Tempest and Sunshine

"Don't tell my husband," said Mrs. Middleton, "his life is bound up in

Fanny, and the day that sees her dead will, I fear, also make me a widow."

Accordingly, Mr. Middleton was deceived into a belief that Fanny's illness

was the result of over-exertion, and that she would soon recover.

In a day or two she seemed better, but was not able to come downstairs.

Instead, she had no desire or intention of doing so until after the

wedding, for she felt she could not, would not, see Dr. Lacey for the

world. Since the receipt of her sister's letter she had been given a

holier love, a firmer faith, than aught on earth can bestow, and she was

now under the influence of religion; of lasting, true religion. This then

was the reason why she welcomed her sister so affectionately, and felt no

emotion either of resentment or anger toward those who were thus trampling

on the bleeding fibers of her heart.

As Julia kissed the almost transparent brow of her sister, and clasped her

thin, white fingers, tears gathered in her eyes and she thought, "This

ruin have I wrought, and for it I must answer"; but not long did she ever

suffer her conscience to trouble her, and the next hour she was chatting

away to Fanny about the preparations for her wedding, which was to take

place one week from that day. Fanny listened as one who heard not. She was

praying for more grace, more strength to endure yet a little longer.

Slowly to Julia dragged the days of that week, while to Fanny they sped on

rapid wing. And now everything within and without the house betokened the

coming event. Servants scampered hither and thither, thinking they were

doing it all, while in reality they were doing nothing. Mrs. Middleton

scolded the blacks, and Uncle Joshua scolded Mrs. Middleton, at the same

time walking mechanically from the kitchen to the parlor, from the parlor

to Fanny's sick room and from Fanny's sick room back to the kitchen,

occasionally kicking from his path some luckless kitten, dog or black

baby, which latter set up most lusty yells, just to vary the scene.

In the midst of all this Fanny lay calmly and quietly on her low bed,

counting each succeeding sun as it rose and set, bringing nearer and

nearer a day she so much dreaded. True to her promise, Kate Miller came

two days before the wedding. Fanny was asleep when she entered the room to

see her, but on the white, wasted face Kate's tears fell as she said,

"Poor Fanny! I did not know she was so ill."