Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-15
THE SISTERS RUSE.

I had spent three years finishing my
education in England, and returned to tn I,
village of WestfielJene where my sister
Bertha and ! were BON, and which had
long before been settled by my grandfather.
One of the first events of which was in
formed on NV return, was the ergeg sinent
of nv old friend Helen Freemour to a Mr..
Hardcastle, q law student from the west
On the evening of my arrival, shortly
after tea, saw Helen, accompanied by
tall, dark man, coming slowly up the garden
path She looked very Gueenly in her white
robes. her heavy, dark hair dressed in a
coronet above her broad, fair brow. and
covered by a white lace scarf / hastened
to meet her, and there were tears in my
eyes as i clasped her to my heart and kissed
her lips with what was almost premonition
of coming calamity. OF Mr.. Hardcastle
formed no factoring opinion He WIS dark,
quiet, and very old-looking for "A, which
was the age he acknowledged to-just
year Heien's senior therefore. My sister
and saw them constantly. Helen in her
unselfishness enjoyed any boating or driv-
ing party twice as much when either or
both Of US joined them Soon becam aware,
to nv sorrow and ALARM that, while Horace
Hardcastle was by his gentle betrothed's side,
his eyes were on my sisters lovely face,
and. what was more dangerous still, that
while all TIE tender nothings of young love
which she whispered softly were met with
absent minded indifference, the highest
word from Be.tha's lips caused his face to
flush. He was off his guard thousand
tirnes, until / wondered at Helen's blind
ness l watched and made no sign, sappos-
ing Bertha to be Us utterly in tho dark as
my friend We had arranged an excursion
TO one of the near-lying islands, and de-
termined that as the party was to be quite a
large one would SO manage 1t that l could
have a few worjs in private with TINS man,
who felt sure had i: in his mind TO make
two women, both justly dear to me, suffer
deeply. The weather, however, p-oFed
threatening, and our picnic was postponed
Late in the afternoon, as the storm held off,
/ wandered toward a wood which lay inland
about half a mile to the back of our house
in search of botanical specimens / was
not very successful, and was turning lone
ward when was startled by hearing my
sisters voice raised in passionate entreaty.
s-Ohi7 she cried, show can you ask it of me!
Only remember poor Helen; what would she
saw? what could she think"
What does that matter when our life's
happiness is at stake" said the voice had
expected to hear-that Of Mr.. Hardcastle.
go, CO. said Bertha; the rain is coming
on, and must get home.
heard the crushing of the underwood a.
be left her side, and only waited until my
SITTER got well on her way home before
followed her, warned 10y the low growl Of
near thunder TO seek speedy shelter. An
hour later | sought Bertha's room. found
her lying on her bed, looking so unlike her
usual fairy self that all tbs anger died
within me. ! told her what l had over
heard, and then said: "fou must see for
yourself, dear, that 1t is impossible for our
fathers and mothers daughter to play 50
contemplate a part You must not see
Mr.. Hardcastle again, and then it will all
be as though it had never been"
Sobbing, she yielded The thunder storm
was an excellent excuse for Bertha's head
ache, and short nnte from myself 10 Mr.
Hardcastle, indited in no gentle frame of
mind, caused that gentleman's speedy de
parture for Boston. Heien's gentle north
ern eyes" filed with tears when she told me
that she would not see him until the follow
ing month, when it was agreed that they
should 10 married in Boston, from the
She had wished n, 10 he her bridesmaids
h,, nor f;anca had leypad for n perfectly
ouiet wedding. was thankful when it was
over. and charmed to find nv sister daz-
zingiy beautiful and bright the following
winter. which we passed with our aunt in
Philadelphia. and where she became cele-
hrated as Ia belle ,les bellies Lent fell late,
and by the tim. we returned TO Wastfieldene
we were surfeited with balls and parties
The first thing which broke the quiet mo-
notony Of home life was the news that the