South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-08-18
THE TWO SISTERS.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

Il don't mean to be unkiud, Walter
said Deacon Dean, composedly brushing the
stray specs of dust off the sleeve of his trim
blue coat, with hand that did not culver
one hairs breadth; 'but don't you see
how very impracticable this engagement
would b."
Walter Rochefort stood leaning agains,
the open window, with his eyes humid and
din, bis cheeks blanched. The truth was,
Walter Rochcfost had for months been
building a bright-pinacled castle in the air
"a castle full of hopes and dreams and
shadowy anticipatoins. And, with the dryly
spoken words Of sensibly worldly wise phil
osophy, Deacon Dean had just smitten down
its foundations, and RACED its glittering tow.
ers into the dust
'YOu see said the Deacon, with slow,
good humored emphasis, you're young,
and SOS she. And you haven't cent a
head in the world, and she's been used to an
easy life, aud ant noways fitted to be a poor
mans wife. SO guess it isn't worth while
to discuss the subject just at present
lie paused an instant, and then, perhaps
melted thereto by the anguish SO plainly
written on the young mans mute face, he
ADDED, more lnuulgentIy:
perhaps one O these days, when YOU We
made little more Roadway in the world,
we'll think it over again but, Walter Ro-
chefort, l don't want my girl fettcred by
an engagement just now. There's plenty
o time, plenty o time
So spoke worthy Deacon Dean, putting
out huge clouds of smoke from his amber
mouthed pipe, and poor Walter Rochcfort
went home planning within himself how to
get rich within the shortest possible period
of time
Went homc-that is, went to the village
hotel, where he lived while finishing the
task of surveying, that had brought him
down into the little county nook where he
had lost his heart so summarly.
How the drcary, melancholy evening
passed he had no idea, but as the clock
struck ten, he started from his sad revorie,
to hear two or three men talking on the
piazza, few PAGES off.
Its paying place, said one indiffer-
emily, fitting his chair backward, 'and u
place where smart man would make mo
ney, TO say nothing of fair prospects Of pro-
motion. But then what man worth any
thing would care to bury himself alive in
Central China"
Iwould,' spoke up quick, boarse voice.
The man laughed
q don't think You know Just what sort
of dismal, God-forsaken place it is, Mr.
Rochefort
Il don't care if it were the Black Hole of
Calcutta said Walter, impetuously. IF
it's place where one eau grow rich, I'm
your man "
Then suppose We talk i. over together
said the others moving his chair little clo-
ser to the window just within which Walter
Rochefort sat
just week afiorward, Deacon Dean in
cdcntally heard that Mr.. Rochcfort had
left the village
well, lm not sorry said the Deacon
to himself Not but that he's a nice young
fellow; but think my pretty Melissa II
do considerable better than Walter Ro-
chefort
Melissa Dean looked sentimcnially re-
grctful when her father told her of the
young engineers abrupt departure, but
poor Sylvia, the younger and palmer sister,
buIs'cd into tears
'Ob, Melissa, wonder how you can
take it so calmly
'Whcre's the use Of taking 10 any other
way demanded Melissa, trying tho effect
o! new blue ribbon against tho wazy pink
OF her lovely round check. walter Roch-
eiort was very pleasant, but there arc plcn-
~ more young men in the worll'
POOR Sylvia brushed away her tears, and
ielt ns If she were bold and uumaiicuIy, but
the sore spot yet ranked 10 her heart
'Mr Rochefort p
Sylvia Dean is il possible this is you E"
The fifteen years Of his absence seemed
Ink" a dream Was IL not q singular coin
ciIence that upon the very day Of his re
turn from Chins, Walter Rocbcfort should
meet Miss Dean -
Are you visiting New York ? be qucs-
toned
mo- we are living here. peaa Is dead
and We have lost good deal of proper
", ALTERED Sylvia. Il keep little girls
school m l'avco street, now-No-'
Aud Melissa"
Melissa lives with mo We arc alone
together in the world You will come and
sec Melissa, Won't you, WaltorH
Certainly, ] WILL was the hearty re-
sponsc May : come 10 morrow evening
he soft, pink bushes glowed upon Syl-
vas check, as che thouchtof tho rospecta
Ole old brick mansion iu Raven street.
where she kept ihc little school, and Mclis-
50 nursed the remains Of her faded beauty
ana cultivated her nervous.
Why Sylvia, you look as natural as O.
Vor' sad Walter, looking kindly down in
TO her brown eyes.