The Osceola times., 1877-06-02

| tiently down on her knees 10 PICK up the
scattered rolls of work.
"But it's shame" went on Kate,
flushed and indignant, that ], who was
born to better things"
She paused, with the hot current OF
words yet on her tongue, as a knock came
to the door.
"It's only Mr.. Harley, in the next
room," said Emily, as she rose to her
feet. al know his knock"
Mr.. Harley was a tall, fresh-loos:ng
young man, with bright hazel eyes and a
smooth, broad forehead, who had re-
Gently engaged the one vacant apartment
on the fourth story OF the house in
Bland street. "A literary gentleman,
Mrs. Farley had called him: while Mr..
johnson asserted. with less elegance, that
he was "ewl.editor of one of them pa.
pers that never tells the truth"
Poor people assimilste more readily
than those who surround themselves with
the barriersof form and ceremony and
in one week of their neighborly prox.
unity, Mr.. Harley and the Miss Ellers
lies had become the best OF friends.
"The loop has come off my necktie
again." Mr.. Harley began, apologetic-
ally. "Dare | venture to ask you TO sew
it on A second time, Miss Emil W"
Emily smiled and nodded as she
threaded her needle with black silk, and
put ON thrifty-looking tbimble.
" Is anything the matter, Miss kateT'
asked Harley as he observed the elder
sisters flushed cheeks and discounted
mood"
Nothing" she answered, petulantly,
"but the old story-poverty and humil.
iation. Oh. / wish | were dead or,
better still," she went on, with increas-
ing energy, " wish the villain who
cheats us out OF all our money were
deadw
Mr. Harley WINGED little, and no
wonder, Emily thought; her sister had
spoken with unrestrained vehemence.
"Kate, Kate" she said softly, "you
don't consider. He is not to blame he
cause the law has given him what was
rightfully his own"
"He is, say" burst out Kate, but
then she repressed herself. "Give me
the shirts, Emily" she said, resignedly.
Eve can't starve. Now the footstool
and the work-basket. And Just draw
that curtain; the sunisshining in enough
to dazzle forty pairs OF eyes,"
Patiently Emily trudged hither and
thither ior her sister, only too glad that
the storm of Kate's temper was tempo
rarily averted by Mr.. Harley's presence.
The young man, quietly observant of all
that transpired around him, began to
think that, after all, Kate was not so
beautiful rs he had at first supposed.
Emily had the sweetest, more Madonna
like face. Their she was 40 gentle, SO
quietly resigned.
Emily always was drudge said
Miss Ellerslie, contemptiously. :" She
never had any more spirit than canary
bird"
So Emily did the work of the con-
tracted little room, washed aud ironed
Kate's laces, arranging her sisters lux
uriant hair, sat up at night to finish the
sewing Kate had thrown aside because
it made her nervous" hours before, and
was sunny and happy through it all,
while Kate sighed over her fat, and
persuaded herself that she was the most
wretched of created beings.
And one day Mr.. Harley astonished
her out of her equanimity by proposing
to marry her.
Upon--my-word calculated she
"the young man must have a very good
opinion of himself! OF course you said
Mo-"
Emily hung her head until she looked
like sweet pea vine that has been ex.
posed to the June sunshine.
"I--Pm afraid ! said yes, she faltered.
"What on earth could have induced
you to accept him ?" demanded Kate,
with both hands imploringly nplifted.
because / love him =" said Emily,
plucking up courage.
1.-The selfishness OF some peoplel"
sobbed Kate, burying her face in her
pocket handkerchief. al suppose you
never once thought what was to become
of me !"
Innocent Emily felt that she had in
deed been monster of ingrattude and
egotism.
"Wem provide for our sister Kate,
in some way or other, "said Mr.. Harley,
when Emily timidly confessed her tribu-
lation to him.
"Wait and see, little girl"
Kate Ellerslie gave her brother-in.law
elect rather cool greeting that evening
when he dropped in, as usual, about nine
o'clock.
a. nope you congratulate usg he
said, haughtily.
"Of course you have my best wishes"
she answered with some little acerbity.
at will be your turn next, Kate"
She tossed her head heartily.
al am in no particular hurry"
",Wouldn't il be nice. ce.chapter of ro-
nance in real life" he added, smiling,
"if Murray Lennox, TO whom the law
has awarded property that was once
yours, should come and marry you?'
"Nonsense ~ said Kate, sharply.
I" Such things don't happen in real life"
"Do they not? But Just let me sup
pose it only FOR once. What would you
say"
"No, of course"
"And you, Emily"
my heart is already given away, she
answered, smiling and blushing.
She looked at him in surprise.
"My darling" he said, al have de-
ceived you all this time. am not John
Harley, but Murray Lennox, your dis
tant cousin. came here TO study your
characters apart from the disadvantage
which would surely follow me were |
known as the unwilling usurper Of your
fortunes. Nor do regret the use. Upon
my wedding day, Kate, l shall settle
upon you enough to make you entirely
independent. As for Emily" with a