She herself was a plain, repellent girl, liked by few,
sought after by no man; but she was determined that Salome should
have everything that she had missed--admiration, friendship, love.
She would have a vicarious youth in Salome's.
All went according to Judith's planning until Salome was eighteen,
and then trouble after trouble came. Their father, whom Judith
had understood and passionately loved, died; Salome's young
lover was killed in a railroad accident; and finally Salome
herself developed symptoms of the hip-disease which,
springing from a trifling injury, eventually left her a cripple.
Everything possible was done for her. Judith, falling heir to a snug
little fortune by the death of the old aunt for whom she was named,
spared nothing to obtain the best medical skill, and in vain.
One and all, the great doctors failed.
Judith had borne her father's death bravely enough in spite of her
agony of grief; she had watched her sister pining and fading with
the pain of her broken heart without growing bitter; but when she
knew at last that Salome would never walk again save as she hobbled
painfully about on her crutch, the smouldering revolt in her soul broke
its bounds, and overflowed her nature in a passionate rebellion against
the Being who had sent, or had failed to prevent, these calamities.
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