The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-07-12
MY COMPENSATION,
BY ETTIE ROGERS.

/ fear.
"Why?" my young sister echoed as
she put down her little Venus mirror,
and turned toward me in slow surprise.
Because he has always seemed SO de-
voted to you; and because, Rhoda, I
could never really fancy you caring for
anybody else," she explained soberly.
"Indeedp l commented impatiently.
Aud no other could be so entirely
worthy Of you" Trixy persisted earn
estly. He is SO gentle, and upright
and constant. There is nothing so
noble in manhood as constancyi" she
added with sudden fine enthusiasm.
Il wonder you do not try to fasci-
nate the gentlemen whom you seem to
appreciate SO very much" / said I'M
graciously.
Have I not just said that he is
loyal-with rare and noble LOYALTY %
she answered with emphasis, and in a
pretty, injured way.
Trixy had some pronounced notions
of her own, evidently. In many things
perhaps my sister was an odd girl-a
charming mystery, bewitching incon-
sistency of sense and sentiment, of can
dor and reserve, of mockery and earn
estness.
Just then she looked intensely seri-
GUS; and incomparably lovely, too, in a
marvellous evening dress of some soft
black tissue with great fire opal at her
throat, ard pale yellow rose in the
low coil OF her jetty hair. There was
tender little pout on her coral red
bps, and an indignant sparkle in the
splendor of her big black eyes.
Have l not said that he is loyaI?"
she observed. "And has he not always
loved you, Rhoda2"
He has never assured me of any
such attachment" l said, feeling slight
ly uncomfortable and altogether I'M
amiable. And Noel K1ngley happens
to be my fiancee."
what is he ike-your Mr.. Kingley p"
she inquired presently.
Trixy was only transient and in
frequent guest in the simple, plain old
house where I had always lived with
our grandmother; her real home was
far away with wealthy and childless
relative, who had gladly adopted nv
lovely sister when we were left father
less and motherless. The serene monot-
oHy of my existence was very different
from Trlxy's brilliant life with the rich
aunt, who adored and INDUCED her;
and she seemed almost too fine and
dainty for our grandmamma's modest
abode, with its tiny rooms and quaint
ornaments. But l was very fond of
her, and DESTROYS that she should suffi-
GENTLY appreciate my lover, whom she
had never met.
And l was decidedly proud of my be-
trothed; his manners were courtly; he
was an excellent musician; he waltzed
divinely; and he was as handsome as
an Adonis. 1 had wondered some
times, why he had selected for his wife
a girl so plain and insignificant as N.Y.
self.
oh, Noel is quite perfect" 1 said
boastfully, to Trixy; "and he loves me
to distraction. Even you my irresist-
1bie sister, could not lure from him one
smile that might be disloyal to me-"
That is not challenge, surely?" she
said, in a kind of shocked, diverted
way.
IF yoa are pleased to decide So" 7
replied, rashly and somewhat defiantly.
She regarded me for a moment with
doubtful expression, as if in commits
seratlon for my irritable mood; then
she bent and touched my frowning
brows lightly with her warm coral ips.
IF the affection of your Mr.. Kingley
ls worth having, he could not afford
any other girl in the whole universe one
single glance that would mean faith
lessness to you" she said, with energy.
just then unsteady modulated
voice made itself audible from grand
mamma's little drawing-room below
my lover had come, and, directly, Trixy
and went down to receive him.
lie started In surprised admiration as
he beheld the radiant creature beside
me; and upon his clear-cut, high bred
features cane swift and singular look.
such as | had never perceived there be-
fore. That look was brief and undefina-
BILE, but it was sufficiently significant to
me, although [ was neither a person fan
clful nor suspicious, nor uncommonly
acute.
1t has been claimed that women never
reason, that they only feel; perhaps
their unreasonlng instincts may partake
OF the propheticl However it may be,
L felt in that short moment that Noel
would never be quite the same to me
again; that l should never again quite
believe that his heart was wholly in nv
keeping.
But through all the disquietude and
pain that followed, 1 never in the least
blamed my too lovely sister. Never
once did Trixy do aught to lure him
from his allegiance to me. Her manner
toward him was ever cold, almost to in
civlllty; ln~his presence she affected
w1ntry smiles, uncompromising reserve
or sort of bored silence that certainly
was not fattering.
nor vexed.
you need not affect to dislike me SO
much. Alterations of no kind ever i'm
pose upon me; and I understand well
enough what all your little repellent as
symptoms are intended to conceal" he
said to her one day.
They were standing at the far end of
the long, low parlors, and Trixy had
Just arisen from the jangling old piano.
Noel had just come in, and before his
entrance she had been singing blithely
as summer bird, pausing occasioniy
for bit of merry raillery with Mr..
Roland, who was helping me with some
atrociously tangled skeins of knitting
silk. But Noel'sc oming had silenced
all the mirth and music, and my lovely
young sister had become as cold as an
image of stone.
know well enough what all your
little assumptions are intended to con-
ceal,' he said meaningly, in restrained
tones, that were scarcely audible to me
as l sat at the opposite end of the long,
narrow rooms.
| MIR. Roland glanced at me knowing
| ly, but proceeded with my knitting as
| quietly as if were conscious of moth
ing audacious ard peculiar in my
lovers subdued speech to Trixy.