New-York tribune., 1892-01-10


What yOu mean, then ," almost shouted the
girl. Amt you willin'?"
Rowena now found herself in the position of
one who. if she said no" to that question, said
il because she jealous" The word stung
her almost beyond endurance And yet she must
say no.
She could not account to herself FOR the
great alarm she felt at this glimpse OF the pos
sibilitieS Of the future.
No, She said I'm not willing
Sarsh Kimball stood quivcring.
Il didn't expect you'd he so means that" she
said.
She put her hands over her face. Her shoul
ders moved up and down. She TUNED and ran
out OF the room.
Rowena rose. She stood looking about her
with a startled question in her face.
;" Mr.. SOule going with her." she exclaimed. with
bitterness
In moment, and again aloud, oh. what Shall
| dO?'
She moved toward the door through which her
sister had passed. But. in the doorway she hes
itated. She felt like one cropping i'll the dark.
What should she SAY to Sarah Kimball'
scorcbing suspicion suddenly came TO her
that the girl might have seen Mr. Soule more
frequently than she knew. They were certainly
on very good terms with each other
1t was terrible TO think that Sarah Kimbal.
might fancy herself in love" with that man.
! Rowena knew very we'll that she could not
| Judge her sister in the least by what she herself
had been at that age. Her thoughts, her dreams.
her aspirations had been as utterly unlike what
those of Sarah Kimba seemed TO he as if the
two were not of the same species She mus;
not commit the error of seeming TO oppose the
! child too strongly. She knew that opposition
i
| the faith of the old martyts. And she had never
| known Sarah kmball TO give up "a point as
| child.
| Do YOU think il was singular that it did not
| occur to Rowcna that Mr. Soulc might he genu-
| nely attracted to her sister,
The possibility did occur to her. but only to
he banished impossbity. Not that sh"
| underestinated Sarah Kimbals charms. That
/ he might he in love with the girl did not make
the situation much better in Rowenas mind.
| How should she ever face her mother if any un
| happiness came to her charge
| And she had been absorbed in her work. She
must amuse the girl more.
| She wondered what Keats would say to this
situation. She put her hand in her pocket and
drew out the letter that had come from her hus-
| hand that morning AS she stood with il unfoldeH
in her hand. recalling without looking at It's
| pages the friendly interest OF his words, she
| experienced a sense of comfort mingled with
| sense OF something which she could not analyze
| IL was long letter 1t gave in detail the daily
| experiences of the writer. He seemed TO be en-
joying himself He said the rough outofdoor
life was inst what he needed for time. lie sent
| small photograph of himself in leather lie
| had forgotten how TO wear evening dress.
| Rowena had this picture In her hand when some
| one came forward from the outer door.
"Tve been knocking said Miss Phillips. Z" but
when a person is daubing with paints what can
one expect? Do YOU know. people are going to
| see that canvas OF yours at Dolls. There are
| paragraphs about it in the papers And para
| craphs sarcastically, you know. the begin
ming of fame Presently millionares who wish 10
| have reputation for love of art will he col
| ecting 'Bradfords -
| Don't laugh at me, said Rowena. But snail
| paint even il no one collects Bradfords.'
Miss Phillips put ont her hand and took the
| photograph from her companion
81 heard from Keats this morning. She said
This looks as if he were trying TO he cowboy.
There must be n great charm in leather trousers
with fringe down the outer seams. Such trousers,
| imagine have healed many wounded masculine
| heart Let us hope they will perform that Office
| for Keats
Rowena was silent.
! Miss Phillips still held the bit Of card. She
was not dressed in as severe black she had worn
| Of late There was an indefnable suggestion OF a
| change of mood in her appearance
| She suddenly turned about and walked TO the
| able where she deposited the card She looked
troubled She said the lilies were very sweet
She asked where that little sister was and she did
not hear the reply. She remarked that Boston
seemed to her insufcrably dull She used TO think
| bo infer cd
world. it was in Boston. And Europe was getting
! just as bad.
She now approached Rowena again. She made
this seemingly irrelevant remark
| IF il very sv 70 hn proud ROwcna IN
| s.nsiby drew back little. SAe was AFRAID OF
vancssa whose eyes seemed TO see into her heart
And she had been so happy becansc thcy conln
| Gee thus She involuntarily put out hcr hahus
| as IL 20 ward of something. Her hands were
| taken and held .,
Can you guess where am going -
| NO"
| IL am going where | can ride horseback, az
| Isabella Bird used to ride where divlied skirts
shall be what fringe is TO the owner OF nucK-
As She spoke Miss Phillips was aware that the
| hands she held were growing cold IN her Grasp"
| You see said Miss Phillips laughing.
have never vet ridden up and down canons II
is Am eXpcriencc crave ! want to get away from
| culture and near TO Nature.
| And the sisterhoOd =
! That was TOO limited found too crampnc.
| Rowcna. listen TO me. Dear, you used 10 listen
| 10 me -, D
| The old cadence in the tone made Rowena
| flush. .u,, ho;,r
| (" | am listening, she answered, inwardly pracins
| herself.
| Will you 60 20 California with me "
| Rowena Withdrew her hands with some abrupt
| ness.
| = No. she said again. o
you still wish TO stay here ana WORK
certainly am not fckc.
In spite OF herself, Rowcna put sllsht emphasis
| on that personal prononn
And is your work all the reason yo" nave lot
| not going p i.l
| There was something in ROwcnas mind which