was permitted to have or do anything
she took a fancy To, not that this meant
anything ia the way Of risk. for Annie
was a very quiet girl with no desires
for anything that might harm her. She
never ran. Jumped Or cried. and never
PLAYED noisy games with other children.
Of whom. rs 4 matter Of fact. she saw
none. except very rarely her own cousins.
and then only for a very brief space Of
time. and even the noisiest and most high
spirited of the boys claimed down when
with Annie.
The years passed and Annie had reach.
cd the age Of seventeen without having
known a moments sickness. Everybody
who saw her was charmed with her. and
she was generally acknowledged "a be
the most beautiful girl for many genera
ti0ns Of Kellers. Her beauty. indeed.
was az an almost superhuman order.
and she was the joy of her father. who
saw in her an image Of his dead wife.
though he lived in continuous fear Of
the danger that he felt lurking near An
ME. She nearly always dressed entirely
in white, her complexion was pale and
transparent. and her blue eyes had the
expression Of a wounded animals. Her
hands were slender and well formed.
and her only ornament was a very valu.
able antique ring.
The boys, too, had grown up. one of
hem being engaged. and there was 70 he
= great family party in honor Of this
event on New Years eve.
On that occasion. after dinner. Annie
went into the salon and sat down i'm a
big arm chair where she could watch the
dancers. Her engaged cousin came and
Sat down mex "a her. They hardly knew
each other. for Annie was ONLY 4 small
child when he had left Vienna 10 ~ 10
college. and when he returned ne vas
quite changed.
Good vening. Annie" he said. II am
afraid You are very bored here tonight
~Oh. no. not at ALL"
Really Well, tastes differ"
Are You not glad. then. to have come
home again."
II hardly know. / feel quite a <tran-
ger
And You are soon going to get mar
ricdg~
"A suppose "a. since 7 have q ffancee.-
But u ~ monstrOus 10 speak like that
You don't love her. then, for III You did
Won would not talk as Won do,
How do You know. Did you, perhaps.
ever love a%nyonc?~
"oh. no. Of course not. and you know
| have no right 10 love If I am 10 believe
what the doctor says. Later on. perhaps.
IN 4 few Years. You know I am n Keller
ana the girls ~ our family
Yes. Of course beg your pardon An
ME. YOU must not. and 7 cannot love.
though ! 10 wish | could"
And your flancees
What does il matterg She or another?
! cannot love anyone. l have 4 fancee
now and that settles II. She will ask
what can never give and God knows
how long i Is going 10 last. oh. Annie.
YOU cannot imagine what | suffer. This
thing j. killing me- III they would only
have left me alonc-bni why 10 I tell
you an this You must not mind. Far.
Get everything ! have said. II am really
very happy"
u not try "a lie to me. | am not
such a fool as you seem to think. do