DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22217#0285
A WHITE SAVAGE.
273
suffer him to leave the country with his father, and nevermore
seek to molest either, or wish for anything but their welfare
and happiness. The cry was vain; the resolve came too late.
Hanford scarcely knew her, and appeared to be living the
misfortunes of his life over again; for when his eye did light on
her face, he implored those present to take her from him, or at
least to save the boy from her remorseless hands. In a day
or two he died, to the very last turning from her with aversion,
and speaking of his other attendant as his true and only wife,
and denouncing Janet Hanford as a curse to herself and all
mankind. Of course these delirious utterances could not be
taken for his real feelings; indeed, his second wife afterwards
assured Janet that the love he bore her was greater than that
which he had conceived for herself—it was merely the outside
shell of wretchedness and debauchery which he loathed and
detested. There was no more concealment of the truth then.
It was freely admitted that Hanford had married again out at
the Cape, getting a rich settler's daughter and a little fortune
by the union, as well as the unselfish devotion of a woman
who knew the whole of his past life, and yet did not hesitate
to sacrifice her all for his sake. A strange result sprang from
that death-bed scene. The second wife imbibed a strong
affection for the lame boy, and could not think of parting with
him; at the same time a feeling of pity grew up in her breast
for the broken wife, who was so prostrated by her great loss
that for weeks her life was despaired of. Rosa Gladwin nursed
her through it all, and, I suppose, must have discovered in her
some good qualities which were hidden from ordinary on-
lookers, for when Mrs Hanford fairly recovered they did not
separate. At first Rosa offered to provide for her by settling
on her an annuity quite sufficient for her wants, but the pro-
posal was never carried out. They went out to the Cape
together, and no sisters could have been more firmly bound
together in affection. Neither of them ever married again,
but their lives have been spent in watching the development
of Hanford's son, who is no longer a lame boy, but a strong
man, bidding fair to leave a big mark in the world's history.
The most singular thing in the case, however, is the fact that
Janet Hanford left her drunkenness and debasement in the
grave which swallowed her husband. Truly there is hope for
all, even for the White Savage.
T.T.
s
273
suffer him to leave the country with his father, and nevermore
seek to molest either, or wish for anything but their welfare
and happiness. The cry was vain; the resolve came too late.
Hanford scarcely knew her, and appeared to be living the
misfortunes of his life over again; for when his eye did light on
her face, he implored those present to take her from him, or at
least to save the boy from her remorseless hands. In a day
or two he died, to the very last turning from her with aversion,
and speaking of his other attendant as his true and only wife,
and denouncing Janet Hanford as a curse to herself and all
mankind. Of course these delirious utterances could not be
taken for his real feelings; indeed, his second wife afterwards
assured Janet that the love he bore her was greater than that
which he had conceived for herself—it was merely the outside
shell of wretchedness and debauchery which he loathed and
detested. There was no more concealment of the truth then.
It was freely admitted that Hanford had married again out at
the Cape, getting a rich settler's daughter and a little fortune
by the union, as well as the unselfish devotion of a woman
who knew the whole of his past life, and yet did not hesitate
to sacrifice her all for his sake. A strange result sprang from
that death-bed scene. The second wife imbibed a strong
affection for the lame boy, and could not think of parting with
him; at the same time a feeling of pity grew up in her breast
for the broken wife, who was so prostrated by her great loss
that for weeks her life was despaired of. Rosa Gladwin nursed
her through it all, and, I suppose, must have discovered in her
some good qualities which were hidden from ordinary on-
lookers, for when Mrs Hanford fairly recovered they did not
separate. At first Rosa offered to provide for her by settling
on her an annuity quite sufficient for her wants, but the pro-
posal was never carried out. They went out to the Cape
together, and no sisters could have been more firmly bound
together in affection. Neither of them ever married again,
but their lives have been spent in watching the development
of Hanford's son, who is no longer a lame boy, but a strong
man, bidding fair to leave a big mark in the world's history.
The most singular thing in the case, however, is the fact that
Janet Hanford left her drunkenness and debasement in the
grave which swallowed her husband. Truly there is hope for
all, even for the White Savage.
T.T.
s