The Springdale news., 1889-08-23

~ 'ihoh eso ouuucHly recalled a fact, which may seem almost strange, never even in our earliest childhood days together, had I ever kissed Sisley my own sister.
 Had not loved her So dearly might have felt alike hurt and offended when she now shrunk away from my offered caress.
 'l suppose I may kiss your finger tips, then" said I, pretending more resentment than I really felt.
 A laugh-sweet as the sound of golden bride-bells-rippled from her lips
 Her black, tropic eyes sparkled with mlrth as she lifted
 That sacred treasure" of her slim white hand for her brothers first kiss.
 took 1t reyerently as a loyal sub lect might take the hand of his sov- ereign; looked admiringly at the pink nails, at the witching dimples.
 It was a perfect hand, and the hand of perfect woman.
 But l did not avail myself of her in- diligence.
 "No," said I, still foigning resent ment, it is dear, lovely, most pre- cious hand but would have my own sisters lips for her brothers first kissn
 "Beggars must not be chooscrs, :" she retorted gayly, as she drew the hand away and moved idly toward the piano.
 The year succeeding that happy homecoming was year of unceasing and undisturbcd 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 1.
 And she had ever been the most loving, devoted and faithful of daugh- tcrs.
 And, besides. we were 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 i'm tellectual pleasures, and not at all for social cXtrayagances.
 So there was no sane and sensible 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 a few weeks in cosy gray nest of a 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 loomod up a range of mountainous hills.
 Of these hills. the lower elevations were heavily timbercd. The higher peaks showed vast masses of naked rocks mighty, outjutting bowldcr- and tracks, here and there. of rankly luxuriant thicket, which in many places was impossible.
 In fact, among the moro wildly picturesque sections of the irregular range there were spots which so far asAknown-had never been trod by the feet of men since the days Of the ill., fatcd aborigincs.
 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 fastnesses of the loftier peaks.
 It was in the very beginning of those glorious tramps that the shadows crept upon us.
 l discovered that l was no longer best and nearest to my own sister
 Sisley, my dainty darling, my idol izcd one, had betrothcd herself to Dicky Sheldon simple-minded 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 crowned queen.
 was stunned by the announcement of Sisley's betrothal, agonized to the depths of my being.
 As the wife of simple, dull, plodding Dick Sheldon. where would be the blessedness of the affection between me and my-own sister?
 Why did you do it. Sisley? l can not believe you love him." I com plaincd to her.
 She averted her eyes from mine and was silent.
 And yet" continued, T can not reproach you flor have myself com mitted the same folly.'
 Then she lifted her great eyes with a look a strange, inscrutable look - which I could not understand but which pierced me to the heart.
 Your she repeated. You. oh, Jack"
 There was something in her voice which l could not define. l only knew that it hurt me like dagger-thrust in my bosom.
 Yes" I answered her, as calmly as I could speak, "I engaged myself to that silly, pretty, stupid, Vinie Leigh, whom I met in Europe. You rcmem- Der Dicky mentioning her in his let ters, He has made her acquaintance somewhere in his Eastern trip"
 And you, door do not-you love her?" asked Sisley.
 My precious child, l did not know the meaning of the word love when l engaged myself to her. I replied.
 We had turned homeward, and both of us kept silence for several moments.
 Nothing will be quite the same to us ever again" Sisley murmured at length.
 Nothing will ever be the same to me. at least-now 1 have to relinquish you, Sisley, my own sister," l re- turned, bitterly.
 Why do you always call me thatP" said Sha and cba tOO smoke bittprlv