Huntsville gazette., 1889-08-03
my OWN SISTER" "
She Is Now Something a Thou
ss sand-Fold Dearer.

How sweet it was to think and speak
of my dainty. darling Sisley like that!
She was my own siSter-all and only
my very own!
| had no brother to share her pre-
cious affection!
And no one but me could take in her
dear love a 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 heart Of
gold and would have walked un-
shod over burning plow-shares for
her dainty sake!
How I used to smile at their wasted
devotion. For was she not my own
sister?-was not her own and only
brother? Then how could any OF her
myriad worshipers ever be as near and
dear to her as /?
And yet could not wonder at the
enthusiastic devotion she inspired
from her countless admirers.
For she was the loveliest 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 q sculptor's dream.
No canvas ever immortalized 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 eyes
fringed by long, witching lashes, curl
\ ing low on her soft round cheeks
Then Sisley had the daintiest little
feet; and her hands were like lily pc
tails, 50 exqui5itely white, with deli
cately pink nails, and ravishing little
dimplcs where knuckles are supposed
to be.
And Sisley's voice was such won
drous melody-like 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 homely
duty, if done for love or for duty
sake.
And with Sisley dress was an art
which she knew without being taught;
and her every gown was a poem, just
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 laughing, coquettish miss, with
fIeece+of raven curls ripping far be-
:,1slew her-finy waist.
When Ireturned, after three years
: .of Setudy and an additional three years
OF euucdtlOHitl poiISH anu VI tfdFellHS
e.aariencesin Europe. she appeared
!. sbefgre me asa revelation.
: Ny shy yet coquettish, my saucy
yetsaenure, little maid had been trans
+; formed to a dazzling young lady, whose
entertainments bewildered me.
Ny puritan blossom. with her thou
!. sand merry and innocent inconsistent
Z cies,e had bloomed into brilliant
tropic fower-inconsistent still, but
infinitely more adorable.
How well | remember what she
wore, how she looked. even every
syllable she uttered on that memor-
able day of our meeting.
! was lounging in big. tempting,
Turkish chair. which somebody had
smuggled into the music room, when
suddenly, straight before my eyes, two
exquisite hands drew a dull, crimson
portice apart on either side, forming
an admirable frame for the vision