The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-11-01
A PROMISE Is A PROMISE.
Nv Mrs. saIIie A. Ramage.

BY Mrt. SaliEe n. ksanta-t.
Il am sorry that yos nave company,
Ada, for am selfish enough to want you all
10 myself for the two months | have to stay
with you" II have no company other than
yourself, brother. Why did you imagine
that / had?r when / entered the hall
saw ladys hat with long crepe veil hang
ing on the hat-rack, and l knew that you
were not in mourning; and j notice
other feminine adornments that seem
too girish for my slatrOnly sister. oh
| had entirely forgotten Myra. She seems
so much a part of our own family that
hardly consider her as either 4 stranger or
company. She Is dear sweet girl, and
want you TO like her. But it is not neces-
sary to tell you that; after you have seen
her it will be utterly impossible for you
not to admire and respect her, and | only
trust you may merit her good opinion, for
she has rare good sense and Judgment.
Where did you find such a paragon? do
not remember to have ever seen
YOU so enthusiastic about any wo-
man of ali your acquaintance"
Her mother was one of my best friends, and
when Myra was left an orphan three months
ago. felt il my duty to bring her home. and
here she has been ever since, and nothing
shall ever induce me to let her leave us UNI
I'll She goes tO Il home of her own. She will
not remain idle, however. and plead so hard
la teach that | assisted her in obtaining
music scholars and the mas now fine class
But We would be 80 glad if she would take
the rest that, after her mothers long illness,
she certainly needs, but she will not
consent to remain unless we allow her TO
support herself She viii be here in half
an hour. But tell me something OF your
self, Guy for four years must have wrought
come change. How have you prOSpered in
the South? Exceedingly well. | have no
reason To regret my first visit to Savannah,
since i have had nothing but good luck
within its walls. | can see no difference in
you. Ada. excepting that you look a5little
more womanly than YOU did when
/ left YOU" and the conversation
Of the brother and sister glided
away into the current of home and family
topics. They were singularly alike even for
children of one mother, and YOU noticed
the striking likeness Is much in their ways
and manners as in the facial resemblance.
Ada was the younger, sweet-faced woman
of three and twenty. with u good husband,
pratling baby boy and the cosest home in
the city. She fairly idolized her brother, and
had given him no rest until he had made
where he had left her bride. She had
sundry plans in her mind for
his entertainment, but the most
cherished one was to have him meet
Myra Logan, and after that she was willing
To trust to Providence for the furtherance OF
her matchmaking scheme. She believed her
brother near perfection a man could
possibly he, and, loving Myra as she did, she
could imagine nothing more pleasant than
TO have her girl friend for sister-in-law.
And so she chatted on for an hour with
her brother. She was keenly on the alert to
discover any reference TO any one who would
prove bar to her plan, but he spoke lightly,
pleasantly, OF half dozen ladies, without
giving her any chance to object to the famil-
lar of their and 40 Haffarfs1 her
self that the way was clear OF Myra,
she was in no doubt She knew that her af-
fecction was directed solely among the
friends who were so tender and kind to her,
and that into her young heart had crept no
thought of stronger love. Mrs. Roberts
was heartily glad that she had no other COM
lany in the house, that the pleasant famil-
iarity of her home circle would not be
broken by strangers, for she was determined
that to Myra Guy should turn for enter
tainment and society. There was. in truth.
little change in him since she had parted
from him four years ago. He was still the
same frank, genial, light-hearted man
that she had loved, and she missed
none of the tender words and loving
causes that had endeared him To her. He
fondled the baby to her hearts content anC
seemed determined TO establish himself a.
one OF the family. without further prelim
inaries She left him sitting in the twilight
while she went TO attend TO some household
duties.
She had hardly left the room before
quick, light step came quickly up the hall
way and soft, gentle voice said, "May
come in, Mrs Roberts?' ard before Gu,
could answer, she was by his side She spok,
quickly: "Excnse me, L thought Mrs. Robert
was here" NO; but ] ann her brother
Guy Barnard, and your 'Myra Logan.
She bowed and left the room. anC
he could hear her footballs along the hall
then his sisters laugh and exclamation. III,
wandered at her excessive praise of he
friend He remembered only slight, girl
isb form, clad in the heaviest mourning
delicately featured face with gray eyes, an,
aboge broad, square brow. a mass Of ligh
brown braids with tinge of gold The fir
light had shone full upon her and he had ha,
ample time 10 note even the flush that tn
surprise had sent from threat to cheek
She vas young, but had a womanl,
manner that betokeRed ana acquaint
ance with care. She was unembarrassed
and yet shy and diffident- as IL shrinking
from any meeting with strangers She in
terested him but moment, and then hi
mind went back 10 the friends from whom
be had parted thirty-six hours before, an.
his reveries were unbroken until his siste
called him TO her. She formally introduces
him To her friend, but was provoked tina
she could catch no look or word of interes
in the subject she so longed to have him ap
preciate, and she determined. brave littl
plotter that she was, TO force him all uncon
sei0usiy TO acquiesce in her plans.
The acquaintance thus began ripenes
fast, and Gruy began to wait anxiousl,