stories by modern american authors-第83节

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scarcely　saw　them　before　I　swooned　again。



When　I　recovered　from　that　long　illness；　through　which　I　had　been

nursed　so　tenderly；　the　pitying　looks　I　met　made　me　tremble。　　I

asked　for　a　looking…glass。　　It　was　long　denied　me；　but　my

importunity　prevailed　at　lasta　mirror　was　brought。　　My　youth　was

gone　at　one　fell　swoop。　　The　glass　showed　me　a　livid　and　haggard

face；　blanched　and　bloodless　as　of　one　who　sees　a　specter；　and　in

the　ashen　lips；　and　wrinkled　brow；　and　dim　eyes；　I　could　trace

nothing　of　my　old　self。　　The　hair；　too；　jetty　and　rich　before；　was

now　as　white　as　snow；　and　in　one　night　the　ravages　of　half　a

century　had　passed　over　my　face。　　Nor　have　my　nerves　ever　recovered

their　tone　after　that　dire　shock。　　Can　you　wonder　that　my　life　was

blighted；　that　my　lover　shrank　from　me；　so　sad　a　wreck　was　I？



I　am　old　nowold　and　alone。　　My　sisters　would　have　had　me　to　live

with　them；　but　I　chose　not　to　sadden　their　genial　homes　with　my

phantom　face　and　dead　eyes。　　Reginald　married　another。　　He　has　been

dead　many　years。　　I　never　ceased　to　pray　for　him；　though　he　left　me

when　I　was　bereft　of　all。　　The　sad　weird　is　nearly　over　now。　　I　am

old；　and　near　the　end；　and　wishful　for　it。　　I　have　not　been　bitter

or　hard；　but　I　cannot　bear　to　see　many　people；　and　am　best　alone。

I　try　to　do　what　good　I　can　with　the　worthless　wealth　Lady

Speldhurst　left　me；　for；　at　my　wish；　my　portion　was　shared　between

my　sisters。　　What　need　had　I　of　inheritance？I；　the　shattered

wreck　made　by　that　one　night　of　horror！











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