Nevada County picayune., 1889-12-11

was piled high on aproud little head {; and in that glorious hair she wore 1 tiny knots of some delicate flower, brightly red. like drops of blood.
 As our eyes met the olden half shy half-coquettish smile lowered about her exquisite lips.
 ''ls is you, really, Sisley, my own sister," l sprang to my feet and hastened toward her with hands ex- tended, bent my head toward her that might touch my lips to hers |; hut she shrunk back, her great luni- nous eyes dropping and hidden by the lovely curling lashes which swept her soft checks.
 And upon those checks had sud denly kindled the olden shy blushes -blushes the most beauleous I ever beheld upon woman facel
 And then l suddenly recalled a fact, which may seem almost strange. Never, even in our childhood days together, had l ever kissed Sisley- my own sister,
 Had l not loved her so dearly l might have felt alike hurt and of fended, when she now shrank away from my offered caresses.
 Il suppose l may kiss your finger tips, then, said 1, feigning more re- sentiment than l really felt.
 A laugh rippled from her ps, Her black, tropic eyes sparkled with mirth as she lifted
 That sacred treasure"
 of her slim white hand for her broth CTS first kiss.
 took il reverently as loyal sub ject might take the hand of his soy ercign. It was a perfect hand and the hand of a perfect women, but 1 did not avail myself of her indul- gence. No" said 1, still feigning resentment, it is a dear, lovely hand, but would have my own sis ter's lips for her brother 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 wa, q year of unceasing and undisturbed delight.
 There were four of the family, my parents, myself, and-SisIey.
 My parents were as fond of Sisley as was l. And she had ever been the most loving, devoted and faithful of daughters. And, besides, we were a wealthy family; we had no tastes, no needs, which our riches could not gratify or supply. And then our tastes were all simple; we cared much for quiet, intellectual pleasures, and not at all for social eNtravaganccS. So there was no sane 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, sun less storm
 We were spending few weeks in q cosy gray nest of a village, nestled in q tiny, emerald valley which was surrounded by fragrant p,nc woods.
 Before the little village was stretch of the old ocean. and just be- hind loomed up range of moun- tainous hills. Of these hills, the lower elevations were heavily tim bered. The higher peaks showed vast masses of naked rocks-mighty outjutting bowlder-and tracks, here and there, of ranlly luXuriant thick ct, which in many places was i'm passable, and, so far as is known, has never been trod by the feet of men since the days of the ill-fated Aborigines,
 Sisley and l liked the rugged grandeur of these wild hills, and nothing delighted us more than long morning tramp near the eternal fastnesses of the loftier peaks.
 It was in the very beginning of those glorious tramps that the shad- ows crept upon her. l discovered that was no longer best and dear est to my own sister. Sisley had be- trothed herself to Dickey Sheldon simple minded Dick k-who had heart of gold, but was no more worthy to be mated with Sisley than he was to become the consort of a crowned queen.
 I was stunned by the announce