The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-11-27


ed. and. then playfully asked her II I
did not deserve. the wife ! had 80
striven for
5'lsi Oh, yes! my dear brother" she
replied, fy6u deserve every Y1aing.p
She stoppsd aosmomeRts aud her
voice trembleds as she cont Sc
This makes me feel SO strangely
know it is all right, for my good
brother could not do wrong. sup-
pose shall Understand it ai when
grow to. beaWomans / hope this fine
lady is not so pretty that you iii for-
get your homeiy little sister. sup-
pose any foolish girl would feel 5n tsso,
butcit would be so hard to hare yeH
slight me. oh, love You, 50 dearly, z
She buried her face in her hands,
and could hear the very thre1 of her
pulse.9 asa8 skAt siis
sFerget yen, MoIlie2 Ohtn0 Why;
/ intend to have yon go live Wislasl MS
up at the big brick house and have
nice clothes and be . lady like Laura.
Oh, no, my iiltle darling. I've been
a brother and s.1atherto you and now
I'm going to give ron q mother and .
sister. You'd be perfect queen. FQr-
get yout Whys ! am almost vexeds
for I've thought as much about you as
of Inyself.22 Isa Eaan fBd ,s5Hos
She raised her head quickly, and
fixing her eyes upon the great wood
fire before us, she said, softly, "Broth-
er Luke knows what is best for his
little orphan sister, Then 1 kissed
her good night, and promising TO re-
turn in the morning, i passed down
the path to the main road by the light
of the lamp she held at the door for
me, and hurried rapidly back to Ma
jor Norton's. go .s1sss I-s.,,rf $50 ss,s.gi
found Laura alone, aud waiting
for me, as had asked her to haye q
talk with her that evening. Without
sitting down made known my err
rand. i didn't flourish any rhetoric
or quote any poetry, for. she Under
stood it all, and thought it foolish to
play il out like q theater actor. /
breathed my love in Words as plain as
a nursery tale and then spoke, of my
arduous duties, my perseverance,, my
cares, my hopes and final, triumph
told her that / was done with drHdg-
cry, that had secured q clerkship in
the city, and wanted her to be my
wife. .s-...- .-sr ssses-.a
She scanned me curiously for a mos
Inent. then said sharply g What
does this mean 7 / do not know what
L hear, or you dc, not know what you.
say. One of us is dreaming-wh hich
is it 2" Not to be put off with pleas-
antry, i advance to her chair, and
laying hand nher shoulder, stopped
to kiss her. She arose with q bound,
and pushing me from her cried, sneer-f
ingly: sfIt is real, then? We are
both. wide awake. You want to mar
ry me. You forget yourself, am not
d candidate for the poor house. Go,
seek your level, sir" go 4 al8f
j stepped to the door and ope ned it
then turned ineuiringly, and stood
waiting. Her eyes flashed fury as she
added, "We- have never been lovers
we are no long ger, ,frScndsIVDf IA i-.e,f.a..
slammed the door behind me, and
walked out into the open air. Then /
swore like. a half rationed soldier.-
These curses begot truth Myeyerys
curses laid bare the mystery, and
revcrently thanked God that Miss,
Norton had discarded me. Why Be
cause had curse1S and returning reai
son told me that there was no love, in
that Had / Wept, it had been other
wise. As it was / saw nay mistake.
1t was not love, it was seIfishness; il
was not affection, it was ambition.
had fettered my heart with falsehood
The stone was rolled away stilast and
/ saw the sepulcheE's emptiness. v,f1
Next morning went to see sister
Moiife. again. She was pale and
seemed troubled. / asked the cause
and she answered: f" Nofhing.D That
meant prevarieaEion. Sol INSISTED on
knowing the truth. Then she said
kindly, but firmly: 4 Don't scold, me,
for am SO unhappy. don't want
go live upat the big house, and
wear silks and learn to be fine lady.
Iwasn't born for such SIS. that. | would
be mfserabIe. / would have to forget
all the little bare footed gfrls used
to play WITH I would have to be
stranger to all THE poor neighbors who
have been so kind to me, and to syou.a &
too, Luke. Icouldn't roam the woods
aAd talk to the little birds, and gather
wild flowers from the hill side. Oh,
let me stay where ami, and be just
what I've always been. You can
come aud see me, you know, as you
do now and, perhaps, sometimes your
highborn wife will come with you,
and I'll be as good as I. can to yon
both. Please let me stay here, Luke"
She raised her sad face impIo orii1 gIy,
and held her breath for my answer. +. I
I Igrssped her hand as exclaimed
"God bless you, my good little sister
and danghter all in one. There's no
danger. The storm is over. Expert
ence has taught me the lesson you
have learned from your own pure
heart. I listened to the charmer and !
few to the skies fate clipped my pin-
ions and fell to the earth. ! am not
going to marry - - 81.
She pressed my hand, while tears
flied her eyes as she murmuFed tNot
going to marry"
'No, dear Moiiie; am myself again.
I've secured a elerkshipi in the city,
and you shall go with me and keep
house for me. Now cheer up. We
will start tomorrow,
Think I shall never forget how the
crimson came TO her cheeks as she
said SO soIemnly &c That cannot be,
I am grown woman, now Remem-
Der I am seventeen years old. We. are
not real brother aud sister, If we do
call each other So. We couldn't live
together that way. 1t wouldn't be
proper, would it, Luke !? No; you can
go, but I must stay. We have to part
Sometime. Let it be now. know
you will often think Of me, and / will.
pray for you always" g - l.. '. .,
/ couldn't speak. p / looked and
trembled, and Atelt myself sinking to
the floor. Just then ray of hidden
light loosed my tongue, and staud-
mered out rPant with you, Mollie,
oh, no, no! You must go Win you
be my wife ?" - a.It ~. -,
don't believe she said a word but
l know she clasped me round the
neck and we both cried like little
children. 10 ~ esll il5a Z s5ea,. .e9ia
Thesrest is soon told. We were
married and came to the city; and
there by the table yonder sits the dear
creature who was first sister,. then
daughter, and finally wife of Luke
Grafton. Oh, oueneedn'to blush soys