The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-11-06
A SISTERS LOVE.
- VOU WILL come home with us,
Elsie of course 10

seventeen, who had come within one
hour from her mothers grave, side by
side with her fathers made fifteen years
before, did not speak for moment.
For the invitation given as matter
"of course, F" had come from her BROTH
er-in-law, her mothers staunch friend
and adviser for many years, almost u
second father to her own self from
childhood. When he spoke as if there
was no question about his decision, it
was not easy for his timid little sister
in-law to dispute his assertion.
Was he not Maggie's husband, and
was not Maggie herself ten years older
than Elsie, and Robert Wayne seven
years older than his wife, actually double
Elsie's own age? Had not these two
controlled Elsie from her babyhood far
more than the gentle mother lying in
her newly made graveY Could she as
sert her independence to them, watching
her with grave eyes, full of wonder at
her hesitation?
Then between her own soft blue eyes
and the faces of Robert and Maggie,
Elsie, saw pale, dying face, and i'm
ploring eyes, piteous, quivering lips and
again she seemed to hear the faint. plead
ing voice say
Oh, Elsie, care for poor Tom when /
am gonel'
Poor Tom, ,pitiful only in his mothers
eyes, a reprobate to all others, weak
more than wicked, drinking to excess,
industrious only in fits and starts, the
black sheep of the family.
Robert" Elsie said the tears starting
at the sound of her own voice, "you
are very kind to wish it, but [ will stay
here"
Stay here! Nonsense!' ~ cried Mag
gle. " How can you stay here?"
Mother left me the house, and next
year [ shall have the five thousand dol
lars father left me-"
"Well?
Chill and hard the monosyllables fell
from Robert Wayne's lips.
And,' said Elsie, desperately, IF l
leave here who will care for Tom ?'
AhSii lhC HlOlht OlOiACs lOll WIS IL
disgrace to them all. Tom was twenty
four, and able to take care of himself
Tom had sneaked away from the ceme-
terry, and was probably drunk some
where. Tom indeed.
But anger nerved Elsie. Had Robert
and Maggie tried coaxing, or even argu-
ment, she would have found it hard to
resist them, but she felt that she did not
deserve reproach and so braced her heart
to resolution, and stood firm.
1t ended in Robert and Maggie leav-
ing the house in anger, leaving bitter,
stinging words, and in Elsie lying upon
the sofa sobbing her very heart away for
more than two hours.
" And Tom will stay on and on,
spending Elsie's fortune as he has spent
your mother's,' Robert said fiercely,
disgracing us ALL"
=" am sure can't help it, Maggie
sobbed " did hope he would go away
when the house was closed till Elsie
married or came of age"
And Elsie, sobbed family, exhausted,
was lifted in two strong arms, and a
voice that had comforted her many
time and oft, said:
Dearie, don't cry any more. She's
out o. trouble, and, God be praised, we
can think of her a saint in heaven in
stead of a sufferer on earth.r
Elsie nestled close in the old servants
arms.
" Jane" she whispered, cit was not
for mamma l was crying, but for poor
Tom"
And indeed somebody may well cry
for him, for think he'll go down hill
faster than ever, now he'll have neither
mother nor home.n
But, Jane, he will have his homep
Eth, dearie -
And his sister, if he can't have his
mother. Pm going to stay here = to
take care of Tom"
" Heaven save us What will Mr..
Robert say ?''
He has said am fool, conceited
IDIOT" Elsie answered, her eyes flash
ing now through her tears, "But I'm
going to stay. Tom is fond of me-"
Tom was fond of her. All that mis-
cradle afternoon, ashamed, wretched, far
more griefstricken than any would
have credited, Tom was wandering in
grove, skirting one end of Heron's s Hill,
the village where his name was stand
ing reproach. He knew nobody would
believe in his snrrnW and his rernnrso