The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-06-06
VOLUME XVI.

raj history parry, taxing an carry traln,
reached the museum at eleven o clock,
George kept as close as possible to
Professor Reeves, and was deeply in
terested in the discussions which took
place between that gentleman and q
noted scientist who was an excellent
talker and possessed a wonderful fund
of information on the subject of natural
history. But some of the other boys
grew tired, after time, of the learned
gentleman's views, and strolled away
in different directions in search of
amusement of some kind.
George was listening attentively to
the Professors description of strange
species of moth found in Australia,
when he was annoyed by a touch on his
arm, and turning, saw John Drake, his
boon companion at the Academy, and
the son of wealthy and aristocratie
parents.
Come along with me-" whispered
John. Il know you have heard enough
of this sort of talk, and | want you to
see the ugliest woman you ever laid
eyes on. She's enough to give o fellow
the nightmare for week. Dill and
Manning have been trying to chaff her,
but they can't get word out of her.
Look, there she is now"
George turned his eyes toward the
door, and saw, coming slowly toward
him, heavy basket Of towels on her
arm, his sister Susan.
All the boys at the Academy knew
that George had sister, and that she
lived in Beavers Falls, but were not
aware that her occupation was that of
laundress He had never considered
it necessary to mention that fact.
Could he acknowledge it now? Gould
he 90 forward and embrace fraternally
this tired-looking, STOPPING, plainly
dressed woman with the SCARED. dis
torted facep What would the boys say
il he did SOP And Prof. Reeves.
No he could not do it.
| Yet he hesitated moment, his better
feelings, his love for the sister who had
done so much for him, struggling for
the ascendancy; then, with the thought
"She will never know" he turned
aside to avoid the meeting
| But he turned too late. Susan had
happened to glance in the direction in
which he stood, and recognized him al
once.
She gave slight exclamation, and
was about to put down her basket,
when suddenly she paused and her face
| flushed crimson. In her brothers OK
preston of modification and annoy
ance, in his attempt to avoid her, she
read the truth-he Uas ashamed of her.
For an instant she stood motionless;
then with, long, gasping sigh, which
seemed to George to come from the
depths of her heart, she lifted her
heavy basket higher on her arm, and
with averted face passed by him with
out word.
He saw her stop at desk at the other
end of the room, and give the basket to
a janitor. who gave her some money in
return, but saw no more; for fearing to
meet her eyes again, he turned his face
toward case of butterflies and moths,
and pretended to be deeply interested
in them.
He was. startled by an exclamation OF
surprise and pleasure from Prof.
Reeves, who broke off in the middle of
q sentence, and started forward toward
the center of the room with outstretched
hand
"Susan! Susan Shieldsp" he cried, in
voice that was distinctly heard by
every one in the room. II can't be mis-
taken' Have | met you at last after all
these yearspa
1t seemed to George as if the room
was whirling around him. Could it be
possible that it was Susan, the sister OF
whom he had been ashamed, that the
Professor held by the hand so gladly,
and whom he was leading toward the
man of science with so eager an air?
Beaufort" he heard him say, 81
want to introduce you to the bravest,
noblest woman it has ever been my lot
to know But for her l would in all
probability not have been alive now
She saved me fifteen or sixteen years
ago from frightful death. l was lying
sick in bed, unable to move hand OF
foot, when sudden breeze, coming
into an open window, blew the curtains
into the gas-light. Susan Shields,
waiting in the hall to speak to my
mother, who was engaged with com.
pany, smelled the smoke, and rushing
up stairs, made her way through the
flames, and carried me bodily from the
room"
"a brave act!' said Prof. Beaufort
81 am indeed proud to know you, Miss
Shields"
IAN act that l have never been able
to reward, deeply as have felt my OBJ
legations to her for it." said Prof.
Reeves. when l recovered my health
and inquired for Miss Shields, found
that she had moved from the town, and
have never been able to discover
George could endure no more. Pale,
bewildered and contrite, he hurried
from the building.
When Susan entered her home an
hour later, she found him lying on the
sofa in the little sitting room, his face
buried in the great patchwork cushion.
He did not move or speak as she ap.
preached him.
George" she said, TREMENDOUSLY,
won't you look at me, dearp l have
something L want to say to YOU"
Still he did not move.
you must not feel so badly about it,
dear" continued Susan. still in that
tremulous voice, and laying her hand
tenderly on his shoulder. Il was a
little hnrt at first, of course. But il
don't matter, and l don't wonder that
! You acted as you did 1t was only
natural that you should be ashamed Of
me, coming in upon you so unexpectedly
rand in this plain, cheap dress-and-
| don't mind it at all, reallyr' But
even AS she spoke she sank down in a
little heap on the floor, and hiding hel
face in her hands began to cry as if hel
heart would break.
George was by her side in an instant,
his arm around her: and as he kissed
over and over again the poor, SCARED
tear-wet face, he poured forth Words OF
deepest sorrow and contrition, and
pleaded humbly to be pardoned for the
pain he caused her.
20, Susanr' he said, it is you who
ought to be ashamed of me. I can
never, never forgive myself. Ifyou had
only told me how you came BY these
scars, dear sister! If 1 had only
| known!"
| OF course Susan returned his kisses
twofold, and told him over and over
again that she loved him Just as well
as ever. Then she began to look for
something nice fer him to eat, and
packed little basket fuif-of4 goodies
for him to take back to the Academy.
This painful matter must never be
referred to again, dear George" she
said as she kissed him goodbye. "We
will both forget it."