Daily Republican., 1881-04-15
MY SISTER AND I.
BY KATE 4. JORDAN.
I'VE were two sisters of one race.
She was the ialreSt in the face.

. | standing III one Dl the windows
of our quaint, country house, looking
ont at the moving, glistcning waters,
with thoughtful eyes In my black hair
: fern leaves had gathered in the woods,
were twisted,
"Why didn't sgd come right home
from school without stopping whole
month in New York, at Minnie
Darcy ." my brother Harry, standing
I a little way off, impaticntly remarks.
The house does not seem like itself
without her, I'm as happy as a piper
that she is coming hom" to-day !"
"Do you miss her so much :" ask
cd carelesSly, only hall reused from my
revcric: you have not been home 50 long
yourself.
"Well, here's three weeks Of my vacsl-
tion gone, and cannot say We had a
real days fun in the whole three
There is no one to equal sgd Shed
warm the heart Of u cucumber fried in
snow, she is such jolly little thing -
My heart is stirred to its core by his
words. raise my head aud look across
nj him anXionsly, a red spot burns on
either cheek aS hold ont my hands.
'DO vOu love Sidney so much "' |
asked, jealouSly; ''you have another sis
tcr-am | nothing to you? Harry
aud | Stcn nearer, with something OF II
sob in my voice, chow is it, 81 few love
me" Perhaps you can tell. know !
am not as pretty as Sydney, but still
women who are far less good looking
than |, have won hearts without any
trouble. am counted brilliant, rather
handsome, have nauY friends of the
cold, tashionabl" sort, but there is not
one-nOt omr-who loves me truly and
entirely, and in who,c heart hold the
first place.
Why Nell," he exclaimed, with Il
marry laugh, "What has come over
yOu2 out in the cold world with
non" to pity or carrSs, is that it, Why
have you forgotten that Francis Brown
asked you to marry him last week.
He WAS III love with my prospective
fortune, Harry; not with me have
never had u sincere proposal from any
man who loved me for myself alone"
"lIavr you forgotten" he continues,
''that Frank Lawrence is your devoted
| slave"
"IIe is not" answer, u sharp bitter
ness ringing in my voice. Frank Law
| lti'tt ''tl'S hhlHillS l"i HI'j DtSoll'l W.
| ing my friend"
| leave the room as | speak, before he
| can give me the answer he is searching
his puzzled brains for,
And it was ~ all my life Since
early childhood | had only half won
any heart for my own. had always
been reserved and proud, sometimes
called sarcastic and naughty by stran !
gers, but possessed of the power Of
loving passionatcly, with my whole
heart, the few dear ones who influenced |
my life
did not care much, as went on my |
way indifferent and happy, that 10
lover, such ;LS every girl dreams OF, had |
as yet sought my hand but the pain
came came at last, when met at Il |
masked bali, one winter night, the man |
| was destined 10 love, 10 the sacrificing |
Of all my life's happiness. He was
dressed us IL knight, the long, white
plumeS overShadowing his deep, hazel |
eyes and the blue velvet cloak thrown |
calrlcSSly back He became in truth |
my knight, the hero Of all my widest |
dreams.
That was only seven short months |
ago, but in the time intervening |
learned to know him well. Vet never |
by Il single word or glance had Frank |
Lawrence cvinccd the slightest lOv4 Dior
me; he was my friend, true. firm one
| believed, but giving me tricndShn
when | longed for love, seemed like
offering Il hungry soul the traditional
stone for IL piece of bread.
As stood thinking by the window of
= !
saw the dog-Gart, containing my father
and Sydney, rolling slowly toward me
between the trees.
She was standing up in the carriage,
her face flushed u radiant pink, one
grey-gloved hand shading her eyes, as
she looked eagerly toward the house.
a pain, sudden and swift as cruel
stab, shoots through my heart at sight
of her! Suppose Lawrence, who has as
yet never seen her, grows to love Sydney.
! clcnch my hands tightly, my lips feel
whit and drawn.
at must never be"' ! cay, in a voice
wholly unlike my own. "Oh, anything
but that"
| adored Sydney as much as did
everyone who knew her--whO could
help loving my honny sister? but felt
that if Frank l4aWerncr gave her the
| had longrd TO, in vain, it
would make me hat" her! I
"Tell your fortunes, my pretty ladies?
Let the poor gipsy cross your palm with i
silver, and show yon the future, whcth- I
er bright or sad. Tell ynurt0rtunes. my ;
pretty ladies'"
Frank Lawrence drew Sylney's hand
quickly through his arm, and turned (
down the path leading ont,3f the wood |
we were in. .
"Never mind her, Sydney. COME 5
Harry. Nell, it's getting late; tell the 7
others to hurry too! There ) NJ Montyorn- a
cry gaing in another direction. I
Harry and followed slowly, the rest
1f the Darty bringingup the rear, white i
the gypsy kept persistently by my '
side.
"Wait one moment Frankr' Sydney r
'aid persuasively, her gray eyes shin c
ng out 9tarlike from beneath the brim | i
If her a:road hat. 'l'Il have my for v
mne toE just for fun, never iaave, as. II
Jet"
"It's al nonsense" Frank says with 4
smile :.
'But nonsense Is pleasant some "
lines she answers gayly, and turn
ng, holds out her smooth palm to I
he gypy. "You can tell mine, please. a
But, with merry tinkle cf girlish o,
angh, "dont prophecy the future too "A,
ismally." b
The d woman looked steadily do wn m
rossing the delicate lines with piece G,
f silver, and we all stood around watch
lg; some curiously, myself one of the al
umher Harry, with broad grin, and &c
.awernce smiling amusedly.
"Yeu ara veE happy now ;"she COLE lie
.enccs in low grooming voice: "you
We for the first TIME, and your love is W
Aurned, though you do not guess it. qr
onr lovers eyes are dark and deep,
Ike the sea ; but when he looks at you pa
ley smile, he loves you So" She rails tic
har hand and Inak q stnoIilv in mn, ,x.,