New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-03-21


But, look ye! What's that. Liz, that burns On
the fire?
It's the ribbon Jim bought you, AZ, y. Lii,
-[san Francisco News.Lstass.
A SISTERS SACRIFICE.
She was little thing, and pretty % .
picture great laughing grey eyes, soft
brown hair, pink-and-white skin, pearly
teeth, and the hands and feet of fairy.
She sat at the feet of . white-haired
old lady, daintily holding in her dainty
hands two caskets-one Of ANTIQUE an
pearancc, containing . set Of pearls
more than two hundred years old; tho
other OF modern times, scintillating
with superb set of diamonds.
'.They are both his gift; but which
shall wear, Aunty Ruthven7' she sud-
denly asked, lifting her eyes 'front.'
jewels to the old lady's lovely face.
''Do try to think which he would wish
me to select. Idowant to please him!'
she concluded with pretty blush and
laugh; land, since you have been like
mother to him all these years, you
ought to know something Of his tastes. "
The old lady laughed, stroking the
silken hair lovingly.
''And have not been mother to
you all?'' she asked; land have not
you had good opportunities to discover
his fastest"
you have, you dear saint!' cried
the girl, drawing down the soft white
hand and kissing it fervently. 'And I
suppose ought to say yes to the last
question, but-but somehow it seems to
me never fathomed Oswald tastes.
Somehow I feel SO shy with him-he
seems so far, SO very far above me-"
She spoke with mingling Of tender
pride and gentle regret, and the old
lady replied hastily:
Nonsense, my pet; he is not the least
above you! Don't spoil him by putting
that notion into his head. But let me
settle the vexed question. Go down to
the library and ask him You are sure
to find him there at this hour
The girls lovely face flushed bright
~. would you?' she asked shyly,
would you reallyp'
Really, my dear" smiled the old
lady fondly.
Very prettily, very softly. very shy
" did Leah Clifford open the library
door and look into the room. As she
had intimated to Mrs. Ruthven, she
was good deal in awe of her grave,
handsome lover; and it was something
Of an ordeal to face him with the two
caskets and ask the momentous cues
ton.
But as she blushingly glanced into
the room, she forgot the gewgaws in
her hand. First wild surprise dilated
the great grey ewes then an awful ter
ror darkened in them; then such Voc!
such an awful, speechless woe!-a
woe that set her charming features In
the paleness and rigidity Of death.
Like . carved image she stood glar-
ing at the scene before her, incapable
of speech or motion. It was strange
scene for . mans promised bride to
gaze upon.
Near the window, plainly visible in
the early dusk, stood two figures tho
figure of her promised husband, Oswald
Liscomb, and the figure Of her own
twin sister, Rachel Clifford.
| The mans cheek rested tenderly
against the brown head pressed to his
breast, and torrent Of passionate
words rushed from his lips-words in
! stinct with tender anguish and pathetic
| despair-words that declared only too
! plainly that one sister possessed his
| promise, the other his love.
! Suddenly breath fluttered shudder-
ingly across the white lips Of Leah. It
10 No
faltering stop into the room and then -
quickly drew back and closed the door
as noiselessly as she had opened it.
/ In the hall she paused. staring with q
dazed horror straight before her. But
an opening door and the entrance-of :
servant to light the hall startled her in
to fright.
Still grasping the caskets, she flew
up the wide stairway and into her own
chamber. Locking the door behind her
she sank in . stony despair upon . lit
tie couch drawn close to the blazing
CRATE.
.'And tomorrow night am to be his
i bride! she gasped in hollow tones.
4.his bride!''
The caskets slipping from her nerve
less clasp to the rug drew her eyes from
the rudy Goals.
With clenched hands she sat gazing
ct them, the image Of stony despair.
l. Time slipped by minute BY minute
till an hour had passed. The Ginning
timepiece and the light zap Of her maid
aroused her. She arose and opened
the door.
"Oh, Miss Leah, I knew you must be
all in the dark, = exclaimed the girl.
shut did not like to disturb you. Mrs..
Ruthven said she fancicd you would
wish to be alone. .
.'Mrs. Ruthven was right, Beta y
answered Leah. .'But now / am ready
to be dressed. and you must do your
best tonight. .
And Beta promised, wondering q the
strange sound Of the sweet voice, and
the strange whitensss Of the face On
which the lights she carried fell.
But no one noticed any change IN hee
| when later she descended to the draw
ing-room, dressed for the late dinner.
A touch Of rouge simulated the usual
lovely damask 81 her cheeks, and her
eyes were like stars In their brilliancY.
/ il her gaiety had . tribe Of rostleoeueoa
81 4, no ono wondered.
Vas not il her Last night q msidss
/ lnsdomi
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