The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-06-16
A WOMAN'S GIFT.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

had just come uOWn SldlTe lIeoH d"
Hebe, and pink-cheeked as the roses
offragrant hyacinth bells in the south
window, where the sunshine had got
ten into such hopeless tangle with
the ivy vines and rosebuds and feath-
er spray of fern. Very pretty girls
they were, in delicate womanly
fashion although nobody would ever
have been reminded by them of the
Venus de Medici, and not an artist
had ever thought of asking them to
sit for a Madonna. 1t is the every.
day style of beauty that wears best,
and Lisa and Cora sighed for nothing
rarer or more precious.
$50 he has failed, has he? said
Cora to her uncle, who had just been
promulgating the news Of the day
from behind his newspaper. "What
a pity! and he was so nice and agree
able"
"Failed Mr.. Kirkwood !" echo
ed Lisa, her rosy cheeks losing a
shade or so Of its satin bloom. "Oh,
uncle, how did that happen ?"
GAS most failures happen, my
DEAR" said Mr.. Segrist, folding up
his paper and leaving his spectacles
on one side, preparatory to the morn
ing meal. Too much press Of cam
vass, and too little ballast. Some
people will meyer learn wisdom,
Yes. it is a pity; he was good young
fellow enough, and this will throw
him back a good twenty years."
Lisa sat thinking, her pansy blue
eyes fixed intently on the pattern Of
the table cloth, her red lips apart, un-
til her sisters clear bird-like voice
reused her from the temporary ab-
straction.
"Upon my word, Lisa" the elder
cried merrily, 81 do believe you are
III a trance. Why don't you answer
my que9lloh
Lisa started, both cheeks suddenly
crimsoning.
"I-I was only thinking, Cora.
What was it you asked me?"
About our ball dresses for to-mOr-
row evening. | think punches of sill
yer barley would be prettier to loop
them up than the commonplace roses.
Everybody wears roses"
"Oh, Cora" cried downright Liza,
show can you talk about bal! dresses
when-when you remember who was
to have taken you there? ?"
"Mr, Kirkwood ?" said Cora calm
ly, "Of course he'll not go now. but
we can easily send for Cousin
George"
"Then you really mean to go?"
"Ofcourse; Why shouldn't L? Sure
ly, Lisa, you can't expect me to go
into mourning because Guy Kirk
wood has failed? He was no relative
Of ours"
81 think he loved you, Cora" said
Lisa, in low voice; land you
thought so too"
"He must learn to unloye me,
then" said the elder sister, with a
musical little laugh. "Mr. Kirk
wood the successful merchant was
very well, but Mr.. KirkWOOd the
beggar cannot expect to indulge in
the luxury Of wife. OF course that
is over, for good and ALL"
And Cora calmly poured out sec
ond cup of coffee for her uncle.
but, Cora" pleaded her sister, "it
isn't as if you yourself were poor.
You know we will have a little
money of our own"
"Veiy true, wise Lisa but / mean
to keep my own to myself, and not
spend it in bolstering up the ruined
fortune of any unlucky speculator.
No, no, child; my husband must
bring money of his own, not be a
drain on my slender resources.
Lisa shook her head.
"That sounds very worldly" said
she.
"Does it? Now | think it has the
-sensical sound to it. People
must look at these things from
practical point of view."
"Uncle!" cried Lisa, almost pas
sionately, don't you think she ought
to like him all the better because he
is In trouble and need ?"
"My dear, my dear" said the old
gentleman composedly, crumbling
up bit Of dry toast on his plate, II
can't pretend to Judge of these things.
You girls must manage to settle your
own affairs between you"
"My mind is quite made up al
ready" said Cora Segrist calmly.
And when poor Guy Kirk woods
card came up that afternoon to the
room where the two sisters were ar
ranging the lunches of silver barley
ears that Madame Fichu, the milli-
ner, had just sent round in "a mann