North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-11-01
Sftert' gtory..o
FI8Srs AND SECOND LOVE.
BY ADDA F. >HEPLEYY

Il 2
| Bile Rayner recfrned in The CT imson
| depths Of velvet chair, befnre the glowing
fire in her dressing rom 'prru-ing an "peif
letter which she held in her hand. Yeh
would not judge By her expression or htti-
fude, that the contents were Of anv fnomen-
t0us interest 20 her. hsf she sat there with
| careless grac-. white cashmere dressing
gown draping her superb form, bver which
the heavy waves Of her purple black hair
| fell in ripping DIS rider. The rose pink on
| h er cheeks, did not deepen or pale, nor The
velvet black eyes betray an expression of
more than ordinary IN crest, as she h.isuriy
pursued the lines before her. Her sister,
| May ,Rayner, set oppUsite, rebed IN, a pearl
| gray mcrnIrlg dress, with line of tinge gold
buttons extending down the front, her
brown hair conibrd smoothly away from her
| white forehead, and falling IN wide, shinDg
braIds, into the little Silken net behind, and
her violet eyes fixed with a look of anxious
| interest upon Bells caIm, unlDoved face y. I.
"Well, you are the most provoking crea.
ture | ever sawi" she exclaimed at last :;
how can YOU be so long about il, when you
know | am dying 10 hear ii Lieut.. E>maine's
arm is well, if he is qh;te r. c,.ver, d, and
when he is to come home am Brave f. J.
low how delighted We sh all be to see him"
Belle Rayner was one who never allowed
| her stately cumppsure to be in the least de :
gree disturbed; So she quietly folded The
letter, aud laid it upon the little ,inlaid table
by her side, before she replied to the torrenI
of que st ops poured upon her by her impetu
Gus sister. ..-. . .F.. ......
'Lieuienant E>rnalpe writes that the SUI
geons have decided thatIt is necessary to
anpulate his arm, and that the opeFali"nF is
| 10 be perioImed to-morr0w. He thinks If
be RECEIVERS as rapidly as he expects, 10. be
with Us at the end of two weeks" .. q.
Mays bright couptenanee fell, and the blue
eyes Fl lied with tears. s..n ......5 a..... va.
'Oh, how sorry how sorry lam To
| think hat he should lose an AIN he is so
handsome and noble looking. o, Belle, lfl
was you, never could bear to have II so:-
How can you take it so calmly q" ..# .
81 regret it as much as you can, May"
| replied Belle, as she drew the brush slow "
ever the silkeu length OF her ha,r but
what surprises Te a lI.te is, that he does
not sprak o: releasing me FROM ur engage
mrnt. Il places me in a very unpleasant
| sit ust1on - q =.
| why, Belle Rayner Z" exclaimed May, "a
flush Of indignant anger drying the tears
from her ey es, 'you cannot thiuk of wishing
| tUhe released - You cannot be so hear tless."
| Belle iifted her dark eyes to her sister's.
excited face, with q look oi calm surprise
/ Il certainly do wish it. Of cuurse he
does n"' expect lac TO marry; at. least he
-h"utd haEe-had the generosity to have give
Ell me a lntie clnnc..I IN he maj ter'' rr =
| Her tune Of cnOi sarcasm u a. particularl,
exasperatng to May, who replied with solnei
sp,r',. a -E 4. c,Y.g -a. .,I .s,sa i.a ..su
"lfI7were you Belle r R.yner,aI ewsud br
| perfectly ashame TO be 40 hard he r ,e1.--
Y u ough, to love him all the more. Bnr
where's the use of talking to. you. of love
| You never cared any more for him than you
40 for that velvet cushion where your loot
resrs, and he is d cldedly fortunate in lonslng
| you only he won, think so, of course" .r
"ll you have done with your very unady
| like exhibition Of temper. You will have he
goodne TO ring he bell fur Mira 10 finish
my toile, ?'' said Belle qnietly.--
May was kneeling a, her SISTERS side ina
momeEi, her flushed face buried IN the soft,
white folds of the cashmere dressing gown.
90! Bell, forgive me for speiking SO an
kindly; ouly attn sorry for Lieutenant Es-o
maine. D.n'I write a cruel letter to him =
she pleaded, her violet eyes raised en,reat
'ngIy to her lster's cold beautiful face. ~ "a
"Tha, would be lmpossb'e, May--for I
cannot think Of deftrring my visit TO Aun'
B-rths's' Hrwever, ifyou wish it, will
leave note to be given him when he comes"
Very well, you are determined 10 break
the engagement, will stay aud see him, and
give him the note. It would seem So cruel
To come here, filled with bright hopes and
an'ic,patons, and lind the house deserted,
and nvne to weIc' him back .ftrr all tn,
toll and hardship he has endured. The dis
appointment will be hard al best perhaps
! can soften it little, said May, sadly. '-
"Just as you please, "she replied with q wea
red tone. You are g"od little thing May,
only little too tender hearted Now run
away, and send Maria to mr., it is time 70
dress Tor dinner and your flashing, excited
moods, tire me terribly" s9'''au .rFs1
May walked slowly and though fully from
the room, wondering if her SISTER had
heart, or # Lieut.. E-maiae had ever been
able to find M 7..'a5 y'}1 H@satngoo 4
She felt almost dsmayed at the q task. she
had taken unon hepspffs-a as she sat in tho