Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-09-13
MY OWN SISTER.

speak of my dainty, darling Sisley
like that!
She was my own sister-all and
only my very ownl
| had no brother to share my pre-
cious affection!
And no one but me could take in
her dear love brothers place-not
even Howard Martmar, although he
was the handsomest and best fellow
in the world. and adored her as he
would have adored an angel-not
even Dicky Sheldon, although he had
a heart of gold and would have
walked unshod over burning plough
shares for her dainty sake!
How | used to smile at their vast
ed devotion. For was she not nv
own sister?-was not her own and
only bI other? Then how could any
of my myriad worshipers ever be as
near and dear to her rs i?
And yet l could not wonder at 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 it's prime
of gladness, and glory, and bloom.
Her figure, in its delicate curves, in
it's perfection of Hebc-like symmetry
and grace, was lovelier than any
which ever charmed II sculptor's
dream.
No canvas ever immortalized q
face SO dazzling as hers, with her
rich dark skin; with her lustrous,
jetty black hair tumbled in silky lit
tie rings all over her proud little
head, with her great luminous. mid
night eyes fringeI by long, witching
lashcs, curling low on her soft round
cheeks.
Then Sislcy had the daintest little
feet; and her hands were like lily
petals, SO exquisitcly white, with
delicately pink nails, and ravishing
little dimples where knuckles are
supposed to be.
And Sisley's voice was such won
drOus mclody-lile the strains of
some mystic eastern song like the
delicious music of the nightingale
singing in the dewy dusk amid the
summer S freshet perfumed bloom.
And, besides, she was gentle and
gracious; she was earnest, sincere,
and true; she was refined and ac-
complished.
And vet she disdained no homely
duty, il done for love or for duty's
sake.
And with Sis,cy dress was an art
which she knew without being
taught; and her every gown was u
poem, Just as her every attitude was
Il picture.
She was n sister ofwhom any broth
er might he proud-and can one mar
vel that loved her as never man
loved sister before?
was five years older than my Sis
ley.
When | let home for college she
was laughing, coquettish miss, with
n fleece of raven cnrls ripping far be-
low her tiny waist
When | returned, after three years
of study, and IN additional three
years of educational polish, and of
travelling experience in Europe, she
appeared before me as a revelation
My shy vet coquettiSh, my saucy
vet demure, little maid had been
transformed to n dazzling young
lady, whose entertainments bewilder-
cd me.
My puritan blossom, with her
thousand merry and innocent incon-
sistcncies, had bloomed into brill
liant iropic fiower-ineonsistent still,
but infinitely more adorable.
How well ! remember what she
wore, how she looked. even every
ryllable she nj tered on that memoir
abe day of our meeting.
WAS louugins in big, tempting.
Turkish chair, which somebody had
tmugg'ed into the MUSHROOM, when
suddenly, straight before my eyes,
two exquisite hands drew II dull Grim
SOP portierc apart on either side
forming an admirable frame for the
vision which appeared between the
parted folds.
saw II tall girl of Is in n marvel
ous gown oi lustcrlcss and diaphan-
Gus white with broad bands of un-
icwe'cd dead god about her bare
arms, and the swnn-like neck, SO
clastely ,lrapcd with misty lnces. A
mass of wonderful hair, lnstrous and
Lack as midnight, was piled high on
proud little head: and in that glori-
Gus hairnnd upon hatlovely bosom,
she wore tiny knots of some delicate
flower, brightly red, like drops OF
blood
AS our eyes met the olden hnlt-shy
and half coquettish smile lowered her
exquisite lips.
Not until then had ] recognized
her, so bcwi,lerng had been the
changc
us it You, rcally-Sisley my own
sister," | stnmmcrcd, MS | sprung to
my feet. and FASTENED toward her
with hands extended.
lis it really Sisley," she answered
me in that most enchanting of all
melodious voices, and with n second