Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-07-11

eligible m9n- In the greater glory of
his brothers beauty and prestige, frank
faced, dark-eyed John Lester was COM
pletely overshadowed, and almost for
gotten until q wiley matron, whose
younger daughter had angled in vain for
the handsome Harry, suddenly remem-
bered seeing the younger Mr.. Lester in
company with that forward mink at the
farmhouse-you know the one / mean"
to her special conddant, Mrs. Eugene
Fairfax the girl that passes here so
often. [ believe somebody invited her
to the hop Saturday night"
ooh, you mean that EdIe Lawrence!
I have heard of her-an lncorrigible
firt; she and John Lester have been a
good deal together, but it is evident to
me that she is using him as a tool; of
course 1t would be only natural that
Harry should join his brother once in a
while; trust me for it, John Lester will
be thrown over, as the men say, when
once MS handsome brother is fairly
caught.
Mrs. Fairfax evidently hit upon an
unusual true version of her neighbours
love affairs, for barely a week later John
Testers place at the table was vacant
one morning, and his brother acknowl-
edged that he mad left.
Miss Lawrence's mother went by the
evening train, and her elder daughter,
OpkeGa. came down TO take her place,
and play cnaperope to Edie. Miss Ophe-
LA Lawrence, rather quiet and retiring,
with steady, gray eyes, and kind, pleas
ant face, good, rather than beautiful, was
regarded as a good deal of an old maid,
and not, by any means, to be feared as
a rival by the ladies Of the west end;
therefore she was rather more of fav-
orite than her pretty younger sister.
E3ie came into the house one night
humming a lively tune; Ophelia sus-
pected that she had not been alone.
Who was that with you, Edith %
she asked very gravely.
:" Mr.. Lester" vas the reply. Gle
would not come IN
Did you walk with him last evening
also ?" inquired Ophelia.
Yes, . said Edie, little impatiently,
AMI her sister said no more.
But later, when they were alone in
the chamber they shared together, Ope-
la returned to the subject.
Aren't you 2 great deal with Mr..
Lester, lately, EdIe ~
Edie didn't know; was she?
eyes; and people notice it, dear; they
say he IS flirting with you.
Edith laughed little.
"Do they? How silly"
81 know it is foolish, but I don't like
to have it said of you, my sister, per-
sisted Ophelia. "Only tonight I heard
Mrs. Dayton say to Miss Shewel that
you were his latest conquest. You know
he has the reputation of being a hirt,
Eide; that most despicable thing-a
male firt !"
Edith's blue eyes flashed dangerous
ly.
fAnd the world, including Mrs. Day
ton, has at times been good enough to
apply the same epithet tome - she said,
with curling lips and an assumption of
haUghtiness that was just a trife over
acted. "Yet you do not manifest any
great alarm for the safety of Mr.. Les
ter's peace.
Because your natural gayety and
freedom of manner are far enough from
flirting; no one thinks it of you; but Mr..
Lester"
Don't be goose" yawned Edith.
'Let's go to Sleep
Ophelia gave up the subject with a
troubled sigh. Her sisters happiness
was very dear TO her, and her own ex-
perience warned her of flirting men.
She was a practical woman of 90 now,
and had little to do with the romantic
side of life; but she had the memory of
the time when her heart was as light and
her life as full Of romance as Edith's
own; a time that had vanished years
ago, when she lost faith in the man who
had won her girlish love for the pastime
OF a summer holiday, and then cast it
aside when he was weary of it. No
wonder her heart was heavy when she
thought Of like fate for her sister.
And what could she do to avert that
fate?
Opheia Lawrence was wise, but when
did a happy-hearted girl ever profit by
the experience of disappointed elder
sister? The very next morning Edith
went out sailing with Harry Lester.
They were only summer visitors at this
pleasant watering place. Edith had
been there month, and it was her first
meeting with either of the Messrs. Les
ter; but Opheia had once met Mr..
Harry Lester in town, knew the world
called him consummate hirt, and she
had heard good deal of the same talk
down here. It was two or three years
since she had seen him, but even now
she remembered the bluff, hearty, un-
conventional way he had; just the oppo-
site of what one would naturally expect
to find with man who prided himself
on the idle conquest of women's hearts,
but ali the more dangerous, perhaps, for
that very reason; and she recalled with
a sigh, as she thought of Edith. how
the wonderful charm of voice and man
ner haunted her hours after be was
away.
Mr.. Lester was very attentive to
Edith when they met; he would always
take her out sailing, or even riding once
or twice. and come to the door, or gate,
rather, of the house with her, as IN duty
bound; but he never came in, and
Ophelia had never known him to call at
the house and pay aYisit once in a while,