The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-08
A PICTURE.

,rame ON the porch-front. There is \
airer picture there, too, than that OF the
summer sea, although a gold and crim-
son sunset is flashing out all over that.
But in a low, deep chair, here on the
porch, is leaning girl, with blue eyes
1luer than the violet sea, with brow
'airer than yonder toam-crest flashing
up, with hair lovelier gold than all the
sunset iavishes upon the tide-or SO the
man lounging ON the porch-steps at her
feet thinks, as he leans an elbow on the
step above him, and rests his bearded
chin in his palms, looking up at her with
dark, eager eyes, from under the shelter
of his broad straw hat. And SO some
one else thinks, looking on-a woman
has come to the window of the little cot
opening on the porch, and
who has paused for q moment to gaze ut
the picture, before going out to add an
other figure to IL; though the hgure
would hardly have marreu 1t, Ii II made
it somewhat darker and graver in tone
the dark, pale woman, Ill her quiet
gown, with the thoughtful shade on ner
1ne brow, as il care had come to her be-
lore her youth had quite gone by.
She stands Tor an instant out or sight
there in the window, watching, with u
fond smile in her eyes. How fair her
little sister is in that white dressl And
she is glad the child and Duncan Muir
doch seem to be growing such last
friends, and that
The thought dies in her heart, and in
voluntarily she draws further back into
the shelter of the white curtains. For
she catches glimpseiat the mans face,
as he turns it lull upon the girl sitting
above HIM.
"NelIy T. he says-"Nelly-"
What a passionate thrill through the
two soft little syllables! 1t drives the
blood back to the heart Of that paler Wo-
man, shrinking back from the window;
it sends the blood in II crimson tide up to
the brow of the girl who leans out yon-
der in her chair. She lifts her eyes with
q start from the roses in her lap, anu
she turns them, halt-irigntened and
upon the speaker.
He answers lhem, although here red
lips have only parted, without word.
.Nellyw ne says again, "you know
thai | am going away tomorrow, and L
must speak out before l so. Nelly, l am
atiaid you can not have mad time 10 love
ME, even II time would help ME; but il j
go silent away, who knows If some one
NAV not come, with wooing words, be-
tore mey And 1 love you 50, NeIlyW
"Me?" the girl gasps out. ~ GU love
me, Mr.. MurdVchT
Through all his intense earnestness, a
smile comes into the mans eyes there.
"Why that doubtful emphasis, Nelly 7
What did you suppose was keeping me
all these weeks i'll this quiet seaside vii
lage?" -
Inside, in the little parlor, the pale
woman stands clenching her hands to-
h.,r pf IA xyhrlG. nnlaIln the EJfps
lovely bushes are coming and Soing.and
she Iallering, looking stralgut into mis-
eyes.
"I-I do not know-I did not suppose
Were you not my sister Margareps
friend, years ago? L thought you came
to see her; l thought you were her iov-
er.'
Does no one hear the hard, stifled
in the room within? Dut those
two are only conscious OF each others
presence.
He is meeting her eyes unshrinkingly
III was your sister Margareps 1riend.
am her friend now, Nelly. She hersel.
will tell you we have never been more
than that toward one another. l did
come here to see her, as friend will
be glad TO see all old friend again; but
stayed ior something stronger than
ndship---something dearer."
'tBut-Margaretw the girl talters.
"Neily W--uis voice has Il stern ring in
it-''you are doing your sister great in.
Justice If you suppose my words to you
can matter to her, except i'll so far that,
as a sister, ,sne is Interested in your hap
piness, ana as a friend III nine. / Will
not put this slight upon her, to dream
for an lns Lant that she could care other
wise.
"Forgive me-" says the girls voice,
brokenly-''lorgive me! But, OH, Ii you
could know how unhappy l have been
and how wicked l have thought my
self"
"Nelly-my own Nellyl Can it be pos
sible that you DO love mo, thenW
Her answer-if indeed she ever made
any--is murmured on his shoulder
where she hides her blusning, tearlu
face.
His face is bent down over her, and 81
they neither OF them see how the woman
inside at the window lifts herself wear
lily from the crOuching posture intS
which che has sunk down ON the floor
and drags herself away TO the inner dool
that stands open to the hall.
Nearly an hour afterward, when tn,
teil-tale sunset glow has faded from til,
porCn, anu only tue bOLb LuUOullEnG II
there instead, the low French window
from the parlor is pushed wide open, ,ant
Margaret is coming out to the two, still
sitting underneath the roses.
"You were right, Nelly, TO keep Mi
Murdoch for cup OF ten with u.s." sh
says, quietly, as she advances and put
her hand into The mans friendly han,
extended in greeting.
He does not relinquish 1t. He holds /
fast, and takes Neiiy's hand in his left
joining the two.
"My friend Margaret" he say eagerly
"will you be my sister also? Win yol
give me this little Nelly of yours, u
whom you have been we'll nigh moth
erW
Brave, and true and strong hearted
Margaret stands up there between tn
two, and joins hand unto hand.
oThere is no one 10 whom could trus
my darling SO fully as to you, Duncan
Murdoch" she said, steadily. ~ pra.
God bless you botnp'
Ii she is q little pale as she says this
the wan moonlight is streaming full int,
her face. And then--Margaret is alway
pale. The roses of her youth are fade,
now,
Go.ss.f C,xIIf,,nx