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Twain, Mark, 1835-1910

"The 30,000 Dollar Bequest and Other Stories"


A. Oh, be kind, Farcillo, don't treat me so. What do you mean
by all this?
F. Be kind, you say; you, madam, have forgot that kindness you owe
to me, and bestowed it upon another; you shall suffer for your
conduct when you make your peace with your God. I would not slay thy
unprotected spirit. I call to Heaven to be my guard and my watch
--I would not kill thy soul, in which all once seemed just, right,
and perfect; but I must be brief, woman.
A. What, talk you of killing? Oh, Farcillo, Farcillo, what is
the matter?
F. Aye, I do, without doubt; mark what I say, Amelia.
A. Then, O God, O Heaven, and Angels, be propitious, and have mercy
upon me.
F. Amen to that, madam, with all my heart, and with all my soul.
A. Farcillo, listen to me one moment; I hope you will not kill me.
F. Kill you, aye, that I will; attest it, ye fair host of light,
record it, ye dark imps of hell!
A. Oh, I fear you--you are fatal when darkness covers your brow;
yet I know not why I should fear, since I never wronged you in all
my life. I stand, sir, guiltless before you.
F. You pretend to say you are guiltless! Think of thy sins,
Amelia; think, oh, think, hidden woman.
A. Wherein have I not been true to you? That death is unkind,
cruel, and unnatural, that kills for living.
F. Peace, and be still while I unfold to thee.
A. I will, Farcillo, and while I am thus silent, tell me the cause
of such cruel coldness in an hour like this.


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