The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-22

| feet Esther placed her loving hand on the soft
brown. curling loyelocks yelling the bright head.
did you have happy day, my Tessyp
"Oh, yes, was the answer, given with magnif-
/ icent indifference
"And-was Joseph therer
| "Josef-you mean old josef the bandmaster--
| of course he was there. How could there be
brass band without Josef to lead itl' replied
| again Miss Tessy
! Miss Esther Payne touched with finger of
! gentle reproach the naughty lips of the naughty
/ speaker
did you think l should inquire after such
person as thatl'
| "Oh then you meant your friend Joseph-the
| one who makes quotations in German to show
that he is learned. Yes, certainly ne was there,
| bnt did not see very much of him."
But whyl' And now Miss Payne's face grew
| grave, her voice fell. but why, my Tessya
| Surely"
"Oh, don't know Tessy stretched up two
slender white hands, clasping them indolently
above her head You see Esther, when he first
made his appearance the scene, we had left
the grounds Most of our girls were in the big
pavilion getting our tea at the tables; and that
horrid Nelly Marchmont was there. and Joseph
stopped at her table and stayed there long
time"
We'll, what thenp Tessy had paused in her
recital, and was lying haf-kneelng, her soft,
flushed cheek resting on her sisters arm. She
smiled little gravely when Esther spoke.
What then9 Oh. nothing but this: first,
suppose should not have minded it, but got
fateful fancy that it was only becauae of her
dress that he fingered by her; that he was
| ashamed to be seen with me-"
''Tessy.n
ION, know it was mean of me; but she was
beautifully dressed. She is dark, you know
dark and she was all in dark tissue, with broad
bands of gold on her arms and waist and in her
hair 1t was very becoming to her, and | sup
| pose Joseph paid her compliments in German"
"Child'--and Miss Payne pinched with smile
| the little pearlpink ear.
aft all bo dpft
wesse biume (his white dower), could hep quoth
Miss Therese, triumphantly. She sat up and
rested her chin on her arm to begin again.
''And so, when he at last began to make his
way across, meaning to speak to me, l was
gagged to dance with Harry Wistar / really
hadn't time to waste on Joseph. They-the
other Josef was playing my favoritee music
The witch stopped and began to hum one of
Gounod's delicious airs
And really didn't see him."
"Oh, Tessy! How could you do 500 And
Joseph is SO kind" There were tears ready to
break through the tremble of Esther's panied
voice.
kinds" broke in Miss Tessy, Indignantly. 81
don't know what your ideas are, but call it far
from kind to snub me So and, after all, don't
think he would have minded it so much-so very
much--but q slight shower came up while we
were dancing, and we all rushed back to the
pavilion"
Here Miss Tessy paused again. A dimplng
smile stole into her round, rosy cheek
the path, and the rain had made it worse. So,
when we came to that-you see l had on my
light Subsidiary threw down his coat, and
nothing would do but must walk over it. And
when looked up, just entered the pavilion,
what an expression there was on Joseph's face!
do believe he was swearing to himself-in Ger
man."
Esther was silent, with panied fear at her
heart. What could she say! How could she
chide this beautiful young creature, who was so
dear, so wnsome, so worthy of love-of good
mans best love! How could she help and not
hurt9
We'll" exclaimed Theresa, authoritatively,
growing tired of the silence.
My dear" said Esther, timidly don't you
think with me that Mr. Wistars attention was
little out of place-that it was conspcuousl'
Miss Tessy vouchsafed no reply to this
Don't you think, DEAR you might have
reached the pavilion safely, as the others did,
simply by walking on the bare groundP
Il am tired and sleepy; / must go to bed"
said Tessy, suddenly getting up.
Then she glanced at Esther's face.
Smile" she commanded do you think I
am going to say good night to such eyes as
those2 Smile at once"
The grieved look melted swiftly into tears
With loving arms twined around each others
neck, the two sisters cried silently. But their
,-ood night kiss the sweeter for those tears.
In the quiet days that followed-perhaps be-
cause thy were living nearer together, more in
sympathy W. each other-tbese two sisters no
ticed, Esther tina. ressy was mere than usually
SILENT that under her Joyous laugh shone the
glimmer of crowding tears. But Tessy observed
that Esther grew more thin ard wan, that her !
strength seemed to be consumed as II by some
eating fire.
One evening Esther in her chair drew Tessy
to her The young girl came and knelt by her
side in the old familiar way the pretty bronze
brown lovelocks ruffiing over her lap, the white
arms softly upthrown.
Dear" said the elder sister, in low voice. |
syOu never sing for me now"
mo" answered Tessy, slowly; lit must be
Il don't know why-unless-I don't think of it "
You did not wait once to think of it, Tessy;
you sang because you must"
Yes that does make difference-to feel the
music in one. When bird is being cooked and
eaten. suppose it does not feel like singing
''What in the world do you mean, childg
''Mean2 Nothing-I never mean anything;
that's why l get into so much trouble"
The girl spoke in mocking way, but a moment
after she spoke more seriously:
DO you know, Esther, l was reading, this
morning, the old story of the knightly lover,
who had a beautiful bird that his lady coveted.
He was very poor, but he would not sell his bird.
But one fine day. the princess sent a message
that she was coming to dine with him. and, as he
had nothing in his larder fit for dainty lady,
he babe his cook kill the bird and serve it.
Here Tessy paused for moment, for sound
as of tears was in her voice. She put her hand
over her eyes.
lit is such tender story, Esther, can't tell
it as it ought to be told; but the young knight
must have sat and looked at her-can't you fancy
itl-while she sat at his table and ate his frugal
dinner-and then-she said she would love hi hin
be his own true princess-if he would give her his
bird"
.Well," said Esther, smiling, the Princess did
get the bird in one way if not in another. And
wonder if the young knight quite loved her when
he saw her eating it,"
''Oh, you hard hearted woman" cried Tessy.
'But thought of that. too"
Then rising. with quick change of manner
she said: II wonder if Joseph would contribute
his beloved violin to make fire for me, if were
| freezing~
| Esther began to understand.
The next day Miss Payne was not SO well. She
was lying on the sofa in the little parlor, when
| Tessy came in and knelt by her. and took her
| two hands. The girl had strange, sad feeling,
as if she were lost in wood with no one to show
| her the way out,