The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-10-05
Seleef 6in.u.
gls SISTER ALICE.


Merton looked, all Of a sudden, so
mach older than he really was; nor
Why, from being man full OF mirth
and loving society, he seemed to
shsa both. But his sister Alice
suspected the cause long before Mrs.
Merton herself was reused to the
faintest glimmer of the truth, and
was sad enough, for DIR. Merton was
in debt.
How had such a state of things
come about in thriving household
such as was that of DIR. Merton?
First Of all it had begun by increas
ing expenditure on Mrs. Merton's
part: on her insistance of liberal
income to spend; on her utter want
of business capacity. Next, the doc
TOR. who was but too good-natured,
was imposed on by the son of an old
fricad-induced to become his secu-
rity for f300, which the doctor had
70 pay after all.
Then one year he had a number
M bad debts, and. as he was gener-
ous- hearted, he would not curtail his
sisters allowance of a hundred a
roar; for Alice did many things in
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT the children,
walked out with them, made things
for their wear, saved the expense Of
music lessons for the elder girls, and
her brother argued that if Alice got
married and left them they would
never get her place supplied by pay
iax any one else hundred a year,
ana thst such an allowance was her
dee.
Alice had come to live in her
brothers house when she was left
homsloss by her fathers sudden
death six years ago. She was now
twonw -fosr. but most people not
s~xss 81 the contrary took her TO
Be 1S~sr 10. She was dozen years
ycsAgsr than the doctor and a very
bsauifsi young woman, highly in
tellectsal, and fond of literary pur-
wits. "Alice, DEAR" said the doctor
!. s Gag to his sister, you look tired
W yox working too hard.
ar vct bit of It'll like work, she
.s;d ,hseriiy.
avA at is the usc of all this brain
vol Viceys asked the doctor.
,s;oya 4. y you win marry that nice
hllov. s. unel Ormsby, and then
~, x;,l not need to study"
- IS.e assl ,ed up at her brothers
remark.
4 am very orr you have taken
sseh sn erronce us notion into your
h~S Hdmund.r aid she, LET me
s~rr vow that Or. Ormshy and
.vsslf are on friendly terms aud
nothing more. Nor ever viii be, {
she added mentally,,H v 1tb a s'gh that
she dared not permit to escape her,
II wss q sigh which carried with It q
rood deal Of hidden hes1 t-grief. For
h reality Alice Merton loved SAM
ud Ormsby with deep devotion hnt
she vas inwardly persuaded taat ne
sar~d nothing whatever for ner and
snA that he would either not marry
at all or else choose wife very hrli-
liant and accomplished.
She had known Mr.. Ormsby for
tvs wears now. He had bought q
ehstn,ng property in the neighnbor-
hood and lived about six miles from
Dr. Mcrton's residence, having
broaght his mother and two sisters
~ make their home with him.
One evening it CHANGED that Alice
and her brother were alone together
- thing which did not often hap
pea-but Tonight Mrs. Merton was
spending s few hours at the vicar
AGE and the children were gone up
70 bsd. Both brother and sister beld
books in their hands and appeared
10 be reading but, in truth, the
thoughts of each were busy and sad
taking NO heed Of the pages before
them.
All at once, as Alice cast furtlvt
glance at her brothers care-worI
face, she met his gaze fixed on he
full Of tender anxiety. In an ins'an
she diyined that some crisis in hil
grief had arrived-that he woul'
speak out now and confde to he
his secret trouble, and throwini
aside her book she sank on her knee
By his side, pressing one of hi
hands in hers and saying:
"Edmund. tell me what it is
There il something which is eatin
away yonr life"
"Oh Alice. we shall have to NOV
int small house and my wife mus
teach the girls. How shall tel
hers For we are terribly in deb
and ruin stares me in the fact
Think what / feel when / have t
say to you, my OWE sister, that yo