The Delta independent., 1891-06-10

did,"
II mean, course. the laundered
ones she had brought. She took them
In payment"
'.Mercy!'
Il can make my things last just
about month that way"
But how am to manage with only
twenty-four shirts, and at least seven
thrown to the dogs week9''
That does seem n problem" mused
Tiff, laying down Mrs. Browning's
poems temporarily on her knee.
Couldn't you buy flannel shirt and
wear it ever SO long?H
Couldn't you get bathing dress?"
demanded HUFF. with whitening sar-
casm.
"ohr' gasped Tiff, chow fearful
you always ares
Suppose the quarrel over. and for d.
day or two intense peace. Then came
an episode.
well, dears. how do you do?" The
speaker was fine girl. Joyous with
early morning air and unusual excite
ment.
Huff and Tiff were transfxed They
were just starting out for breakfast.
II was determined to find you in,
and SO came at this hour" went on
the visitor. at has taken us u good
while to find you"
"How dare you enter the same air
we breathe?" thundered HUFF, striding
up to his sister and taking her round
the waist for stout kiss I'VE ignore
your existence"
Papa says you must be married
over again; go through the form and
all the show and Importance" remark
ed Esther. with the most fascinating
lazy nonchalance. He said he never
saw anything go off so like cotton into
flames as you did. brother; just as
though any one was more in love with
your Bessie Featherly than he was. He
don't remember fOrbidding the mar
riage ut all"
..Please to tell my father" said HUFF,
severely. looking down at his wife,
who held her chin in her hand, THAT
I remember his forbidding it Cor as
bad as forbidding iD very distinctly.
And please add that from this time
forth, my father. yes. and all the rest
OF you is-are-dead to me"'
Dreadful words, those, WILL"
sighed his sister. glancing up with
compressed lips. Don't you think SO,
Bessie?'
Mrs. Tiff shook her head and smiled
Mr.. Thwaite is never in the wrong"
said she, and felt a little awkward mt
her own assertion.
Esther thought moment and then
said she believed she would not stay
any longer just now. When she had
bowed herself through the open door.
she stopped to throw over her shoulder
n roulade of genial laughter.
by the way, Will" she called. ..if
we We're in the fashionable set, what
n terrible notOriety you two wild things
would have! AS it is. it is like nice
play. Adieu!''
Your mother is n woman. dear
answered Thwaite, as if that meant
something unusual. ''und il will take
long time for her TO come round rs my
father has done"
"lSut yOl are ;ts unrelenting as you
can be, " suggested Tiff.
In the evening they were sitting. as
was customary. in the cheerful blue
tinted room, the door was opened
hastily. and figure presented itself
which dashed their united calm. to
atoms.
1t was Esther. pale and trembling.
her ashen face emphasized by u black
veil around it and over her coiOred
dress a heavy black shawl. Thwaite
hurried to her. and took her ungloved
hand in his. led her to an easy chair,
and helped her down upon its soft
cushions.
Dear sister, sobbed Tiff, 'has
terrible happenedp"
MY father" said the white faced
girl. in low tones, shutting her eyes.
Father! fatherr' cried Thwaite.
deeply agitated, and clutching his sis
ter's hands in firmer grasp. What
news OF him.
'Dead!'
The young couple sank on either
side OF Esther, crushed and Mortified.
Without opening her eyes Esther
spoke on:
When I told how you received the
loving message brother Will in one
Thwaite's distress was agonizing.
Esther stopped speaking, opened her
eyes and leaned forward eagerly.
WAS it right to be SO harsh and I'M
yielding to your own father, WHIP"
Her brother had withdrawn to the
other side of the room, his face buried
in his arms against the wall.
''Oh, Esther, have we no hopep"
Tiff sobbed.
why. yes. there is hope in this
case" Miss Thwaite said, in differ
ent tone. win turned, his face covered
with tears.
You said it, brother, and you can
undo It. Dead to you!"
Esther had played Il dangerous
game, but she was determined girl
and felt equal to the emergency. Her
strong presence and sound good cheer
buoyed up the two victims OF her
scheme, and enabled Thwaite to re-
cover from the shock he had UNDER
gone.
She drew letter from her pocket
which had been written by Willis eld-
or brother in Chicago to his father,
upon hearing of the runaway match.
He praised VIII up to the skies, and
declared that any girl he chose must
be q priceless jewel, whether she pos