The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-12-09

Certainly Lieutenant st. Charles was
not in his sisters good grace when she
called him Robert. But he bravely ex-
ecuted coup de main.
''For yourself, my dear Effie."
Mrs. Dick could not but thaw as she
| received the fragrant burden.
Perfectly lovely! aren't they, Elinor?
Of course you haven't lost your dinner.
Bob. The cook had orders to keep a
dish or two hot. And, when you have
dined, come and join us in the arbor."
But it seemed as if Mrs. Dick was
right-the golden opportunity had been
lost; the happy first impression had not
| been made. Robert was without his
| usual gallant bearing in Miss Paxton's
presence. and Elinor was quietly civil.
Mrs. Dick was vexed beyond endur-
| ance. What made Bob SO stupid, and
Nelly SO Indifferent? 1t wasn't in the
nature of things for handsome young
man and beautiful girl to be never the
| least bit agreeable to each other for
whole week. But il was all Bob's fault,
she declared to her husband, who
laughed at the misfortunes of her match
| making.
And at last Etinor's visit came to an
end. Mrs. Dick was too vexed with Bob
her guest. She went herself, and when
| she came back, she fell to reproaching
her brother
Il don't see why you didd't like Mel
ly, Bob. I never knew man before
who didn't. You can't have very good
TASTE"
Bob, smoking on the verandah, re-
ceived her remarks with provoking calm
ness.
"You wouldn't have all masculine
creation at swords point about Miss Pax
ton, would you?" he said. 1t is wise
dispensation of Providence, I think, that
tastes differ"
'But you might have cut out the
others if you had tried, Bob; know you
| might! But after your first neglect
Nelly was quite interested in you until
| then-she appeared to be perfectly in
different. And I'm sure you didn't try
| to make her otherwise. / never knew
you SO stupid" and Mrs. Dick retired
from the scene of action, leaving her
| brother to the coming moonlight and his
| cigar.
| Now, though Mrs. Dick quarreled so
| seriously with her handsome brother he
was the apple of her eye. and all might
have been forgiven, If not forgotten, if
events had not subsequently transpireo
| to break her heart anew.
| Bob, immaculate IN Sunday morning
costume, a few days later, firted from
his breast u handkerchief OF perfumed
cambria, and blue ribbon dropped to
the floor.
The air with which he bent and re-
stored to its hiding-place would have re-
vealed the truth had not the ribbon
been SO unmistakably feminine in char
acter.
| Mrs. Dick caught her breath. Not
only had Bob failed to fall in love with
Elinor Paxton, but had actually fallen
in love with another woman!
Though this was too much for Mrs.
Dix to bear witkout demonstration,
and though she said nothing to her
brother, she related the whole story of
| Bob's vile behavior to her husband, who,
however, only laugi ed at her, and Mrs.
Dick was forced to make confident of
Elinor herself.
She wrote her the whole account of
her hopes and plans; her secret wishes
and bitter disappointments, and des-
patched the letter forthwith to Elinor's
city residence.
But Elinor was apparently too busy at
the beginning of the season to write a
| reply. No response came. But it was
greet relief to Mrs. Dick to be sure
that Nelly knew and sympathized with
her.
| She bore her grief in silence, even
when she became aware that Bob re-
ceived the dantiest OF letters every
week.
If the little lady had not. with all
her faults, been the soul of honor, she
might have read them, for she actually
saw them, tied with q. satin ribbon, in
the top drawer of Bob's dressing case.
Il Poor little Mrs. Dick she actually lost
flesh and color, this disappointment was
SO serious one to her. She really loved
Elinor Paxton, as she dearly loved Bob; /;
she would have been delighted to call
her sister, and to have strange woman
come to Dale park as her brothers wife
for Bob never firted-would be life
long grief to her.
But in November Bob went to the city
for few weeks and did not notice his
sisters indisposition.
She was feeding the birds in the
, aviary, one day, when a servant brought
her letter. It was from Bob. She
tore it open.
my DEAR SIsTER:-Shall | surprise
you by news of my marriage, which
took place this morning? It was rather
sudden affair, and my wife and will be
a fortnight here before returning to Dale
park. Be ready with your most gushing
welcome, for !, at least, am fairly light
headed with happiness. Your affection
, brother. BOB.
Mrs. Dick turned snow-white and near
" sank upon the grass.
"Marriedi Bob really married."
Her excited feelings and sorrow of
heart found relief in burst of tumultu-
j ous weeping. You would have pitied
poor little Mrs. Dick, am sure, had you
seen the tears running between her slen-
i der fingers-seen her pretty bowed head
and heaving bosom.
! But when she had wept off the first
J excitement, the little lady did her best
to behave in a dignifed and suitable
manner as Bob's sister aud only living
relative. She wrote to him, and If the
letter did not '.gush. it was courteous
and cordial as well as correct-consider-
ed in the light of first congratulations >
If Bob missed something from this epis.
, tie of his spontaneous little sister, he yet
, kept up good courage in view of meeting
her.
II At last the bridal pair arrived
The rich fall garden had all faded; the
, fountains were shut off; the landscape
] was sad as Mrs. Dicks secret heart al
} she dressed and went down to the draw;