Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-25


and half-coquettish smile lowered
about her exquisite lips.
Not until then had I recognized her,
so bewildering had been the change!
us it you, really-Sisley-my own
sister," 1 sprung to my feet and
fastened toward her with hands ex-
| tended.
lis 1t really Sisley." she answered
me, in that most enchanting of all
melodious voices. and with a second
smile, shyer and more exquisite than
| the first.
bent my head toward her that I
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 I 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 I might
have felt alike hurt and offended.
| when she now shrunk away from my
| offered caress.
II suppose I may kiss your finger
| tips, them" said 1, pretending more
resentment than really felt.
A laugh-sweet as the sound of
golden Observation-Disclosures 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 loyal SUBJ
| ject might take the hand of his SOW
ereign; looked admiringly at the
pink nails. at the witching dimples.
1t was perfect hand, and the hand
| of perfect woman.
But 1 did not avail myself of her in
| diligence.
NO" said I, still feigning resent
ment. lit is dear, lovely. most pre-
| cious hand, but would have my own
sisters lips for her brothers first
| kiss
"Beggars must 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 a 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 I.
And she had ever been the most
loving. devoted and faithful of daugh-
| ters.
And, besides. we were a 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.
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 few weeks in a
cosy gray nest of 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
doomed up a 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 i'll
fated aborigines.
Sisley and liked the rugged grand
eur of those wild hills, and nothing
delighted us more than a long morn
| ing tramp, as near as we dared to go,
| to the eternal Businesses of the loftier
| peaks.
It was in the very beginning of those
| glorious tramps that the shadows
crept upon us.
l discovered that I was no longer
best and nearest to my own sister.
Sisley, my dainty darling. my Idol
lied one, had betrothed herself to
Diciy Sheldon-simple-m Dicky,
who had heart of gold, but was NO
more worthy to be mated with Sisley
than he was fitted to become the con-
sort of a crowned queen.
was stunned by the announcement
OF Sisley's betrothal, agonized to the
depths of my being.
AS the wife of simple, dull. ploddine
Dick Sheldon, where would be the
blessedness of the affection between
me and my-own sister?
why did you do it. Sisley? I car
not believe you love him." com
| l0; L,