The Delaware ledger., 1883-09-29
My Sisters Lover.

\ ho hhcheh VI A'ANJ NNAA A'J
half-epen window came stealing soft
wind, filled with summer warmth and
summer fragrance. The trees in the
garden we're full of blossoms. The
early roses were in bloom, but of all
this | saw nothing. My gaze was fixed
upon two figures slowly walking down
the garden path--a man and woman.
The man was tall, and strong, and
masterful, yet tender as mother with
her first-born, gentle as a girl in all the
little acts and courtesies of life. The
woman was young and very beautiful,
with figure slender and swaying like
a reed as she walked, and dark, lus-
trous eyes, which brought to many
man his hearts undoing.
/ fancied the light in them now, as
she lifted them to Geoffry Branscombe's
face. He was her guardian, and he lowed
her. She was but my half sister, five
years my senior, and so was not entitled
to her confidence. Indeed, only a little
month ago had returned from school,
with my education completed, in the
fashionable senJe Of the term, and since
then had been very i'll. Over-study,
the doctor had said, but / knew better.
To my own soul l could whisper the
humiliating truth, could pour out the
cruel confession, with sort Of savage
pleasure at the self-inficted torture.
1t was my heart, Lot the body, that
suffered-the heart that had forever
passed into Geoffry Branscombe's un-
conscious keeping. l loved him-he
who was to be my sisters husband.
If | had never suspected it before,
should have known it by the new light
in her eyes, the new radiance of hel
beauty, as it burst upon me on the day
of my retnrn,
And what could be more natural thai
that things should be as they were
Did not guardians always love thei
wards, and wards their guardians.
had never read book which treate'
of such relationship in which sue
was not the sequel of the tale. An
yet-and yet, did it make it easier fo
me to bear.
1 turned my gaze away from tina
other picture, and lifted myself up fror
the depth of the great chair in which
lay, until could catch glimpse of m
own face in the mirror opposite.
, What contrast My eyes, the onl
= beauty possessed, looked many timt
: too large for the thin, dark face an
p my hair, which had been the riv
= beauty to my eyes, was close cropped
: my head.
= They had cut it off as lay deliriol
: with fever, and crying that its weigl
s hurt me.
e sank back, with groan. AT tn
IS instant my sister, returning, enter
10 the room.
''Mabel, -" she mabel, darlin
n am 80 happy !"
d And rapidly crossing the floor, s
d sank down on her knees beside I
I'd chair.
ry The constrast was too great. NeN
at had | seen her half 50 beautiful.
or Don't tell me-don'tp ~ l hast
ht exclaimed and lifted up my hand, as
X to ward off blow, 81 know" l ct
1t. tinued. 81 congratulate you; but do
mt say any more.
nd "You know dearp" she answered
he look of surprise sweeping over her ia
Dle "HOw is that possible ?"
an "Don't ask me. Only, know. l.
nd But could say no more. My we
The ness conquered my strength, and | bl
ich into bitter weeping.
'ct. "Poor child Dear little Mabe
in she whispered, tenderly. "Do you
'os- me so well that you hate to lose L
But you will not really lose me d
her When l am married"
,ter "Hush ~ l interrupted. 81 W
be hear any more" and, sobbing bite
her. buried my face in my hands.
us OF course no heroine would have
our such thing, but l was no heroine
for was only foolish child, who had |
tant but eighteen years, and could only
har- forward to a long, long life of 10
lout misery-for loved Geoffry.
IT to He had not meant to make me
con- him-I know that but when !
for come home for my Chistmas holt
pain Alice had been away on visit, ant
had seen him every day. Wehad ri
and driven, and walked together,
mite as have said, his manner held III
i s--l....ax.A tcIadaa-Ia 10