The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-04-21

verses, though he could not pear as YET
to frame or exhibit a certain picture OF a
rosy-pale girl in an old-time blue gown,
leaning against window full of gerani,
ums.
When Achsa returned that night it was
with merry look of sly questioning; but
Deborahs face was unresponsive she
only looked pale and tired. Days went
Oh while she grew paler; her bright smile
was not so ready her gay voice so quick
to jest. All the lovely autumn went by
and the early winter, and Achsa seemed
anXiously expecting some one or some
thing, which never came. When Christ
mas had come and gone, however, with
no sign, Achsa, watching the hopeless
look which had grown in Deborah's eyes,
ut last blurted out her question. 'Deb-
orah, did-that Mr.. Clifford never say
anythtHg before he went away Y
''Never,' answered Deborah, with a
little sigh quickly repressed,
"Well, then. he's a mean snide," an
swered Achsa, which was her depth of
reprobation, expressed in the strongest
words her school girl vocabulary afforded.
The winter dragged on and in March
Deborah bestirred herself to contrive a
Sprlng ''suit'' for Achsa. One cold snowy
day she sat by the wood fire in the hall
surrounded by paper patterns, pins, ma
terials, and cOntrivances, working sOberly
enough with her dett little hands, when
Achsa, who had recovered her brightness
after expressing her opinion Of Clifford,
came merrily in, a mass Of snow.
please, Achsa, to 90 and drip in the
Kitchen" said her sister, which Achsa
unwillingly did, but could not resist pop
ping her curly head in the door to say,
"Oh, Dipsey, have such an idea -
Dry at last she danced in TO embrace
Deborah and develop her idea.
"Dipsey dear" she said, ''you know
grandmother's reticule ,"
Deborah nodded.
"Well, they're all the fashion; every
body is to wear them. Ella Hartman
has an embroidered satin one that was
her aunt's: but ours is ever somuch pret
tier, and was our real grandmother's.
Now, you dear old Dipsey, mayn't | wear
it, and line it with the blue bits from my
dress? Those marvellous flowers will 90
with anything, you know"
The decoration Of herpet was Deborah 5
only thought, 50 she obediently laid down
the pale blue breadths. and fetched the
old bead bag.
lit has been lined with cardinal almost
like your ribbons" she said slipping her
hand down among the rags which had
once been thick satin lining. II have
not seen it since last summer when the
keys wore it out so, and had nothing to
refine it, Why"
Deborah stopped. In Il slit Of the rag
ged lining her fingers touched Il folded
paper
Miss Deborah I.stey," she read
"What can this be ?
AchSa sprang up to see, but Deborah
recognized the careless scrawl, and turned
away from her curious eyes. But .\chsa
read it after all, for with little cry OF
pain and joy, Deborah dropped it to lay
her head down on the cold beads and
burst into tears.
''les, | remember," she said, after q
while, drying her eyes, ''hc stood near me
and was looking at the old bag that last
day, but didn't know he put it in and
with sudden impulse she kissed the ret
iculc, blushing beautifully, though Achsa
was not looking,
"Oh," !" was that young woman's brief
comment, $50 he wasn't snide, aftel
all Aren't you glad ?"
Glad she might have been, but it was
sorrowtul gladness, an attermirth OF
comfort full Of thorns. for what could she
doo
aren't YOU going to write him." in
Qured Achsa.
NO" said Deborah, gently and gravely
Nor send him any word :"
"NO."
'Going to let him think YOU don't
care p
'IIaven't | thought all this time he
didn't care ?" cried Deborah, passionatelv
''Eumph." said Achsa, 'but she can't
keep me from writing"
And never had she taken 50 much
trouble over pen, paper, or handwriting
as she did over little note she wrote OF
the sly that night 10y freight and postet
on her way to school in the morning.
For week or more she wore a face OF
mischievous expectation, and dropped
mysterious hints after that her face be-
gan to grow long, and the mischief dice
out Of it. She had long time to wait
ior al answer TO nel letter ana 10 WoTdef
lof inns was It's aooress:
Nix. HrGo CIlFroEp,
M Artist New York
Needless to say that Clifford was moi
famous, and he had moved, besides; sc
after some Wanderngs, Achsa's note
found its way to the Dead-letter Office
and was there opened IN the search for
clue to the writer, or the one to whom il
was addressed. But the clerk who open
ed it had never seen more puZzling let
ter. 1t was dated simply
MARCH Is, is.
DEAh MIR CLlFFoAD, Deborah has Just to-day
aouhu te no,e you put IN fandnorhe[ rellcn5e M ne
is s yery 1, fond Of YOU You and she thought YOU ddn,
care, and had gone away without saying anything
on purpose. And | thought you were an "apf."
1e" % o mes sban oI' arh Siaa no" y"" are not ana
remain Yours truly AcusA
P S Deborah is 50 thin :