Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-10-29

Il a
shoulders, and returned to mammals
room to personate the invalid.
Henrietta" exclaimed /. opening
the door, "here is my offering on the
altar of sisterly affection.
"Is it possible ?" returned my ap-
preciative sister; "for once un-
selfish Well, if you'll only act your
part correctly for fortnight, the coun-
try air will have worked sufficient
good for you to resume your usual ap-
pearance.
Something in the expression of my
face, actually hot with disgust and
shame, induced mamma to say, "Dora,
dear, people in our circumstances have
to do such things"
Which remark / interrupted rather
indecorously by saying, "Please tell
me what's to be the matter-gout, con-
sumption, or softening of the brain? j
positively object to being rheumatic,
but softening of the brain might &C
count for all my inconsistencies"
Henrietta was provoked again, but
finally it was decided that L should
have no disease, being merely "not at
all strong" A week after We were at
Chartersville Station, and /, languidly
lying back among the shawls and satch-
els of our luggage, waited while mann
ma and Henrietta attended to our trans
fer to aunt Buckley's residence. Some
one crossed the station-room floor, and
10 my cousin Harry was standing by
my side.
"Why, Harry"
"Why, Dora y he exclaimed. ex-
citedly "I've just seen aunt Henrietta,
and they tell me you are i'll. You don't
look so, though"
"But I worse far than you
dream" replied.
Well, WE'LL" said the good fellow,
softening down, eve must get you we'll
again, if you really are sick but l de-
clare, will say never saw you look
ing better. I'm off for few days, not
being aware that you were coming TO
Chartersville, and-hello there's my
train"
Harry was gone; and Henrietta, rush.
ing in, exclaimed, "Dear me, Dora
what in the world did you say to Har-
ry?"
81 said all 1 could 1 made myself a
liar, and I feel just as contemplate as
you might suppose.
Dora Langdon.' exclaimed my
fretted sister, YOU'RE nothing but a
selfish thing, and you behave precisely
as L supposed you would under the cir
cumstances. A broken reed you are to
trust to" Henrietta raised her sandy
eyebrows, with martyred air, and /
crept invalid-llke into aunt Buckley s
carriage.
The grand old farm house, made of
cobble-stones, with old-fashioned ga
bles, peaks, and windows, stood upon a
sloping hillside at the entrance to a
lovely Berkshire valley. Handsome
barns, granaries, and a picturesque
gray dairy with Swiss-like caves, added
to the landscape, while exquisite walks,
flower lawns, and nestled strawberries
made the place most lovely. The ex-
cellent and hospitable relative to whom
we were indebted for our exceeding
comfort left nothing untried to secure
our happiness and improve my health.
Weeks passed by, and, Harry having
returned from his southern trip, we
were comparatively a most contented
group; and had it not been for certain
pointed thrusts of his, all bearing upon
my appearance, health, ETC., should
have been right happy. But I could
not stife conscience, and always avert
ing my eyes and flushing painfully when
Harry spoke about my health, L became
actually Ill from mere and sheer nery-
BUSINESS. Henrietta, too, dressed in
girlish fiDeries, laces, flowers, jewels,
and floating ribbons, always made a
foil of me with the close-throated wrap
pers, heavy somber dresses, and prac-
tical, unbecoming shawls appropriate
to an invalid until, weary of deceit,
and actually suffering from restraint,
became as unstrung as any bona tide
sufferer.
"Dora," said Henrietta, one day, as
she was arraying herself in girlish
blue grenadine, " don't you really think
Harry is marked in his attentions to
me before strangers, and everywhere,
indeed, for that matter? didn't you
think him devoted yesterday at din
ner?"
"How should know ?" l GROSSLY an
SWeIeu 4, dt lcdo1, WAS ucsOseu "
my dinner"
8. Yes, and to your companion "a
widower "a good match-a wealthy
farmer, Dora |"
rushed from the room disguised
weary of myself, tired of life, and full
of contempt for woman'e miserabl,
managings. 1 went down to the dining
room, and stood looking out of the win
dow at the glorious summer morning
with which my poor healt had 80 yer,
little sympathy. Some one, and tina
some one Harry, sauntered into thu
room behind me, and presently said:
$50 you're all going picnicking to
day, 1 hear?"
"Yes, 1 replied; "are you not going
too?"
"Not l." said Harry; 81 take no in
terest in such doubtful pleasures, and
never pretend interest, or anything else
for that matter !"
Though my face burned hotly, / re
spopded
lone has often to do many thing
for the sake of politeness-a little pre-
tense, then, is necessary.
"What creed !" calculated Harry
by this time become my vis-a-vis at th
window; 81 consider acting deceitful
ly to be more than contemplate AM
Al L. he