Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-03-06
A Sisters TTeacherv.
BY GuINEvERE.

Estelle."
Grsoe Walton spoke timidiy, AND
over her pretty blonde face faint tdusi
had swept. She came pearer, one dim
Piled band uplifting her blue lawr
drsperies, the other full Of great scarle
roses.
+" Estelle." she said again, "are YOU
busy, dear? I have something to say
to you"
The handsome brunette looked ut
with an expression of annoyance In hel
eyes. On the cherry wood stand beside
her was o scattering Of letters, and
something else over which she placed
| one slender hand with apparent care
| lessness.
81 am not particularly busy JUS,
looking over some old letters before
burning them," sbe answered. "Whal
have you to tell me?"
Grace advanced with shy smile or
her lips. Bending. she fastened a rose
the rest In her lap, sinking down ON her
knees, with her arms encircling the
form OF her companion.
you must not blame me, dear" she
said softly. 81 hope, Estelle, you dc
| not care, but--Barton Kemble has
asked me to be his WIFE"
A muffied cry from Estelle Walton 4
lips, q quick uplifting OF the regal head,
convulsive clasping Of the hands
and she sat upright and silent, with
her dark eyes hxed on the dioopiuQ
golden head before her.
1--WE love each other" went on the
sweet, girlish voice. 'Iknow that once,
Estelle, they called him your lover, bui
he could not help IT indeed, neither
Of us is TO blame. or late you have been
80 indiferent--have you forgotten? o.
did you never really love hin, Estelle,
as-as love him now?"
The blue eyes were appraised, but the
dark face above told no tales. What
ever emotions Estelle Walton felt were
concealed beneath q cold smile, as I'M
betraying as n mask.
~ think others always regarded ouI
friendship in different light than thai
in which II appeared to u.s." she said
ITO me, Barton Kemble has never been
quite as lover-it was romantic lit
tie episode, that 10 ALL"
''Oh, 1 am 80 glad! feared"
She paused with swift glance at her
sister, and then kissed the smooth, olive
cheek.
Dear Estelle, am 80 happy" she
murmured.
Her sister raised ono little hand, and
saw that It wore no jewels.
"You have not been given the pledge
of betrothal yet," she said.
"No. 1 did not answer him then.
L"
"why did you delay?" asked Essslle,
with slight accent OF bitterness la her
tones, and o contraction of her heavy
brows. "Do you doubt your own heart?
Have you found that, after all, you
know not how to love?"
"Oh, Estelle." reproachfully. "Eo,
no. it was only that wished TO see
you first, to gain your approval, TO ask
your advice as l would have asked o
mother's. And you have been as o
mother to me these seven years."
"Bnt suppose had not approved,
suppose my advice to you was, give up
this man-what them"
II did not expect that" said Grace,
simply. But, as In all other things, 1
came to you rather than act upon my
own responsibility.
Something like sneer curved Es-
telle's red lips, and under the dropping
lasbes her eyes were flashing.
"SimpletoD, she was thinking.
"And for the weak affection OF such q
child as this, Barton Kemble rejects
the heart OF q woman who knows how
TO love, who worships him with every
fiber of her icing, who would live for
him alone. And yet his is deep nal
ture-what contrad lotions we mortals
are"
II told him to wait-just o little
WHILE" went on Grace, rising. ~ will
go now and write TO him.
Estelle turned with sudden light on
her face.
81 think" she said slowly, "as you
have deferred no much to me, should
be the one TO send Barton Kemble his
answer. 1 will summons him, and
then you can respond with your own
lips. Not that wish to dictate, Grace.
but"
"Yes, see" interrupted Grace, with
another shy smile, "You will officiate
as guardian and give the bride away.
You are very kind, Estelle."
She gathered up her draperies once
more and glided from the room. As
the door closed upon the slender form,
Estelle Walton spraDg 70 her feet, scat !
tering the scarlet roses before her and |
treadins out their fragrant beauty.
Never, Grace Walton, never shall |
you wed Barton Kemble, II can stand |
between." she said passionately. I'll
write him your acoeptance--a welcome
task indeedi Fate has played into my
hands,"
She stopped and raised from the table
the object her hand had concealed. It
was q small portrait set In q golden
band, and the painted lips seemed to i
smile 1t her as her gaze was bent upon /
the handsome. manly face.
She stood rigid and silent q moment
with the portrait In her hands, then laid
It back among the letters, and with q
strange look on her face sat down and
began to write:
DEAR FRIRED.-Such 1 call you, Barton,
fr since yon left me, and had time and
to search my own heart lind
have mistaken my regard for you-a WAR
that is all; not the love thar ,
should exist between two who would 20
through lie together. II with this friend
ship you eau 90 content, come to me and / |
will receive you gladly Sincerely,
"9RAoB WALTON"
With bitter smile Estelle sealed this |
and wrote the name of Barton |
KEN bic.
"Friendshipl he will spurn it." she
reflected. 'Graoe will never see him
again. l know his pre- nd nature we'll. |
Yet should they meet and by chance
discover The wrong-ah, that is not
probable"
Hos did IL seem 90 In the days that
followed. 1t was the following day
that Grace sought her sister with white,
startled face and darkened eyes.