Macon beacon., 1889-07-27
my OWN SISTER,"
She Is Now Something q Thou
sand-Fold Dearer.

How sweet it was to think and spoaI
of my dainty, darling Sislcy like that
She was my own sister-all and onl,
my very own!
| had no brother to share her pre-
cious affection!
And no one but me could take in heI
dear love brothers pacc-not ever
Howard Martmar although he was tho
handsomest and best fellow in Tho
world, and adorcd her as he would
have adored an angcl-not even Dicky
Sheldon, although he had IA heart OF
gold and would have walked I'M
shod over burning plow-8hare3 for
her dainty sake!
How | used to smile at their wasted
devotion. For was she not my own
sister?-was not | her own and only
brother9 Then how could any of her
myriad worshipers ever be as near and
dear to her as ]?
And yet could not wonder nj the
enthusiastic devotion she inspired
from her countless admirers.
For she was the loveiest and most
radiant creature who ever walked the
earth since Eden was in its prime of
gladness, and glory, and bloom.
Her figure, in its delicate curves, in
its perfection of Hebe-like symmetry
and grace, was lovelier than any which
ever charmed a sculptors dream.
No canvas ever immortalizcd face
so dazzling as hers, with her rich,
dark skin. with her lustrous, jetty,
black hair tumbled in silky little rings
all over her proud little head, with
her great luminous, midnight ewes
fringed by long, witching ashes, curl
ing low on her soft, round checks.
Then Sisley had the daintiost little
feet; and her hands were like lily pc
tails, so exquisitely white with deli
cately pink nails, and rayishing little
dimples where knuckles are supposed
to be.
And Sislcy's voice was such won
drous melody-likc the strains of some
mystic Eastern song, like the delic-
ious music OF the nightingale singing
IN the dewy dusk amid the summers
freshest perfumed bloom.
And. besides, she was gentle and
gracious; she was earnest, sincere and
true; she was refined and accom-
plished.
And yet she disdained no homcly
duty, if done for love or for duty's
sake.
And with Sisley dress was an art
which she knew without being taught;
and her every gown was poem, lust
as her every attitude was picture.
She was a sister of whom any
brother might be proud-and can one
marvel that | loved her as never man
loved sister before?
| was five years older than my Sis
ley.
When left home for college she
was a laughing, coguettish miss, with
a fleece OF raven curls ripping far be-
low her tiny waist.
when | returned, after three wears
OF study and an additional three years
OF educational polish and of travelling
experience in Europe. she appeared
before me as n revelation.
My shy yet coquettish, my saucy
yet demure, little maid had been trans
formed to dazzling young lady, whose
bewildcred me.
My puritan blossom, with her thou
sand merry and innocent inconsistent
cies. had bloomed into brilliant
Iropic flower-incohsistent still, but
infinitely more adorable.
How well remember what she
wore. how she looked. even every
yllable she uttered on that memoir
Ible day of our meeting.
was lounging in big, tempting,
Turkish chair, which somebody had
into the music room, when
straight before my eyes two
exquisite hands drew a dull, crimson
portice apart on either side, forming
IN admirable frame for the vision
which appeared between the parted
Iolds.
l saw tall girl OF eighteen, in
gown OF lusterless and d-
aphanous white, with broad bands of
lnjeweled dead gold about her bare
arms, and about the swan-like neck, SO
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-
'us hair and upon that lovely bosom,
the wore tiny knots Of some delicate
lower, brightly red, like drops of
Hood
As our eyes met the olden half-shy
nd half-coquettish smile hovered
bout her exquisite lips.
Not until then had ! recognized her,
o bewildering had been the change!
"Is it you, really-Sisley-my own
ister2" | sprung TO my feet and
astened toward her with hands ex-
ended. ;
"Is 1t really Sisley," she answered !
70, in that most enchanting Of all {
elodious voices, and with second
nile, sbyer and more exquisite than |
10 first
bent my head toward her that l 1
icht touch MY lips 10 hersi hut sho II