Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-09
MY SISTERS HUSBAND.

| was the youngest OF handsome family.
My three sisters, each in her way were very
pretty, but L, the youngest, and with a natural
right to be the pet of the house. was never either
beauty or favOrite. My rights in the mat
ter of favoritism were and from the first day of
her existence had been, entirely monopolized
by my third sister, Caroline. was not, how
ever, en'ious OF that; it doubtless suited her
better 10 De made a pet, than it would have
suited me My lack Of beauty did regret;
but, as that want could not be remedied, en-
deavored to become reconciled to the face and
small and the first sallow and thin. 1t boasted,
however, and boasts still, Of at least one strik
ing feature-a pair of large black eyes
My two eldest sisters were married while
was still girl at school. They both became
the wives of military men, and both, within a
year OF their marriage, accompanied their hus-
bands 10 India L have never seen either of
them since. Ny third sister. however remained
at home and there joined her when a girl of
seventeen, my school life ended.
was fond of Caroline, and she too, / believe
OF mo; yet her affection by no means that
OF an elder sister for a younger. As said be-
fore, she, and not occupied the POSITION Of
youngest in our household She was spoiIed
while was left uDpetted; she was battered and
admired, whuo no eye looked at and no lip
spoke of Inc; she was encouraged and almost
Compelled tO lean on other people, while WAS
Ielt.tO depend upon myself.
came from school full of q bappy plan of
life. We had no mother, and our father was a
mill-owner, and for many hours each day away
from home. These periods, when Caroline and
should be left together. meant TO turn Ia
good account. was better educated than she
was, and meant In give her lessons [ cared
for study, and meant to make her learn with
me where L was most ignorant | came home
prlmed with my project, and the first domestic
tidings L received was the news that she was to
be married within six weeks
She gave me the Information herself as I
stood taking off my bonnet in my room-gave
1t me with the prettiest bushes in the world,
With the smallest timidest voice so softly and
shylH indeed, that at the first telling I neither
hessd nor comprehended what she said. But.
forany sympathy that she got, or was likely to
get from me, understood quick enough
Had either Of my elder sisters been at the
moment of this declaration in my place, she
would, L do not doubt, have forthwith put her
arms round Caroline's neck, and CONVEYED her
congratulations to her with much affectionate
kissing, and probably some few tears / grieve
to say that L In no manner approached any
such demonstration. l simply expanded nv
black eyes till Caroline's blue ones sank before
them, and broke into one short sentence which
L fear was neither affecting nor consOlatory
Her lover was II the house, however, at that
moment, and L bad to 90 down stairs and see
him, as soon as L had smoothed my hair. L
found him In the drawiDgrOom with my father,
and my father presented me to him.
Hallam, my daughter Anne"
My daughter Anne" put out her hand, and
it was enclosed straightway between a large
palm and insers-enclOsed but not gra sped Z
was small and cool; Mr.. Hallam, on the con.
trary, large and nervous. What to do with nv
hand when he had got possession of it. or what
10 respond to the salutation that made him
ho seemed equally 1T a loss to know He stood
high above me, tall, handsome young man.
Looking into my face with a strangely startled
gaze hutterIng my hand up and down with a
feeble irresolute touch.
This IS our youngest, our little school girl -
said my father; /" she is not much like Garry,
is She
No, certainly
His eyes turned to Caroline's face with a
quick, beaming, pleasant look his fingers
dropped from my hand, and retreated to NV
fathers side, taxing to myself the consolation
that II my Ovn reception had been neither ele-
CANT nor cordial, my sisters future husband
could, at least in regarding her, wear a look Of
manliness.
As for Inc, L thought it likely enough that
he would take little further notice of me In
thls, however, found myself rather sngularly
mistaken. lie dined with US that day. and
during the whole tine Of dinner was COLI
scIOus OF the continual movement Of his ewes
towards me L became aware, too, that each
time he detected my gaze upon himself lie be-
came strangely disc0ucerted, to AN extent that
amazed me; he stammered and grew confused
IN what be said he even more than once alb
ruptly broke oil his sentence 1 .rew both sur-
pIi-ed and perpleIed, yet except for this singu-
lar nervousness, l liked him. 1 preferred him
decidedly to either of my other brothers-in-
law, and 80 | told Caroline before we slept, for
my conscience smHte Inc for the manner i'm
which had received the FIRST announcement Of
II g. 81, =.
cOOlness appeared To me called for.
our husband will have more in him THAI
either James OF Harriet's. Carry 1 said,
- though Ut IL pity he does not break himself
CT that nervous manner"
=" Did you think him nervous ~
Am deaf and blind, lie seems to get
over it, however, when he is accustomed to peo-
pie he shows hone Oi it TO you or to my ia
ther,'
But, Anne, she said, 1T is strange. /
never saw any trace OF such u thing in him be-
fore -
- Did you not, Then suppose must es
pecially discOmpOse b In am sorry for that:
because, II lac begins with N strong dislike to
Inc, lie probably won't get over il
" My dear, lac does hot dislike you''
= How du you know 30 sd.
. lie almost said So, Anne He came 10 me
after drnner, and said that 1T must IL. ,ucb !,
comfort To- me To have some one with me Y'a,,
L
u did no; quite understand hiIn, Tor indeed
dii not, he SAID quick v, mean Anne; can't
You lean on her don you like her. -
d" And you said what, Carry
" said you were the youngest, and it seemed
strange to talk of leaning on you"
rose up from the fire over which we had
been sitting, and laughed
Mr. Hailam has seen in one night what you
have not guessed in all your life, Carry!
1t certainly did appear that Mr. IA allan wa
deeply Impressed with the belief Of my capa-
biiiues as support, for we had not been ac-
4uainted for couple Of days before l per-
cciyed that lie intended to use me not ONLY 10
prop up Caroline, but himself A locker on
might have wondered how they had ever got
On before L came, 50 constant now were the
appeals to Inc, 81 eager the questions (" what
Anne thought g what Anne advised? ~
questions, however that were rarely asked
frankly or cheerfuily, as though my opinion
was cared for because myself was liked, but
aiways-stranye as it seemed, it was certainly
SO as If in a kind OF continued Incompetent
sible fear of me-
In naBy he "a strop,o v,an