Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-02-08
H TWO SISTERS.

III ner iO'eiy tOliet Vi ciso'oiAi1ou iace,
and Ermine's bold, handsome eyes rested
on her in smiling approval as he stood
beside her chair, and leaned his head near
her and talked desperately earnest devoted
ness that set all the other young ladies
angrily jealous.
"Your character Of Frost is tastefully
and artistically represented, Miss Clar-
rence. Do you know you ought always to
wear white? l wish you would"
She lifted her blue eyes in that distract
ing way that had played such sad havoc
with mems hearts.
Then she rippled out a dainty little
laugh.
"Such an idea, Mr.. ErmiDel Suppose I
should ask you to adopt as your every day
apparel that elegant and becoming bandit
chief costume you have on?"
He dropped his dark brilliant face nearer
her sparkling one.
well? Would l not accede to that or any
other request you might make Of me?
What happiness to be under the orders Of
so fair a commander"
And the tone of his voice. the glow in
his handsome eyes made her pulses thrill
with the hope that had more than once
come to her since this glorious king among
men had come among them, for the first
time in years, making the magnificent old
ancestral home fairly scintillant with
mirth and gayety.
Then she laughed.
"Would it really be happiness to serve
under my flag? Then consider yourself
under imperative orders to promise to do
something for me that l rave a fancy for
you to do. Mr.. Ermine, / have an idea
you could not select any imaginable disguise
in which l would not recognize you. l
want you to try again-something that
will prove to you that can detect you I'M
der the completest mask"
Her lovely blue eyes were even more
coaxing than her sweet. persuasive voice.
Her cheeks was delicately flushed, her
dainty mouth smiling, and Ermine thought
how passing fair she was.
So there was a tinge Of something even
more marked than usual in his manner as
he answered.:
81 take up the gauntlet, Miss Clarence,
and warn you beforehand you will not
write success ON your banner unless--I
dare not 1atter myself, dare I?-that your
eyes are ~sharpened by -"
What he would have added was imost
effectually prevented by a sweet, fresh
voice, and Madge Clarence, Mable's young
est sister, joined them.
1--WE must go home, Mable, for you
remember we promised mamma not to
stay later than midnight"
Ermine did not see the quick, watchful
look Mable dashed on Madge, for he was
looking at the petite, slender figure and
the plain face, and noting the demure air
of the girl who was beautiful Mable's sister,
yet so utterly different that it was hard to
imagine them even distant relations.
md tn1eal MoIna 1oaEaJ ,nora dap,nro
than ever in her quaint masquerade CO.'S
tnme of Charity with its quiet brown
shades that matched SO exactly her bright,
intelligent eyes.
Ermine protested against their early
desertinn.
Il shall feel quite the i~nconsolable here
with two such bright particular stars gone.
Do stay and let me trust to my powers of
penitent persuasion with Mrs. Clarence
tomorrow"
And SO they wen home, and Mr.. Ermine
assisted them to their carriage and was
rewarded by Madge's CHEEKY "Thank you -
and a shy, half-worshipful, ~half-roguish
glance from Mable's blue eyes.
# 4 Il # II # 4 n
The September sunshine streamed in
through the windows of the Clarence din
ing room-a small, cozy room, with gay
carpets and pictures, and the table spread
in the middle of the floor - and lighted up
with wonderfully vivifying radiance the
spotless linen and simple, pretty china
and glass; and also lighting up, but with
no glad reflection of radiance, the pale,
patient face of an elderly invalid lady,
who sat YEARLY behind the breakfast ser
vice-Mrs. Clarence, between whom and
her beautiful daughter Mable were still
traces of vivid, yet p~itifully faded resem-
blance.
fresh and irreproachable as to toilet, which
was a simple cambric wrapper, with dainty
dimity rufling at the neck.
Aud at one side sat Mable, her lovely
golden hair skewered with a long hairpin,
and her forehead dashed with crimping-
pins; her snowy morning dress solid and
semi-buttonless, wholly collarless, and her
tiny feet thrust into slovenly slippers.
Mrs. Clarence poured out the coffee as
she chatted with the girls, in her motherly,
interested way.
"Tell me all about the party last night,
children; you were SO good to come early"
Madge looked up brightly.
1T was delightful, mamma Forest
Lawn is an elegant place, and the COM
pany was well chosen"
Mable sat frowning Grossly at the steam
ing coffee.
Mamma, you know I perfectly hate
coffeel Why didn't you tell Bridget to
make chocolate? l shan't touch coffee
Gentle Mrs. Clarrence's face looked sud-
denly distressed.
Il am sorry, dear, if you are disap-
pointed, but Bridget was SO busy this
morning"
The ungracious voice broke in, harsh
ly-
"Then why didn't you make it YOURSELF"
Mrs. Clarence flushed, and she gave
another Of warning towards the open
door.
"What are you pantomiming about, for
heavens sake? Madge, it is laughsble to
see the angelic disgust on your lace"
. Madge went on with her breakfast
quietly.
IF my face shows my displeasure and
grief at the saucy way you speak to
mamma, it only betrays half what l feel.
Perhaps when you Know there is a stran-
ger in the kitchen, eating his breakfast
that Bridget gave him, and who hears
every word you say, you will be induced
to speak at least a triie more respectfully,
even if you don't mean it."
Mable's lip curled.
"What do you suppose l care for a
stranger? Mamma, am I to have my
chocolate or not? Bridget You lazy
thing, where's my chocolate 2"
And Bridget not being that second on
the spot to answer, Mable rushed angrily
out into the kitchen in search of her, to
find instead a rough-bearded, ragged
clothed man.
II don't see why you couldn't have
eaten your breakfast outside. The idea of
mamma being such IN idiot as to allow
beggars in the house Be quick as you
can, and get outl"
Evidently pretty Mable was in the pro-
verbal ill-humor that comes after a night