The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-24
MY SISTERS LOVER.

ing a soft wind, filled with summer
warmth and summer fragrance. The
trees in the garden werefull of bios
SONS. The early were in
bloom, but of all this | saw moth
ing. Ny gaze was fixed upon two
figures slowly walking down the
garden path-a man aud a woman
The man was tall. and strong,
and masterful. yet tender as a moth
er with her frs: born. gen lie as a
Girl in all the little acts and courte.
sizes of life. The woman was young
and very beautiful, with a figure
slender and swaying like a reed as
she walked. and dark, lnstrous eyes,
which brought to many a man his
hearts undoing.
| fancied the light in them now,
as she lifted them to Geoffry Brans-
combe's face. He was her guardian,
and he loved her. She was but my
half sister, five years my senior, and
90 I was not entitled To her conn
dence. Indeed, only a little month
apo | had returned from school, with
nv education completed, IN the
fashionable sense of the term, ami
since then | had been very Ill. Over
study. the doctor had said, but !
knew better. To my own soui
could whisper the humiliatn n! truth
could pour out the cruel confession
with a sort of savage pleasure at the
selfinhicted torture.
1t was my heart, not the body
that suffered the heart that had for
ever passed into Grotfry Brans
COMEDIES unconscious Keeping.
loved hlm-he who WIS to he my
sisters husband. If had never
suspected it l,efor-, | should have
known it by the new light III her
ewes. the new radianceof her beauty,
as it burst upon me on the day o'
my return.
And what could be natural
than that things should be as they
were? Did not guardians alwayf
love their wards, and wards their
guardians? -,
had never read a book which
treated of such a relationship IN
which such was not the sequel OF the
tale. And yet-and yet, did 1t make
1T easier for me TO bear?
l turned my gaze away from that
other picture, and lifted myself up
from the depths of the great chair
in which | lay, until ! could catch a
glimpse of my own face in the mir
ror opposite.
What a contrast My eyes, the
only beauty | possessed, looked
many times too large for the thin,
dark face; and my hair. which had
been the rival beauty to my eyes,
was close cropped to my head.
They had cut it off as | lay delir-
ious with fever, and crying that its
weight hurt me.
l sank back with a groan. At that
instant my sister, returning, entered
the room.
mabel" she cried-"Mabel, dar.
ling, 1 am so happy"
And rapidly crossing the floor. she
sank down on her knees beside my
chair.
The contrast was too great. Never
had | seen her half SO beautiful.
"Don't tell me-dOn't!" | hastily
exclaimed, and lifted up my hand.
as il to ward of a blow. Il know
continued. Il congratulate you:
but don't say any more.
You know, dear?" she answered,
. look of surprise sweeping over heI
face. "How is that possible?"
Don't ask me. Only, | know.
Blu: I could say no ore. My
weakness conquered my strength.
and I burst iato bitter weeping.
"Poor child! Dear little NJ btlf'
she whispered. tenderly. "Do you
lore me so well that you hate to
lose me? But you will not really
lose me, dear. When | atn married
~
"Hushf" | interrupted. Il woa1
hear any more" and sobbing bitter
ly, buried my face in my hands.
OF course no heroine would have
done such thing; but ! was no hero
inc. I was only a foolish child, who
had lived but eighteen years, and
who could only look forward to a
long. long life of lonely misery-fol
Z loved Geoffry.
He had not meant to make me
love hin-I know that; but whea ]
had come home for my Christmas
Aoiidays, Alice had been away on IA
visit, and SO | had seen him every
day. We had rsdden, and driven
and walked together, and, as | have
sxid, his manner held that uncon
scious and inherent tenderness to-
ward things weaker than himself
which had charmed my heart iuta
recklessly pouring forth its un.
needed treasures at his feet.
Ny excitement in depressing all
this, and seeing the seal set upon my
misery, brought its own punish
ment. For a week my life was again
despaired OF.
Then, because I did not wish the
boon. strength came slowly back
Every day he came; every day he
sent me flowers, or fruit, or some
sweet message; but it was all MI
added torture.
At last, when / grew better, the
physicians said Unjust have change
and SO they sent me 10 the seaside
to visit an aunt who had a house a,
Worthipg.
] was glad to go. Had 1 stayed
At home, / should have gone mad
Alice and Mr.. Branscombe went with
me to the train. l had babe hel
good-by, and the train was Just
about to start, when he put his head
in through the window.
"You will let me come and see
yoa," he said, and | had only Tins
70 answer.
No. no; You must not GOMEZ"
Only time for this, and to note
the swift look, SO like pain, which
swept over hiss face, ere he moved
awayy, and my last glimpse was o.
them both standing side by side, a.
they should hencefor:h Sta nd
Sk-crA 1.f