The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-11-25
A SISTERS STORY.

We were waiting tea fer David,
H. was so often late that this was no
unusual occurrence. The lamps were
not brought in, and little Winnie was
reading in the freight, while L sat
watching Erie as he stood upon the
rug with that look of thought that he
so often wore. / had fallen into one
of my dreamy moods, as / often did
when we sat in the 6relight thus; go
back in my thoughts to the time when
Erie and [ were young and merry
hearted boy and girl, and Winnifred
a baby-to the time when the dark
cloud fell upon our home, and the
fatherless children were left orphans
with on the little one to take the va
cantplace. And from that looking on
on into the misty future when | should
resign the first place in my brothers.
all WE'LL who can follow the dreamy
fancies of one whose life is blended
with the lives of others, and who has
lost all anticipations for herself alone
So | dreamed on, looking in Erle's
beautiful face = beautiful, though
careworD, and with lines of silver In
the dark hair, which age had not
brought there-and from that to Win
MES bright childish head-so indiffer-
entl Surely she and David were I'M
like Erie and mel Yet there was not
so much difference In our ages as any
one would think. with my serious,
gloomy face-looked, as every one
told me, more than three years older
than David, with his bright laughing
look and young winning manners.
Every one said so but himself. He
would not have it so. He would see
no change in nine years, and said /
was the same little, shy, demure girl
he left eighteen, when he first left
home. M
We were very proud of David and
Winnie, and used to talk for hours
together-we two elder ones, in sort
of protecting, fatherly way-of their
lives to come-With some imagining,
even then, of how differently the sun
VI ould shine upon US and upon them.
I had been used to think that Erle's
heart, as we'll as mine, Yves bound up
in those two; but had then begun
to learn that he had thoughts and
hopes that | might sympathlze with,
but might never share. had just come
back from my dreaming to think that
David was even later than usual, and
that the room was very silent without
him, when Winnie closed her book
with little low laugh.
Effie, this story would suit you
exactly, for it ends happily for every
body"
That's right" said I cheerfully.
And so it ought" They used to
joke to me about being, as they said,
so very practical, but | was rather
proud fit, and encouraged it as far
as / could; so, as l got up and rang
the bell, said, And SO it ought"
Winnie, leaning forward on, her low
seat, looked up at Erie. Erie, if
you were an author-which you never
will be-and were writing about a
knight good, true knight, you
know, who does everything right and
falls in love with a princess, and a
little poor maiden is in love with him,
how would you make it end?"
Does the prinees;. love him?"
Yes, Oe course; everybody loves
him."
Then / suppose ne must marry
the princess" he said thoughtfully.
and the lowly little girl must die of
her unspoken love. That is how it
generally is, | think"
His voice was very low, and /
thought he spoke more earnestly than
he need have done for such thing.
Aud is that ending happily for
everybody" laughed Winnie. How
could it end better if he did not love
her? - what effect would her love
have upon him2"
He does Mt know anything about
II, Fred, said David's merry voice,
as Winnifred sprang up to greet him.
will tell you how he would end it.
The Princess would discover a worm
in the bud on the damask cheek of
the humble young spinster, and though
she adored the knight with all the
ardOr Of n Princess's nature, would
resign him nobly; retire into privacy
until she made her appearance at the
wedding in high life, when the knight
at least fully approaching the charms
OF a domestic character, married the
maiden all forlorn = not so forlorn
Just then as might be, considering she
was in the full enjoyment of a courtly
husband and various wedding
gifts from her magnimous sover-
cign. There-whatever he may say
that would be Erle's version of the
story, wouldn't it, Fred? Efie, I'm
afraid I'm rather late tonight, are
you angfy?"
No, I'm not angry this time," /
said, as it is such a very new of
fence.
g I'm certain the tea has been made
long time - said ba he gTaSyet tgt taking ing
Iittle mother (that was one of Win
MES names for me) "has a shoulder
ing fear that it Is cold, and that Erie
viii be cross when he finds 1T out"
Il should like to know which Of
my two brothers would be the crosseI
In such a case" said Winnie, bend.
ing over the back of his chair; and
Day, please, what is a smouldering
fear?
When little girls learn foreign
languages, said David, cutting away
at the bread, they must confne
themselves to simple and arranged
sentences; but a young man who is
master Of his native tongue may use
1t as he pleases. Erie, L have mess
age for you; Efie, l have a parcel for
YOU: Fred, have-nothing for you.
And how did you carry that
Day?" said she. quickly.
80. | managed-being strong:
well, 60 on. | will listen to Erle's
message, and share Ef6e's present
That will do for me, thank you. Now
which Is to come tirst?"
Erie, he asked, have you beer
over to Upton to-day? Not another
troublesome days work with the stew,
ard, hope. and that highly injured
race of tenants2"
No; everything is going on we'll
The new cottages are nearly finished
the tenants all ready with their rent