The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-02-28
D0RA'S SISTER.

81 do hope you'll like her, Burton,
said Dora, leaning toward her handsome
young brother-in-law, with her pretty
eyes bright with eagerness; "and
don't know how you can help it. Every
body does. And l don't think you'll
find her gawky. I know you've always
thought me rather provincial, Burton,
"No, no." her brother.iu-law inter-
posed.
"Oh, yes, you have; and know am.
But Lucy's ever so much nicer than
am. She's prettier in the first place
"Impossible!" said Burton, gallantly.
"And then,' said pretty Mrs. Salkeld,
earnestly, "she's awfully bright. She's
been away at boarding school for four
years. She hasn't stayed in Gordon
Centre as did, you know, till Alfred
came and took me away. And she's al
ways SO stylish, apd-. Well, wait
till you see her. know you'll like her,
Burton"
'Tm certain of it, Dora" Burton de-
clared, reassuringly.
Mrs. Salkeld rose lingeringly, in re-
sponse to small cry from the nursery.
''Sarah never can find the pins in that
little blessing when he cries, and know
they're there. She's coming tomorrow,
you know, Burton. You'll come right
around to see her, won't you2 Ever so
many have promised to CALL"
"Ill come Immediately after break
fast" Burton re. .olned.
HIS sister-in.law laughed as she went
through the door, but she looked back
at him with amu>ing seriousness.
1t would not have been hard for akeen
observer to guess that she was not with
out timid ambition concerning her
brother-in.law and her sister Lucy
timid, because Burton was, in the es-
timatio1 of his brothers wife, as nearly
a perfect being, morally, mentally and
physically, as had ever eyisted-the one
person who enjoyed an equal distinction
being her husband.
If it had been any girl but Lucy, she
was sure such thing would never have
entered her head. But Lucy! She
smiled with sisterly fondness as she rum
maged among the balY's fannels for the
Offending pin.
Dora's brother-in-law called promptly
at eleven o'clock the next morning. He
was o good. natured and conscientious
young gentleman, and he would have
disappointed Dora on no account.
Dut his mood, as he rang the bell and
pulled off glove, was not an especially
eager one. He was too polite to form
ulate his feelings, even to himself; but
had he done so, the fact would have
been clear that he'didn't expect much
from Cora's sister.
A pretty girl she might be; Dora was
pretty. But girl fresh from Gordon
Centre, though she had had four years
at a country boarding school The young
man raised his brows, with slight
smile.
Nothing, however, should pre-, ent his
doing his utmost for Dora's sister. His
good breeding did not even allow his
dubious smile to remain. He looked
seriously exrectant when the door
opened.
"N1rs. Salkeld is just gone out. Her
dressmaker's little boy is worse, and she
went down to see him." the serysnt ex.
planned.
"Miss Trumbull is in9" Burton
queried.
"Yes, sir; Miss Trumbull came this
morning." ...
Burton gave the girl his card, put his
hat and overcoat on the rack, and took
a seat in the parlor.
1t was some twenty minutes before
Dora's sister came down.
Burton was deep in the latest maga
zine when the door at last admitted her.
She came in with sweeping rustic Of
drapcries, beaming smile and warn
greeting.
"Mr. salkeld, amt sit2 Burtop.
come pretty near saying. Dora SHE al
ways calls you Burton, and it was jest or
the end O. my tongue. Well, Pm Ha
glad to see you. Dora she's told M u
about you, but hearing about folks 9 9n'
like seeing 'em."
She shook hands warmly, rolled al
ottoman in front of the largest dhai
with a strong push, sat down with hc
feet on the stool, and smiled yet NOR
broadly. \
"Well, I'm awful glad to get here
I've been coming for I don't know how
long, but hain't seemed to get rount
to it; and so last week l says to pa: 81
I'm going up to Dora's, Pm jest goinE
to CO. And pa says all right, to fix vi
and 60, then; and ma and l Jest wen
right round and put things togethe
what needed, and pa took me down t.
the cars Monday morning, and here I be
I amt bit used up, neither; ma, sh
said l would be-"
She laughed quite heartily, tappin!
the arm of her chair and lingering tn
bow OF ribbon on top of her head.
Burton murmured something in re
ponse-he did not know what. He sa
stitfened in the attitude of polite defer
ence which he had assumed, quit
motionlcss.
He felt no desire to smile; he was to
much shocked aad appalled, for that
Good heavens. this was far worse tina
anything he had imagined. His hea
fairly buzzed; he sat staring at Dora
sister in utter blankness.
"Pretty big place you've got here
hain't youW Miss Trumbull proceeded
her cordiality unaffected by his silence
considerable bigger'n Gordon Centre
I guess. l hain't never ben in cite
much, and I get kind o turned roun
in 'em. l don't know as I should ik