Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-12-25

and golden-brown, their expression
changing with every variation of her
changeable moods. This was Mamie
George at sixteen, when first we made
her acquaintance, just four years ago.
Edwin lost his heart to her at first
sight, which was not to be wondered
at, as he was an immature, impress
sionable youth of one and twenty, who
had not seen much of the world We
dined together at a large boarding
house, so his opportunities for seeing
her were frequent, and he made the
most of them, SO that before I knew it
they were engaged.
ooh, Lulu!" said Mamie, burying
her sweet face in my bosom to con-
ceal her fast-coming bushes, which
friendly Twilight would in any case
have hidden, for she
had let her curtain down,
And pinned it with star.
"Oh, Lulu, when I left England I
never dreamed of such thing hap
peningl To think that I, a lonely
orphan, should have found Amend
so soon. God has been very, very
good to me-" And, as she raised her
head, 1 felt tear drop on the hand
which held hers.
They both were too unsophisticated
to conceal their fondness for each
other, consequently not merely the
Benjamins, under whose guardianship
Mamie was, but all the rest of the
boarders soon knew the exact state of
affairs. How vexed 1 was when Miss
Mahala Quenchit, a maiden lady of a
score or two of years, remarked, in
my hearing;
"I am sorry for the girl. It's a very
great pity. Edwin Tomlinson will
never marry her; some day he will
awake to the fact that she cannot help
him climb, and then he will ruthlessly
throw her overheard and marry one
WIG can; s,.n.n4 ,.;o;nao- o.,u o.,,o,
forth a polite apology for having
spoken so in my presence; she did not
retract one word.
Things went along in this way for
year or two. Mamie was too young to
marry, while Edwin must needs first
earn the wherewithal to support wife.
But meantime my little sister," as I
loved to call her, grew more and more
precious to me, although I saw that
she had not in her the stuff of which
heroines are made.
Her little airs of independence sat
comically on her, for she was made to
cling and Irvine, nor would she ever be
one on whom another could lean. Still,
as she saw how American girls earned
their own support and stood alone, she
was ambitious to do likewise and thus
"help Edwin; ;" and her eyes would
brighten, and the loveliest smiles dim
pie her cheeks and play about her
crimson lips, as she pronounced his
name.
So when I decided to become a pro-
fessional nurse and came hither for
requisite training, nothing would an
swer but she must come. too. The
Benjamins made no objection, for they
considered Edwin's and my right to
| her greater than their own.
How she lived on my brothers let
| ters mime, as well as hers-after we
were separated. He seemed to miss
her, tool though hardly as much as
she did him.
By-and-by, he wrote less frequently.
He was working hard at his profession,
he said, and had not time to write
often, or at length. But Nannie's faith
IN him never wavered, though the
brilliant color In her cheeks began to
fade, and noted that they were less
round than of old.
Alter We had been absent nearly two
| long years his letters ceased altogether
| Then we knew he must be Ill. Pres
emily telegram came confirming our
worst fears, followed by letter saying
that he was well cared for, and that,
though dangerously Ill, they hoped for
his recovery.
~Let me go to him, Lulul I must
go; I have a right !" cried Mamie.
But I dissuaded her, fora speeches.
dread of something worse than sick
ness, or even death, clutched at my
heart; and, childlike, she submitted to
my authority.
But all the mirth faded out of the
brown eyes, which grew bigger and
bigger. with dark rings beneath them !;
and one night after we had retired she
threw her arms round my neck and
sobbed out:
Lulu, if Edwin dies, I shall die,
too"
Next morning news came that he
was better, but she was tossing in
fever.
Her illness now is nearing its close.
Edwin convaIesced, but she has grown
steadily worse. All her delirum has
turned on him; but never once has she
doubted his love or his troth- Yet, I
hold In my hand letter, newly re-
ceived, In which are these words:
%Yes. dear sister, last night was