New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-28
MRS. KEATS BRADFORD.
XVI
A BAD HALF HOUR,

reared and gazeu dJ hei blster, VINO returned the
look with eyes that plainly showed her perpeAity.
." Does il strike you that l have always done
lust as / pleased ?"
Rowena put this question much more mildly
than she felt The inclination 70 say a few very
severe things was growing momentarly greater.
We'll" returned Sarah Kmball in high voice
IL should say il did. N everybody knows it, too
Didn't you 20 TO Paris and have good time
M didn't YOU ketch rich husband there N
amt you actin like Sancho TO him now? lie
must be regular angel to stay out there n let
YOU be here n spend his money"
This wac carrying the war into the enemy q
country.
Rowena did not intend to discuss her own
affairs She felt that her sister letting a very
dsagreeable light upon them. She could not be-
lieve she was seeing them in their true aspect
Sarah Kimball paused. She subject to
dscouraging baclSsiding IN the matter of gram
mar and articulation the moment she became in
the least excited She excited now. She
held the envelope directed to Miss S. X. futile
tightly in hot and closely clenched fist. She
believed herself about to be prosecuted. She had
extremely liberal ideas as to the rights and hoer-
ties of American girls in the matter Of beaus.
These were sacred rights which must not be med
died with
husband" remarked RoWena very coldly.
Then you needn't come tome jes s II was
a thief n a robber, cause you found this un-
claspinc her hand and showing the crumpied oie
of paper.
Rowena held her position in front of her sister
She gazed at the flushed face and herce eyes %
strangely is human nature snade up tha' AZ oh@O
moment ludicrous wonder came 70 ner as u
what Mr. Robert Soule must think OF Saran hihi
halls letters Rowena knew what they were IN
the way of construction and photography Inc
girl had a telling shrewdness in most auais' ou'
this did not show particularly in any epis.oiarS
way.
II don't know what you find TO laugh at. Pm
sure"
Sarah Kimball spoke sulkiiy
I'VE are acting like two ridiculous chliarer'
said Rowena, now openly laughing. Can't you
confide in me? You will worry mooher Doh
YOU think I'm trustworthy"
She approached yet nearer 70 her sister, whose
face was undergoing rapid changes The girl
looked rather wistfully at her companion
You n mother needn't worry one grain. she
said Then she hestated faint fair for You
"a look at me So" she cried, putting one hand up
to her face.
Rowena smiled and turned away But her smile
did not go very deep into her heart she knew
she was not logical in her shrinking from the
Thought of Mr. Soule as a husband for her sister
She knew not Of single act of Mr.. Soulc'S thai
should disqualify him, in the worlds eyes, Tor mar
rage with the nobcst woman in the land Her
objections were all feminine intuitive utterly in
capable of being formulated with any snow OF
reason. But. nevertheless, she shrank with her
whole soul from the thought of such UNION, ana
She would prevent il if it were possible thing
aN-aiI hat n WHISPERED
that she should not NEEDLE in this The strain
of rigid Puritan resolution came prominently TO the
surface Perhaps she narrow at this juncture
She was then, but living up to her birthright
And 10 be absolutely resoiute must be, at times
incapable OF seeing more than one side TO question
Rowena also could be set" upon occasion.
There was CLEAN of something like steel in the
glance She now turned upon her sister. But Sarah
Kimball did not see it. Her hand was still shading
her eyes.
You see," said the girl, with some indication
of a sob in her voice. You see, he thought
that is. we thought. that mebby you wouldn't like
it, lie said he guessed you didn't approve Of him ;
though he had always admired you so much
Everybody admired you. | don't wonder at mat
with decided sob" but do wish you'd let me
alone You made me come away from Boston les'
cause you took notion to see how the shadows
mother bein sick, n
Here came a pause in the voice and Sarah Kim
ball broke into open weeping She was in the
midst Of this display of emotion and her sister was
rather hopelessly gazing at her when form passed
the window and Immediately Miss Hancock entered
,rpon the scene Sarah Kimbal gave a furious
hitch 10 her shoulders and disappeared INTO the
entry from which the stairs went to her chamber.
Marthy s. expressed the hope that she hadn't
disturbed nobody She said she hadn't inten-
tons Of intruding, and she hoped there want
nothin' serious the matter with that girl.
She had large tin pail in her hand from which
she now carefully lifted two glasses. At the top
of each glass appeared white, puffy substance.
Il brought your mar couple Of f1oatin islands,
she said with some pride. Folks that can't take
a grain of food often have ioatin islands set real
well How is your mar feelin' today"
Rowena tried TO bring her mind 20 the contenl-
plation of the delicacies on the kitchen table She
thanked Marthy S. She SAID her mother seemed
about the same
Pm glad she amt no worse. I'm in great
hurry this mornin'7 She hung the tin pail on her
arm rs she spoke. She walked 10 the door. She
hesitated. Her little, sharp face had peculiar
look upon it. She back close 10 ROwena.
She spoke in . whisper; and she blushed as She
spoke
i've ben thinldn,,' Roweny, bout what you said
the other night"
The young face was turned toward her with a
vaguely questioning look, for Rowcna was trying
TO detsch her mind from her sisters affairs.
You know" said Marthy s., nervously lingering
the handle Of the pail on her arm. Bout not
maryin' the deacon less / loved him"
"Oh, yes, / remember said the other gently.
perhaps / ought not to have meddled even by
saying that. But / felt so strongly TO say 1T
that"
"'Twa'nt meddln-'twa'n't meddin,- hastily
interrupted the other q curious youthful look
coming Tor an instant over her aspect. " / wanted
to tell you that I've ben thinsin' OF it, IL want