North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-12-06
gelert gtory,
A SISTERS SACkIFI CE.

:Oh, dear ne Maria are you not tired Of
this work, work, day after day, and no
change I"
These words were spoken by very pref
ty girl, sitting in q most comfortable little
parlor, one side Of which was formed of a
wide screen lined With green silk, which di-
vided il. from another portion of the room
fitted up as a jswelry store.
Marie aud Jeanne were the daughters Of
Pierre Galoubet, . diamond jeweller, re-
nowDed more for bis taste and honesty than
for his fortune or luxury. He was widow
er, with two daughters.
Marie and Jeanne were the very idols Of
bis heart Pierre had been soldier in his
youth, like most Frenchmen, and during his
absence in AL giers bis wifi. died When he
csmo back kind neighbor took him to her
cottage and, leading him to cradle showed
him two little infants sleeping side by side
on the same pillow. Pierre knew that in
his absence child had been born to him
but he had receivee no communication from
home for more than year before bis return
lie therefore turned from the children TO hi.
neighbor with q look of inquiry.
"Are they both my children :" said he.
"Why. no." replied Jaquinetta. There's
q whole history about them, and Pierre, you
are clever man, and have traversed all over
the world, perhaps you will be able to settle
hal has rlad oip @ho
death of your wife,"
What 10 III"
why which of these two is your dsugh,
ter 2"
Which Why, who 10 the other :"
"Oh one day, about q month after the
birth of your child. when your wife opened
the door one morn ing she found on the
threshold on of the infants. She knew
which it was, but your poor Nine Pierre
died suddenly, and she never had time to
tell me which daughter was yours"
Again Pierre leaned over the babies and as
they opened their eyes and smiled on him,
Pierre felt as If both werc appealing to his
heart, both ask ing bis protection.
From that hour Pierre Gsloubet called
both children bis, and Mario and Jeanne, as
be christianed them, (for they had no name
until his return) became the idols of his
lie.
When they were grown up, Maria and
Jsapne, who had both sdore ed their father,
h@ped them in bis business.
Maria kept the books. apd Jeanne, who
he'd great talent for drawing, which had
been cult vated, made the drawings and the
designs for the settings of the diamonds.
They were now both eighteen at least,
allowing the age Of one, Pierre had always
put them down as the same age. Their fa-
rher strict honesty had prevented his max
ing o fortune, but thanks to the manage
m.nt Of Jeanne, they were in easy and com
Portable circumstances.
Or late cloud, however, had risen over
the household SO full Of the sunshine of affec.
ton. Jsanoe had grown pensive, and even
looked pale and thin. receiving her fathers
caresses with indifference and sitting for
hours, pencil in hand, without drawing q
stroke. Now, on this evening, when the
sisters were alone together, Jeanne had
pushed the paper from ber with disgust, and
throwing down her pencil, had declared her
dissatisfaction TO uer sister,
Jeanne" said Marie, looking up, "you
have never felt dissatisfaction before; but
you are unhappy, and you will always be SO
until you confide what troubles you have to
your best friends, youT father aad your sis
tern
"Not to my father dare not but to
you, Maria. Oh sister, I am so wretched 2"
"Wretched 7-why, what has happened %
"Maria," said Jeanne, sitting down on q
; stool at her feet, "listen, but 90 not look on
me- Some months sgo, you remember, I
came home on Sunday morning from church,
where had gone with our servant, with q
sprained ankle"
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