Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-07-10
SIS.
JENNIE BANKS.

She was waif, with a beautiful dark
face and large yelvety eyes, not black
but soft golden brown, with Just the
faintest possible trace of mischief lurk-
ing III their shining depths
y mass OF short jetty rlnglets cover
ing her pretty head and clinging low
ingly TO her fair low brow, and a clear
olive complexion with a deep glow of
crimson sutfusing her rounded cheeks.
giving 10 her face a fresh healthy look.
and showing that Southern blood
cOursed through her veins.
He was a wealthy gentleman with
quite an eX enSive allowance ever.
year. y tall, handsome, light complex
loned young man, with laughing blue
eyes, and many sunny locks.
y person 1t would do one good to
know, for any one glancing at his
merry face would have TO smile in spite
of himself and acknowledge that he
was sure cure for depression. He was
also Guy Cromwell, the only surviving
son of Mrs. Harold Cromwell, who was
tie poSseSsor of a fine estate called the
Oaks" Just on the suburbs of one of
our largest cities, and these two, the
pretty dark eyed wsiif, with her brilliant
Southern face, and the fair haired
wealthy man, were husband and wife.
This is the way it happe ned: Sis, as she
was called. before she fell into the good
hands of Guy Cromwell, had never
Known parents love.
From her earliest remembrance until
she reached the age of sixteen. the only
friends she pos eSSe1, if you could call
them so. were Peggy Maloney and her
brother Jack, who lived in a little old
tumbled down shanty near the river
and who kept fruit stand on the cor
ner of one of the principal streets OF
large city.
Jack pretended to lie of a musical
turn of mind and played an old cracked
hand-organ around the fashionable
avenues and busiest part of the city,
thereby earning his daily bread, or L
should say daily drink, for he was as
fond of his gin as his sister Peggy.
Some days lie would indulge IN it SO
frequently that he would have to aban-
don his musical employment and seek
his couch or some friendly alley where
he could lie unmolested until he recov-
cred from its fiery influence.
Poor little SIS led a sad and wretched
life between these two drunken crea-
lures, and received many a cruel beat
when she refused to play the tambour-
inc in the streets with him.
She preferred TO remain all day at the
fruit stall with Peggy rather than 10 be
jOstled and starei at, by the crowds
along the busy thoroughfares,
Many and many time when Jack
and Peggy lay drunk at home Sis would
remain all day at the stall alone, and
Taaa arrf Ghv1 1VT lafr
of bananas, and long rows of golden
oranges, at the people as they rushed
along; thus saving her miserable pro
tectors from starvation as she gathered
the shining coppers from the passer-by,
but there came a night which ended ali
this dreary life of hers, and a cold dis
mai night it was. 1t was in the month
of November, the air was damp and
chill, drilling rain had fallen all day
and when a clock in some distant tower
chImed the hour of nine, Peggy closed
the ''stand," :" and with Sis by her side,
proceeded to her miserable howell
The streets were almost deserted as
they sped along. with only now and
then lone pedestrian hurrying by, to
escape the storm.
When they reached the dwelling, it
was all dark, but they entered without
much trouble, for bolts and bars We're
strangers to the place, and Peggy strik-
Ing a match, soon had the room illuml-
mated, by the sickly glare of a tallow
candle. Then the cold, bare, cherries
apartment came slowly into view, with
its worm-eaten floor and high dirty
walls, causing Peggy to draw her rag
ged shawl more closely around her anu
I.. Twin N ha nj
dated fire place, with an impatient hand.
Then turning to Sis, who crouched
in 4 corner blowing on her little cold
fingers, she said sharply and In a harsh
rasping voice, go to the ship yard,
will ye, and be aither a-Dringin' home
some chips to liyen up the fire bit.
Make haste wild We, nowl" Without a
word Sis started up and clang went the
old rickety door behind her retreating
figure.
~ purity cold sort o. night, this,
Peggy . muttered an old woman as she
turned again toward the fire.
'Ye'd bether sit down here wild yer
friend and make yersilf aisy," and
drawing a three-legged stool up to the
side of the hearth, she dropped rather
than sat down upon it, and taking from
=
menced to empty it of its contents.
When Sis returned with her armful OF
sticks she found the fire all out and
Peggy snoring loudly in a drunken
sleep with her stool tilted back against
the wall and her mouth wide open.
while on the floor beside her lay her
Sln bottle smashed into dozen pieces
She stood for moment gazing at the
sleeping creature before her, then
crossed the room and gave her poke
with one of the sticks. at the same time
calling PegI Pegl but Peg was too far
into the land of dreams to wake any
more, and she only snored the louder.
At last giving Up in despair Sis gath
cred up the fragments of the bottle
and prepared TO rep.enish the fire. She
was lust IN the act of lighting the chips
wuen a shutting step sounded without,
and an unsteady hand lifted the latch
She turned where she stood just in