The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-09-02
HI.
From Real Life.
BY A. LAURIE BURKE.

She was going to leave us-that was
decided long ago. We must give up
our sweet, lovely Lii, with her great
brown eyes, her glorious yellow curls,
which never appeared more fascinat-
ing than when shining out from be-
meath the large, black hat, with its
long, sweeping white plumes, and
with her independent air we so
much admired it became her as no
other would have done.
She was going to India. On a
Northern trip we accidently met with
several missionaries lately returned
from that country. Lii was charmed
by their conversation and l think it
was from them that she took up her
notion, as we termed it at the time.
We returned to our quiet, country
home but lii was never the same af-
ter. She was an only sister of three
orphan boys, and /, her distant cous-
in, all Of whom bitterly opposed the
step she desired to take; but opposi-
ton was without effect.
She was not happy, she said; she
felt that her life had been useless
one that she had wofully neglected
opportunities for doing good. We
told her how she was the darling of
our home how the light of her pres
ence would go with her; what a void
she would leave; but to all our en-
treaties she simply said, "no," till /
grew weary OF pleading and looked on
with aching heart.
Her last evening, the last at home
with us, was bitter one. Lawrence
remained in his room, forbidding in
reference, Barry was with the sister
he loved so well, whilst John walked
up and down the garden plot, his
hands thrust in his pockets, his head
downcast, his eyes moist, as / well
knew, and Lii was on bended knee be-
side open trunk preparing to leave us
all.
The examinations, our only hope,
were over, she was pronounced per-
fectly sound in health, and the party
with whom she was to sail would ar
rive the following morning. Would
she not relent at the last hour? would
not thought Of leaving the brothers
she had partly raised the old, sweet
homeplace; of sailing to foreign lands,
we felt never to return, overawe her?
Would she go?
"Cheer up, john" | said, approach
ing him as he restlessly paced to and
fro.
Don't, CARL" was all he said, II
cannot talk Of it just yet, please" and
left him and paced up and and down
the long, narrow porch where hung
gentle reminders of our darling lii
basket Of moss from Niagara Falls,
the pet bird she was to consign to my
care, some sweet, trailing flowers and
vines and l was lost in thought till a
gentle hand was laid on my arm. ]
paused. A sweet face look up into
nine and the moonlight fell upon my
cousins lovely hair, upon her soft
gray dress and lit up her charming
eyes, which were unusually melan
choly in their expression
"Carl, want to speak with you,
she said.
eyes, COUSIN" drawing her arm
through mine.
cam | doing wrong in going?" he
sweet eyes pathetic,
"No, Lillian"
"But am doing right?"
! hesitated.
'"Tell me, CARL / am longing fo
some one to bid me God-speCd, ant
none speak it. IT'S hard, hard. Afte
all my endeavors to fill my dead moth
er's place, to be true sister, there i
not one brother who says you're do
ing right not even cousin to chee
me in my last hours at home, by
sweet word ofapproval. / don't know
but it seems as il my lie has been
failure so far. 1t may be to the enc
Why is it, Carl?" There were tears il
her voice. / clasped tighter the han
held.
A failure2 OH Lii how coul
you talk so2 What were our hom
without you? And then l spok,
"You are not doing wrong, becaus
you are to engage in good callin
andyou are not doing right because
we need you here"
81 have grown weary of so marrow
sphere, tho such is.not my motive ]
attempting this" shepaused. Iwi
silent.
Lawrence will not miss me lon
lie is to be married soon. Barry al
John are mere boys, while you--yc