The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-08-05

on uSeu W say you loVeo me, noAy'
Can't you"
..You know plenty of other ladies'.
Joel. younger and more pleasing" fall
tered Miss Roxana, nervously smooth
ing the pale gliding of hair that framed
her temples in gothic arch.
They are nothing to me-" replied
the gentleman curtly, as if he esteemed
the fact matter of regret.
Assured of the favor of more than
one pretty girl of his acquaintance, was
it not little hard that the full current
of his being must needs be set toward
this unresponsive woman of thirtyp 1t
had been ever thus with Joel Kirby
from his perverse childhood, when, if
he wanted cake, no human power could
induce him to nibble gingerbread.
..No, Roxy, there's only one woman
in the world for me-" he continued in
softer tone. ''Your brother is of diff
ferent temperament. Has it never &C.
Cured to you that he may marry
again"
"Brother marry! Oh, no, indeed,
he IL never marry-meVer" cried Miss
Roxana, grounded and rooted in the
belief that her brothers heart was en-
tombed with the dead Climena. mo.
he could not take another wife, and you
see he has only me. l couldn't be SO
cruel as to leave him."
To all Mr. Kirby's subsequent plead
ings she made this same reply, but it
soothed his chatting spirit not little
that she made it with faltering. and
that she parted from himself with tears.
AS the sound of his rapid wheels
died away in the distance she hastily
dried her eyes and hurried into the
| kitchen to see about the belated supper.
Mr. Perrin still gloating over castles in
Spain, looked up with the roguish pur-
pose of addressing her as 'Mrs. Kir
| by" but dismayed at her troubled
countenance, remarked instead that the
'days We're getting shorter"-a fact
that she had observed before.
He felt as if he had received blow.
For him there was, there could be, but
one Interpretation. of his sisters I'M
wonted emotion. She loved Kirby, and
Kirby no longer cared for her. Poor
girl, she dreamed that man affections
were like granite boulders, incapable of
change, and she was awakening with a
shock. Hapless Roxana! She too had
her trials. Keenly sympathetic. the
magnanimous brother concealed his own
| disappointment as best he could, and
| lavished upon his sorrowful sister an ex-
cess of tenderness.
| you have the knack of spelling me
for other folks cooking, little woman,
that's the TRUTH said he at tea-time,
ostentatiously heaping his plate with
cream toast. '.How should ever get
along without you?'
'.That'll make her feel that I ap-
preciate her if Joel doesn't, he unused
benevolently; while she, on her side of
the table, was thinking, ''It's just as
suspected; it would kill brother to lose
me-"
"Oh, you'd manage somehow. May
| be you'd marry" she ventured timidly,
almost hearing the fluttering of the lost
Climena's wings.
| "Poh! poh! sister, nothing seems
less likely" answered her brother, in a
voice so sad that Miss Roxana chided
herself for having opened her old
wound afresh. But she had done it for
Joel's sake. She owed it to Joel to
make sure that there could be no mis-
understanding.
The October days with their MONDAY
patches of sunshine and their heavy
borders of twilight came and went. In
a spasm Of hope that the charming wild
ow might yet consent to share the do
nestle scepter with his sister, Mr.. Per-
rim made second proposal, only to re-
ceive second decided, though tiatter-
ing refusal Mr. Kirby repeated his
| toll
cursing fate, and by no means loving
Mr.. Perrin, whom he supposed perfectly
acquainted with the relations between
himself and Roxana. Overtaking Mr..
Perrin one day walking home from the
post office, Mr.. Kirby with inward re-
luctance asked him to ride. With equal
reluctance Mr.. Perrin accepted, reflect
ing, ''H l amt civil he'll take it that
I'm mad because he doesn't renew his
offer to Roxana, and l wont humor
him."
"Heavy frost last night" growled
Mr.. Kirby.
Every" assented the other, con-
sclous Of an inward chill. "Winter is
upon us. Shall you spend it in Maine?'
my plans are uncertain snarled
Mr.. Kirby; adding, mentally, Thanks
to you. sir,''
.'Of course you can choose your own
climate. There's the advantage OF
having plenty of money and no family
ties'
::No family tiesl Whose fault was
it that he had no family ties?" unused
the irate bachelor, making rapid PAGES
over his long beard as if he would mes
merize the pain in his breast ''Might
not Roxana have been his wife years
ago but for the necessities of this selfish
brother?"
Though I've lately heard it limited,
Joel, that you are thinking of marry
ing" Mr.. Perrin Numbered on, in his
embarrassment saying the very thing
he had resolved not to say.
Mr.. Kirby snapped his whip. and
transfixed his companion with glance
so frigid that poor Mr.. Perrin shivered
as if he vas impaled On an icicle.
''Ygur cousin is q fine girl Joel-an
uncommonly fine girl. II congratu-
late you," he stammered, wishing il
would do to get out and walk.
you are too kind. Perrin-too kind
by half" sneered Mr.. Kirby, letting &c
Inc Ie!HS vi HIS anger. LOU NeIopueu
me of one bride, sir. and now you want
to make amends, do you, by choosing
me another?'
"Why, Kirby, what are you ravine
about2 When have ! injured you
matrimonially or otherwisee" cried Mr..
Perrin in tone of injured innocence.
You're laboring under some strange
delusion."
'Do you pretend it's delusion Of
mine that but for you Roxana would be
my wifel'
"Oh, he's twitting me on old
Scores" unused Mr.. Perrin, aggrieved.
HE blames me for letting sister give
; up her prospects in life for Climena's
sake. Sister would do it and she never
told me there was anything between
, her and JOEL" when mans in q
tight place, Joel, he's apt to realize his
own needs better than the needs of his
: brethren, l suppose" he said aloud
after moments pause. "But I'm
sorry if you bear me grudge."