The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-01-31

moment with keenness, and then dropped
his eyes.
Nothing" he replied.
"Do not say that |" / exclaim I'd bitterly.
"Say rather that have offended you by dar-
ing to love your sister Eveleen. Ralph Van
Boskirk, why should you be unwilling that
l should pay my honorable attentions to
your sister? She has won my heart, con-
fess, and"
"In Heavens name, not another word ~
broke from Ralph's lips. He had risen and
looked the picture of dismayed misery.
Something like anger, too, was sparkling in
his eyes. / remember that saw nothing
except the anger, then. l, too, rose, with all
the dignity could master.
every WE'LL" said, ''if you 50 loftily de-
cline to discuss the subject, am perfectly
willing that we should abandon it. But at
least shall have the right to appeal to an
authority quite as high as your own, if in
deed not higher"
What authority?' he questioned, in
harsh, low undertone.
"That of your grandmother" replied.
saw him turn white-with added anger,
it seemed to me.
"My sister does not love you," he said, in
husky tones.
81 do not propose to take your word for
that" I replied, rudely, turning on my heel
and walking from the room. heard him
cry out some quick words after me, but l
did not catch their meaning.
That same evening called at the house
once more, this time distinctly asking for
Mrs. Van Boskirk. The servant soon
brought down word that Mrs. Van Boskirk
had been seized with one her severe attacks,
and had already retired, but that Miss Juli-
ana would see me.
OF course was by no means disposed to-
ward the.society of Juliana, but there was
no help for it. On this special evening it
seemed to me that the young girl was more
unengaging than ever. l excused myself
in about half an hour, and went home
again.
1t was now about nine o'clock. I seated
myself in my library and tried to read, but
the disturbed state of my mind made this
almost impossible. Just as / had thrown
down my book in disgust card was brought
me Learing Ralph Boskirk's name. Won
deringly, at once went down to meet him.
"icu are doubtless surprised to see me"
he said, as | appeared in the apartment
where he waited.
"Yes," l answered, "your presence is a
surprise, after your treatment this after
nOon."
He took no notice of these last words.
"You called on my grandmother this
evening, if mistake not" he said.
"True," replied. "And as soon as she
is better / mean TO repeat my visit-you
know with what motive"
He frowned gloomily, and then tried to
compose his face.
"But have told you that my sister cares
nothing for you" he said.
bit my lip with vexation.
81 refuse TO accept that objection as final -
was my stern retort. "You may have pre-
judiced her in someway. "You may have
taken dislike to me, though cannot con-
ceive why. YOU"
"No, no you are wrong.there ~ he cried,
and there was so much sad, appealing earn
estness in his tone that was filled with
amazement. "oh, John Averill," he went
on, "if you have one spark of generosity
you will abandon this useless enterprise.
For / assure you that it will be utterly
utterly useless I"
Then tell me why?" asked. "Pray,
Van Boskirk, is your sister so much my in
ferior that / cannot ask her 10 marry me %
He gave the one long, piercing lo6k. Then
he dropped his eyes and saw his lips quiv-
er. After that he raised them, and in tones
that gradually grew steadier, he said
81 will tell you my secret-our secret. !
had hoped to keep 1t inviolate, but you
force me, John Averill, to throw myself on
your compassion. Eyeleen Van Boskirk is
not my sister. She is my wife"
"iour wife?" gasped, increduously.
"Yes. met her during my last visit to
California. She was an intimate friend Of
my sister. Her name is not really Eveleen;
il is Ada. | loved her from the first moment
! looked upon her. The thought of going
away and leaving her for years in San
Francisco was horrible TO me. NY sister
Eveleen was very eontented, living under
the guardianship Of loving maternal aunt
and did not want to come East II was she
aud her aunt who first promised TO abet me
in the scheme which / afterwards carried
out. Before long Ada's father, who was
quite poor, also gave his consent. We were
married, and she came East with me as my
sister. As long as my grandmother lives
| tais masquerade must continue. The old
lady cannot live much longer, and though
/ do not wish TO speculate upon her death
/ can hardly forget that she has driven me
and she alone, to this unhappy deception
/ should never have TesoTted 10 il II she bad
not, asain and again, assured me that un-
less marry Juliana Pryoe when that young
lady reaches twenty-one, shall be entire
y disinheited. Doubtless have don,
~Tong. bot yoa 80 nov just how the CAS-