Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-06-02

. | NdiAf IlbIt Nlthtt ana ufAillnHN IN lnI
, dealings with me every day. My sister
came 60 be almost as cruel 20 me. in SC
Tar as she had the power, MS her mother
! was. She was thoroughly selfish, and
, with age that characteristic grew
/ stronger In her nature so that before
she had reached her fifteenth year she
had no care for anyone and only val.
ued her friends according TO their abil.
ity 20 supply her wants could do lit
tie for her beyond such services ns
a cheap hireling might have rendered.
and consequently was Of small moment
20 her She declined TO have any sister.
ly relations with me, never spoke 10 me
kindly, never would go into public with
me, and in every way dcportcd herself
toward me as a mistress might toward
the lowest mental.
My father continued 10 show me the
same neglect and cold indifference that
had characterized him from the first.
lie apparently had no idea Of my physi.
cal or mental needs, and never devoted
a thought I'm sure. to my future. lie
gave me no training, no advice. no in.
structions, but permitted me 10 grow
up in my surroundings, imbibing what
ever ideas Of life and its duties I
CHANGED TO form in my ignorance. His
cruelties increased in the same pro-
| portion as my stcpmother's hatred, for
the more she faulted me the more
occasion he had TO innict punishment.
still, In spite Of all, | continued TO love
him and TO long for his love in return.
For long time win llanlcy and
were together frequently, and as he
continued TO let his sympathy 20 out To
me in the old way he was a source of
happiness TO me, rs he had been from
the first. But mt last there came day
OF separation. lie went to the CITY ia |
attend school, and during the remaining |
three years ] lived at home never saw |
MIN or heard anything concerning him |
Our parting. which took place down |
back Of the orchard, where had frat
met him, was full Of true sorrow, which.
I'm sure, was mutual. and, besides
grent nanny promises made regarding
the future We agreed TO write 10 each
other every week lie was to write first
ana tell me how to address my letters,
ana then was to answer Immediately
rejoiccd IN this arrangement, and no
one can tell how fondly looked forward
to the comm" of his first lcttcr-which.
alas, never came
All, no" iugaticntly brool,cd the
long delay, as day after day passed.
and the weeks ran into months.
and the letter for which sim
eagerly watched mi prayed failed
TO come e. bend. ~ last abandoned
all hope OF d., coming and then when
sought for the reason of It's failure /
guessed the truth. My stcpwothcr had
received ana destroyed that letter rs
she did ull those that for months fol.
lowed H. At the time | supposed she
was doing IL to annoy me, and to dc.
pri'e me Of the sHIll need Of cniov.
mcnt those letters might bring. but AFT.
'rwards lopracd that she had a deeper
purpose in view
win llanlcy was handsome. and II
vas well understood that he was heir 20 {
snug fortune. Although my sister
vas but child, my stcpmothcr was
.lrcady planning out her matrimonial
arccr, and had conceived the idea of y
her, when she had reached l
to win Ilanlcy With r
hat aim before her it was to her inter q
st to interrupt, and, II possible, break I
Up the friendship cXiltiug between him D
nd me. So she destroyed his letters. I
nd prevented any communication be. "
wocn us, leaving him 10 wonder at nv p
Hence and me - chat and worry be. n
ausc Of her pcrddy.
When my sister reached her fifteenth n
car She was sent away to college. Il
'anted to 60, too, because | had n great 81
I'VE for learning, and in desultory D
ray had managed TO pick up a very IL
God common school education So III
Lrong was my desire for term at col. W
'gc that | dared approach my father t
n tho subject, asking in all humility n
nat ! might be granted that one pleas. u
re. lie heard me as faltcringly and w
made known my wish, al
Zen, turning on me with frown, said: &C
what do you want TO 20 to college VI
II? You can't learn anything, and you 81
ouldn't do anything but disgrace Mary N
You went. Doyou suppose she would "'
ant You there and have everybody I'd,
ointing TO You as her sister2" u
81 could go to n different school," / Sc
injured TO suggest, where no one
ould know of her, and where she 60
ouldn't have any occasion to feel ~
'hamed of me-"
well, you're not going anywhere, so
M needn't say any more about II. I've II
1t no money to fool away on you, and
'sidcs you're needed here. Your ma
rs plenty Of use for YOU and the best Gu a.,
ace for You Is in the kitchen. You i"
went intelligence enough 20 do any. ~
ing but houscwork, and you never ''
Ill have, SO you're going to stick TO "'
Am l TO be drudge forever" I
ked, exhibiting a little spirit. g a,,
You're not going 10 college, and
'u're going to stay here and attend 10 ."
'ur work, so that's all there Is TO Il. wy
NV get out about your business and a.,
Us not hear any more foolishncss from W.
~" 'h
Reader, you may feel inclined to W.
ubt my statements. You may be in. '"l
ned TO think that parent could not
so unnatural wish had n reason
: doubling them myself But alas, | NJ
We not These cruel words OF nv 5
hers cut too deep into my heart to cat
nr admit Of doubt, and should IL be Tn
ssible for me to live an eternity | roy
ould never, never forget them. hil
I such thing is possible, was ndI
re miserable than ever, though |
nix that not likely. | saw nothing S
fore me but life Of drudpery. IL Dol
med that | was 10 be n eo,.,,sr ~ o., ..,,.