Macon beacon., 1889-07-27

y
homecoming was a year of unceasing
and undisturbcd delight
: We had always been rarely happy
and harmonious family at all times.
There were but four of us, my par
cnts, and myself and -Sislcy
My parents were as proud and as
fond of Sislcy as was |.
And she had ever been the most
loving, devoted and faithful of daugh-
tCrs.
And, besides, we were u 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
telIcctual pleasures, and not at all for
social eXtravagancos.
80 there was no sane and sensible
reason why we should have been
otherwise than happy.
But the shadows crcpt 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 village, nestled in
Il tiny, emerald valley which was sur
rounded by fragrant pine woods.
Before the little village was a
stretch OF old ocean, and just behind
loomcd up II range of mountainous
| hills.
OF these hills, the lower elevations
were heavily timbcrcd The higher
peaks showed vast masses of naked
rocks-mighty, outjutting bowlder-
and tracks, here and there, Of rankly
lnxurant thiclct, 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 trol bv the |
ieet OF men since the days of the i'll |
fatcd aborigines.
Sisley and liked the rugged grand
eur of those wild hills, and nothing
delighted us more than long morn
ing tramp, as near rs we dared to 90.
to the eternal fastnesses of the lofticr
peaks.
1t was in the very beginning of those
glorious tramps that the shadows
crcpt upon us.
| discovered that | was no longer
best and nearest to my own sister.
Sisley, my dainty darling, my idol
lied one, had berothcd herself to
Dicky Sheldon-simple-mindcd Dicky,
who had n heart of gold, but was no
more worthy to be mated with Sislcv
than he was fitted to become the con-
sort of crowned queen,
| was stunned by the announcement
OF Sislcy's betrothal, agonized to the
depths of my being.
AS the wife of simple, dull, plodding
Dick Sheldon, where would be the
blessedncss of the affection between
me and my-own sister?
'Why did you do it, Sisley2 | can
not believe you love him." | COM
planned to her.
She ayertod her eyes from mine and
was silent.
"And yet" | continued, II can not
reproach you for have myself com
mitted the same folly"
Then she lifted her great eyes with
a look-a strange, nscrutable look
which ! could rot understand, but
which pierced me /, the heart.
"You" she repeated "You! oh,
Jackm
There was something in her voice
which | could not define only knew
that it hurt me like Il dagger-thrust in
my bosom.
"1cs, | answered her, as calmly as :
could speak, al engaged myself to
hat silly, pretty, stupid, Vinic Leigh,
whom met in Europe. You remem- I.
'cr Dicky mentioning her in his let
,ers! He has made her acquaintance
somewhere in his Eastern trip"
"And you. door do not-you love
,cr?' asked Sisley.
my precious child, did not know y
he m"aning OF the word love when |
Engaged myself to her." replied.
We had turned homeward and both
)f us kept silence for several moments. =
Nothing will be quite the same to !,
is ever again" Sisley murmurcd at ),
ength. ..
Nothing will ever be the same to :,
ne, at least-now | have to rclinquish :,
you, Sislcy, my own sister," | re- J,
,urned, bitterly.
'Why do you always call me that?" q
said she, and she too spoke bitterly. 1,
Il am not your sister only by adop- i
ion. There isn't n particle of rcla-
,ionship between us--do you never
,hink of it, Juckp"
Think of it! Had not thought of =,
t every moment of my life for u whole :,
ong yearP Should not think of it !,
'oaseessly through all the miserable !,
years to Gomez
We dismissed the subject that day !,
md we never alluded to it again. =
But the clouds had gathered; the n
'hill was upon us; somehow we were I
becoming cstranged; and in my heart, n
1t least. ragged storm of wrath Il
lgainst fate, which was robbing me of
ny own sister-my sister merely by
,doption-and the adorable girl whom
loved only as a man loves her whom al
e would make his bride. m
Although we mentioned our respect XII
70 betrotbals no more, / was brood. &C
,n nyar ihnt siihiarI n nd m u nun n.Ia a | ID.