The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-13
ACTING A PART.


ono of the suItriest mornings IN Md
summer. and everybody who IS any
body had long been out of town. We
ourselves would have liked to be in the
country, too but, Oh, what hard work
it was to live anywhere on poor mann
mas small incomei The effort kept us
continually In bad temper, and it was
by no means surprising that when the
letter brought by the aforesaid post
man was duly considered. we all fioated
into a stormy discussion respecting it's
contents.
You ought to be willing to do most
anything" said my sister Henrietta,
'' to get away at all. Aunt Buckley's
invitation is only for mother and I, for
a few weeks; but why can't you write
and say you haven't been strong lately,
and the doctor urges a change of air?
You'd be perfectly sure of an invitation
by return of mail. Then we could shut
up the house, and 'twould be such
saving r
sprang up at this keen proposition,
and, looking in the glass, beheld the
rounded, womanly form of a girl of
nineteen, pair of clear and healthy
hazel eyes, soft, waving hair, and not
the first indication of feeble health.
1t won't succeed, Henrietta" said
/, gravely ''but. if it's necessary for
somebody to personate the invalid,
take the role yourself, and your affec-
tionate little sister will go along to take
care of you"
"Dora, your insolence is Just un-
bearable, / do say. Mamma, would it
do for me to personate the invalid ?"
said Henrietta, in a rage.
Decidedly not, replied mamma );
'' and you ought to know. Dora, that
when a young man seconds an invita-
tion to a young lady SO cordially as
Harry Buckley has this one, he feels
more than a cousinly interest merely.
/ fancy Harry means-weu, some
thing"
Complacent, fat, sandy haired, sandy
browed, and sandy-colored generally,
Henrietta sat before me and, as I
looked at her graceless attitude, her in
expressive face, and physique in gen
eral, my thoughts few to Harry Buck
ley-taiI, brown bearded, ard aged
twenty-seven Henrietta was thirty
three if she was day-but, feeling my
hot blood rising, I left the room to
avoid further snarling.
How intensely did hate the never
ending aud petty deceits to which
mamma and Henrietta were always re-
sorting in order to keep up appearances.
Now, If had had my own way, / should
have concluded that merest thought
lessness, or a fancy, perhaps, that 1
would not enjoy six weeks at a ram
bling old farmhouse, had caused my
aunt to exclude me from the invitation
sent to mamma and Henrietta. And
should have frankly written to my
fathers dear and only sister, aDd said
1 should SO ike to visit her at the same
time with my mother and sister. But
to go by any other than fair and open
means was absolutely distasteful in
thought alone. Mamma and Henrietta,
however, could not appreciate my feel
ing, and in the conversation from
which had broken away they charged
mewith abominable and monstrous self
ishness.
As sat looking out of my window
upon parched back yards, struggling
foliage, and bleaching, blanching
kitchen shutters in the rear of ' home, %
I thought perhaps I was too inconsid-
crate that even while my soul revolted
from so many mean subterfuges and
pettinesses, they were possibly inevita-
BILE, and ought to be resigned to my
share. Perhaps on this very occasion I
ought really to make compromise,
and do as was desired. I went at
once to the looking glass, wet my
brush, and took the curl out of my hair
as far as possible; then putting on
my last years faded gray alpaca dress,
I wrapped little shawl about my
shoulders, and returned to mamma Is
room to personate the invalid.
Henrietta" exclaimed I, opening
the door, "here is my offering on the
altar of sisterIy 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
shame, induced mamma to say, "Dora,
dear, people in our circumstances have
to do such things
Which remark I interrupted rather
indecorously by saying, "Please tell
me what's to be the matter-gout, con
sumption, or softening of the brain ]
positively object to being rheumatic,
but softening of the brain might ac-
count for all my inconsistencies.
Henrietta was provoked again, but
finally it was decided that I should
have no disease, being merely "not at
all strong" A week after we were al
Chartersville Station, and ], languidly
lying back among the shawls and satch-
ma and Henrietta attended to our trans
fer to aunt Buckley 8 residence. Some
one crossed the station-room floor, and
10 my cousin Harry was standing by
my side.
s'Why, Harry p
sWhy, Dora r he exclaimed, ex
citedly '' I've just seen aunt Henrietta
and they tell me you are i'll. You dom
look so, though"
ssBut I am worse far than yoI
DREAM replied.
s.WeI, we'll, said the good fellow
softening down, "we must get you wei
again, if you really are sick but de
clare, I will say never saw you look
ing better. I'm off for few days, no
being aware that you were coming t
Chartersville, and-hello there's M.
train"
Harry was gone; and Henrietta, rush
ing in. exclaimed, stDear me, Dora
what in the world did you say to Har
st said all could made myself
liar. and I feel just as contemplate a
vou might suppose.
sDoFa Langdonl'' exclaimed m,
fretted sister, you're nothing but