The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-08-25

sylvia, "aDu nave only 6eyeDty-nve
left. Well, there is but one thing to
be done. Poor Melissa will be SO
disappointed if go home without the
collar, and Melissa is nervous and
poorly, and can't bear disappointment
as | can. A bit OF black ribbon will
do just as well for forlorn old maid
! like me. The pin always was piece
OF extravaganza"
And Sylvia Dean trotted briskly
down the street to jewelers., where
she took out the little gold ivy leaf
that fastened her plain linen collar.
"If You please, sir, would like to
sell this pin. How much"
II can't afford to give you more
than dollar, ma'am," interrupted the
jeweler, eyeing the old-fashioned or
nament with contemptuous scrutiny.
.Well, l must take dollar, them
said Sylvia, with me, k, halfsmoth-
cred sigh. And she received the dol
lar that seemed so poor an equivalent
for the cherished pin and went back
to purchase the coveted collar, bring
ing it triumphantly home, with yard
of pink ribbon Tor poor Meilssa's
shrunken throat.
"Walter used to like pink said
Sylvia, as she pinned the bow upon
the neck OF Melissa's dress, and stepped
back little TO look at the effect. TO
Sylvia, her sister was still beautiful a.
Hebe. Her allegiance had never once
sweryed or altered from the, fond faith
Of her youth.
.1'll tell you what, Sylvia" said Ne
lissa. carefully brushing her scant
tresses-alas, for their vanished gold
even the heated curling stick, "you
had better lend me your black silk
dress. Mine is too shabby to wear,
and you have kept yours so neatly"
"ADd what shall | wear z" humbly
suggested the younger sister.
"Oh, gingham is good enough for
you. Walter Rochefort won't notice
what you wear!''
That's true enough" said Sylvia,
with sigh, as she set to work busily
altering the black silk dress, which
looked only one degree less shabby
than Melissa's own. And she took
the little coral earrings out of her ears
and put them into Melissa's, and al
most wished she could reinforce Me-
lissa's thin, ''towy" hair from her own
shining brown ,resses.
~ on look very nice, dear" she said
softly, when all was done; ''and-and
how do l look r
20, You look well enough said
Melissa, without turning her head to
observe. Don't tease me. sylvia; /
am just finishing my last curl"
So the two sisters sat down bs their
neat firesidc, To await the coming OF
the old friend who had made his for
tune. And the tears came into Syl-
Was eyes, as she thought how lonely
that iireside would be when Melissa
was married TO Walter Rochefort, and
gone.
But / am very selfish to feel SO"
thought Sylvia Il ought only to
think of Melissa's happiness" ;"
Melissa's voice chimed in the very
key note of Sylvia's musings.
Il suppose you viii keep the school
on, if marry Walter, Sylvia? It's a
nice enough place for you. OF course
you can't expect to come and live with
u.s.
NO; certainly not" said Sylvia,
feeling guilty conscious that she had
thought how very nice such an ar
rangement would be. "As you say,
Melissa, | can keep on the school"
"There's the bell," exclaimed Mel
issa. "Run to the door, Sylvia; /
can't be jumping up and down stairs,
like housemaidn
Obedient Sylvia went; and as the
hall door was closed Walter Rochefort
took her in his arms and kissed her.
That's for old times, Sylvia he
said gayly, "don't look SO astonished.
Surely you knew of my love long be-
fore | went away"
Il did not know of it, Walter" said
Sylvia, blushing like June rose at
the unexpected kiss, "but suspected it."
"And now," said Mr.. Rochefort,
with face of calm determination, Il
must have this matter settled before
We go up stairs to your sister
"What matter, Walter ~
whether you will marry me or
not ?"
~, Walter ?"
You, Sylvia
"But, Walter, l thought it was Me-
lissa."
"Not at ALL said Walter, most de-
cidedly. "It is you want. Can l
have you ?"
"oh, Walter, somehow ! can't be-
licve itT'
Not very direct answer, but suffi-
ciently explicit for Mr.. Rochefort, who
straightway repeated the offence of
the kiss, and led Sylvia up stairs to
Melissa.
"She has promised to marry me,
Melissa, and that makes us brother
and sister, you know" was his cordial
greeting.
Melissa gazed, thunder-struck The
brown gingham and the pinless collar
had won the prize card after ALL
"But you know, Melissa, you willlive
with us, of course" faltered Sylvia,
who felt almost as though she had
done her sister some irremediable
wrong.
"Of course" echoed honest Walter.
Poor Melissa! there was nothing
left tor her hut to make the hest of it;
but it did seem rather hard that she
should live and die an old maid, while
Sylvia got the husband
Its just my luck, sighed the faded
beauty.