Huntsville gazette., 1889-08-03
| which appeared between the parted

arms, and about the swan-like neck, SO
chastely draped with misty lace. A
mass Of wonderful hair, lustrous and
black as midnight, was piled high on
proud little head; and in that glori-
GUS hair and upon that lovely bosom,
she wore tiny knots of some delicate
flower, brightly red, like drops OF
blood.
As our eyes met the olden half-shy
and half-coquettish smile hovered
about her exquisite lips.
Not until then had recognized her,
SO bewildering had been the change!
rs it you, really -Sisley-my own
sister," | sprung to my feet and
hastened toward her with hands ex-
tended.
rs 1t really Sisley." she answered
me. in that most enchanting of all
melodious voices, and with second
smile. shyer and more exquisite than
the first.
bent my head toward her that l
might touch my lips to hers; but she
shrunk back. her great luminous eyes
dropping and hidden by the lovely
curling lashes which swept her soft
| cheeks.
And upon those cheeks had suddenly
kindled the olden shy blushes-blushes
| the most beauteous | ever beheld upon
a woman's face!
And then as | suddenly recalled a
| fact, which may seem almost strange!
never, even in our earliest childhood
days together, had | ever kissed Sisley
my own sister!
Had | not loved her so dearly might
have felt alike hurt and offended,
when she now shrunk away from my
offered caress.
Il suppose may kiss your finger
tips, then" said |, pretending more
resentment than | really felt.
A laugh-sweet as the sound of
golden bride-bells-rippled from her
lips.
Her black, tropic eyes sparkled with
mirth as she lifted
THAT sacred treasure
of her slim white hand for her
brothers first kiss.
took 1t reverently as a loyal sub
| ject might take the hand Of his SOW
ereign; looked admiringly at the
pink nails, at the witching dimples.
1t was a perfect hand, and the hand
of perfect woman.
| But | did not avail myself Of her in
diligence.
NO" said ], still feigning resent
ment, 1T is dear, lovely, most pre-
cious hand, but would have my own
sisters lips for her brothers first
kiss"
"Beggars oust not be choosers, :"
she retorted gayly, as she drew the
hand away and moved idly toward the
piano.
The year succeeding that happy
homecoming was year Of unceasing
and undisturbed delight.
| We had always been a rarely happy
and harmonious family at all times.
There were but four Of US, my par
ents, and myself and-Sisley.
My parents were as proud and as
fond of Sisley as was |.
And she had ever been the most
loving, devoted and faithful Of daugh-
ters.
And, besides, we were wealthy
| family; we had no tastes, no needs,
which our riches could not crafty or
supply. And then our tastes were all
! simple; we cared much for quiet in
tellectual pleasures, and not at all for
social extravagances.
| So there was no sane and sensible
reason why we should have been
otherwise than happy.
But the shadows crept at last about
us; the clouds gathered, and at length
the storm settled upon our household
the long, chilling, sunless storm!
We were spending a few weeks in a
cosy gray nest of a village, nestled in
a tiny, emerald valley which was sur
rounded by fragrant pine woods.
Before the little village was a
stretch of old ocean, and just behind
loomed up range of mountainous
hills.
OF these hills, the lower elevations
were heavily timbered. The higher
peaks showed vast masses of naked
rocks-mighty outjutting bowlder-
and tracks, here and there, OF rankly
| luxuriant thicket, which in many
places was impossible.
In fact, among the more wildly
picturesque sections Of the irregular
range there were spots which-so far
as known-had never been trod by the
feet Of men since the days Of the ill
fated aborigines.
Sisley and | liked the rugged gt and
eur of those wild hills, and nothing
delighted us more than long morn
| ing tramp, as near as we dared to go,
to the eternal Businesses of the loftier
peaks.
1t was in the very beginning Of those
glorious tramps that the shadows