Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-18
A CHARMING STORY.
Paul BFOKnelI's Little sister.
BY META VICTORIA VICTOR.

BY META VICTORIA VICTOR.
rom any necessity of providing for her, so
that l might resume my old occupations
She was going to help me become great
artist So she told me once, in q moment
of trembling confidence, while her cheek
glowed and her eye sparkled with the hope.
She was going to be a professional musi-
clan, in order that might not be burdened
with her. l kissed the ambitious child,
while the tears dimmed my sight of her
sweet face. told her she might be an Ad-
elina Patti if she wished, but she must be so
only for me-not for the world. Neverthe-
less, could see that the idea was not ban
ished, that it melted and controlled her
studies.
On this particular evening she seemed to
me to play unusually well, and l felt Sc
cretly proud to think the strange lady had
heard and admired her; and on the wings
of the music my thoughts foated away into
dreams, indistinct, delicious, and sublimely
foolish-dresms Of face forevermore to
haunt me with impossible hopes.
'You don't talk to me- Paul"
The little girl had ceased playing for
some time, and was sitting on footstool be-
fore me, with her head on my knee, her gol-
den curls streaming downward in waves
which glittered in the freight o pretty
enough sight for an artist-brother to love
and admire.
"You are thinking of somebody else, Paul !
o dearl hope you'll pever get married,
and have a wife. / shall be so lonelyp
"Now, little one, if do, it will be no
more of a trick than you'll be sure to serve
me the minute you're old enough. If l
should remain bachelor, on your account,
you'd be sure to desert me for the first man
that asked you. However, I've chosen my
wife, now and you profess not to be jealous
of her. Painting is the only rival you'll
ever have, Floy." But, even as l said it,
my cheek burned, and was conscious that
though what said might be true, it would
be sadly true, because 1 could not have Q
dearer wish fulfilled. Yesterday 1 should
have no such consciousness. But what OBJ
serving eyes the child had Who told her
that was thinking of some one else2 I'll
allowed my secrets to be read by others as
easily, it would not be q secret long
glanced at Mrs. Chester; that lady was
holding the blue silk dress in her lap, and
wondering if it would be possible to hounce
he skirt and only ten yards yard wide /;
he was wishing had brought fifteen.
"She would look like fairy in founced
kirt, Mr.. BroWnell; she is so petite and
lender. But it will be very pretty as it
is."
said they must make it do, kissed Flor
ence good night shook hands with Mr..
Chester, and retired.
did not go to Mrs. Upton Tallmadge's
party scarcely remembered that such q
thing was to be, or had been. l was in too
much pain. Instead of breathing the per"
fumed air of the saloon, and intoxicating
soul and sense with stolen draughts Of
beauty, l was lying in the hospital, my
right arm crushed and mangled, and the
doctors discussing the probability of its hav-
ing to be amputated.
When left Mrs. Chester's, the drizzline
December rain which had set in during thu
evening was fast changing to sleet anC
snow; the pavement was slippery with {
thin coat Of ice; was full of thought, anC
needless and in attempting to run across
Broadway, slipped in front of an omnibus
and the heavy wheels rolled over my arm
reckless of its human sensibility to suffer
ing, reckless of the future of its owner
reckless of the little girl who depended OF
its energies for protection and support.
They took me to- the hospital; the bes
place for me, who had no home but second
rate boarding-house. Mrs Chester was al
most angry that had not insisted upon be
ing conveyed to her house but she, witt
her twelve pupils to care for, had enougl
responsibility, without my taking the liberty
Of foisting my wretched self upon her sym
pathies.
Mrs. Chester did not hear Of the accident
until sent her word the following day
warning her to break the news very care
fully to Florence, OF keep it from her TO
the present. as she thought best She de
cided instantly that she ought to tell her
and that brave young heart justified the de
cision. When the child was admitted to Sc
me, she was as calm as courage and Low
could make her; nothing but her deadl
paleness revealed the anguish she suffered
though was afterward told that she ha
faipted when she heard the news, conveye
to her in the tenderest manner. Nurses nc
physicians had the heart TO tear the pleadin
little creature away she was permitted (
sit, hour after hoursday after day, By m
bedside; che would not have left me, eve
at night, if others had not compelled it.
My arm was not amputated; it was save
but in disabled condition, which wou
prevent the use of it for a long time.
fact / could never hope TO have much goC
Of iii its cunning was destroyed; IL
strength and fexibility vanished; it wa
but the excuse for good right arm; pal
and yexation, instead'of help to me.
"Weli, Floy," said to my patient littl
watcher, one day, when it was nearly tim
for me to be turned out of the hospits
"what are we going to do now2 1 shal
never do for the ilk-country any more Nv
lost my elegant cir, and my deftness
handling has departed. What is a one arme
man 10 do for living, little sister 2"
"HaVn't you got money enough 10 kee
you year, Paul2 Mrs. Chester says sha
stay with her year, whether you conseH
70 IL or not'-smiling-"and for that maj
ter, somebody has already advanced th
price Of my yearly expenses don't kno
who. Mrs. Chester thinks it was Mr.. Bi