Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-08
HECLA.

lessness, or was guilty OF a practical joke
upon highly respectable and unimsginative
parenta II was patent to mother, nurse and
visitors that she had misplaced the infant
souls, by tho time the children were six
months old When they were grown. IL was
q standing jest in community just then ad-
dicted 10 "Pinafore," that tie facetious
mother Of Us all had mixed these maidens
up"
Their twinship seemed absurd, even TO cas-
ual acquaintance. Not feature or trick OF
tono or manner betrayed IT, Lucy was a tall
brunette and Junoesque in build. The curl
OF the short upper lip was pride incarnate, her
deep, gray eyes had black shadows in their
depths; sue bore her head sloft and walked
~ qusens should; her contralto voice had a
sub-tone OF repreSsed passion, so Inconsistent
with the trite propriety of her speech, that
people were surprised aud provoked when
they could elicit nothing else. She looked
like Medea whose very calns were deadly
and portended tempest Her family knew
her as an amiable pack horse, her friends as
the meekest and shyest Of social lay figures
conscientious 10 fault, patient TO a mir
acle.
"You have no more character than bowl
Of vanilla junketn said sara, iiercely. TO her
one morning, Us they talked over a party
they had attended the previous evening.
Most people spoke of Lucy as "Sara's sis
ter despite her superiority in size, and the
fact that she hal preceded her twin into the
world by half an hour. The lesser ruled the
larger, rs Titania ruled Peascod and Cobweb
Sara was the fairest OF blondes and petite
Her hair would have been fiaxen but for tue
golden gliuts upon the waves; her eyes we're
wide aud pure blue; her lips cherry ripe; her
cheeks had the violet flush, at once soft and
clear, one revels over In the heart OF a
Katherine Meruit rose From sunny poll TO
twinkling toes, she was alive aud electric
the Sauciest, daintiest, daringest sprite that
ever turned a lovers head aud shocked n
duenna.
While Lucy Sewed now upon a long white
seam, her exquisitely nodded hand drawing
the thread out in slow lengths with rhythmic
regularity, her sister and sovereign, perched
upon the head OF lounge close by, twittered
like sun bleached linnet.
MIX and water Is sauce tartare by com-
parison, she continued nippng and rending
with her pink nails water lily snatched
from bowlful upon Lucy's washstand.
Dan HYDE had sent them, an hour before,
and the present TRADE sprang up from this
circumstance.
why, just couldn't keep it to myself
another minute. Dan would murder me IL
he knew had let out his secret. He charged
me not 70 breathe it to anybody-least OF all
TO you-you ungrateful, non-susceptibls ala
baster slab He calls YOU bis still, pale
angelr don't believe angels veins run iced
glycerine Lucy Knight! II you don't blush,
or prick your finger, or break your needle,
or do something abnortnaly like other peo-
pie, shall fall upon you aud tear you limb
from limb verify believe this flower has
more human feeling than you. You take the
news that one of the finest fellows in town
loves you 20 distraction as cOolly as II had
said: Lucy, do you know that water lilies
have yellow ceuters!"
Lucy did not lift her eyes or intermit the
setting of minute stitches OF uniform length.
Il do not see that there is anything for me
TO say, she answered, In a deep monotone
that never more than limited at leashed feel
ing. You are very kind, am sure, to tell
me all the pleasant things Mr.. Hyde said to
you of me, and he was very kind TO say them. ~
In wrath that would not wait for words 10
convey It, Sara flung the maltreated lily at
nor. II hit Lucy's cheek and fell upon her
''white work. She picked 1t up, looked at
1t as II 10 see whether or not it could be re-
paired, and apparently deciding that it was
hopelessly injured, dropped IL into the waste
paper basket, and went on setting minute
stitches. Sara swung her toe against a chair
and upset It,
81 don't see what lac sees in such a CON
struction Of starch and plaster to care for, ~
she jerked out. 1T did not seem 50 prepos-
ferrous while he was telling me In the con-
servatory-and the band was playing soft
love music-how he had loved you for three
years, and could never get near enough TO
you 70 intimate the truth. He looked so miser-
able, and tragic and nice that couldn't help
saying what a perfectly lovely disposition
you have, and how helpful and unselfsh YOU
ars, and how devoted arm 10 you and that
nothing would please mo more than 70 have
him for brother. There. am glad Of I'll
In savage sincerity.
Lucy had run the point Of the needle under
her nail Her brows contracted aud har
whitening lips were pressed closely together
as she dipped the wounded member in the
bowl Of water and then stanched the blood
with her handkerchief.
1T does bleed, doesn't itT' remarked Sara
cool and malicious. That does surprise me
somewhat"
In the next second she collapsed into an
unexpected bunch OF blue fOulard and haxen
fun upon the white work. and, buryinz
her fearful face in Lucy's fichu, begged her
TO ''forgive her for all the despicably abom-
Unable things she had saidn
Lucy fondlsd her silently, as she might q
hurt kitten or frightened rabbit.
II know you don't mean all you say, dear
she said, with unmoved gentleness. And il
Is awkwardness, not ingratisude, that makes
mo seem ungrsciouS. / am not quick of
speech as you are. Or Of wits, either. for
that matter. You must bear with what can't
be cured"
"And you will be kind 10 Dan when be
asks you to marry him, won't your pleaded
the other, with wet eyes and trembling
mouth. HE will at the first opportunity.
He said so. And he Is 90 doubtful of your
feelings that a slight rebuff will drive him
away from the subject. You see, Lu, you
never had an offer and don't understand how
much encouragement a modest man needs 10
such circumstances You must do your part,
or you'll lose him TO dead certainty"
A wave Of color, 50 faint that Sara could
not guess how it scorched the dark, still face,
nickered over Lucy's forehead.
''Since no did not mean for you to speak Of
II to any one, wouldn't it be honorable for Us
&c let the matt drop here and try not to
mink Of It againr she said, in her level tones,
As abe picked up the white work and gave i,
4 little shake to get out the creases Sara's
weight had left In IL.
Sara stared Mt her In intensest scorn.
II say another word I'll be sorry for it,"
she uttered in desperate composure, and flung
herself out Of thu room.
At O'Clock ttnt evening tho girls were In
the driving room. Anity was completely
restored, and Lucy was playing diligently
correct accompaniment to Sara's singing
when Dan Hyde entered. Both sisters saw
him and his courteous gesture of entreaty
that they should finish the song. Sara smiled
with her eyes and nodded, warbling spirited
ly all the while. Grave Lucy's fingers were