"Yes," proceeded her sister, "I think you ought to forgive him."
"Ah, Hanna darling, how little you know of your sister's heart. I have
long since forgiven him, Hanna."
"Then what's to prevent you from making up with him?"
"I have long since forgiven him, Hanna; but, my dear sister, I never can
nor will think for a moment of marrying any man that has failed, when
brought to the trial, in honest and steadfast principal--the man that
would call me wife should be upright, pure, and free from every stain of
corruption--he must have no disgrace or dishonor upon his name, and he
must feel the love of his religion and his country as the great ruling
principles of his life. I have long since forgiven Bryan, but it is
because he is not what I hoped he was, and what I wished him to be, that
I am as you see me."
"Then you do intend to marry?" asked Hanna, with a smile.
"Why do you ask that, Hanna?"
"Why, because you've given me sich a fine description of the kind o' man
your husband is to be."
"Hanna," she replied, solemnly, "look at my cheek, look at my eye, look
at my whole figure, and then ask me that question again if you can.
Don't you see, darling, that death is upon me? I feel it."
Her loving and beloved sister threw her arms around her neck, and burst
into an irrepressible fit of bitter grief.
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