The Opelousas courier., 1893-01-28

OSN SSLS
of Agnes while I am gone, Mary" said
the thoughtful elder sister, glancing
toward a worn lounge on which reposed
the pale, slight form of a girl of thir-
teen.
Agnes Melbrook was a cripple; yet
you scarcely pitied her when you looked
upon the happy serenity of her sweet,
pale face. He who sstempers the wind
to the shorn lamb" had gwen Agnes
Melbrook patience to bear her affection
and Lily herself sometimes envied her
young sister the unrufied peace Of her
daily life.
Lillian Melbrook had been left sole
guardian and protector of her two sis.
tiers at the age of eighteen, and she had
unhesitatingly assumed the charge. DIR.
Melbrook died suddenly, and on the
investigation of his affairs, they proved
to be so embarrassed that Lillian found
herself obliged to toll for he daily
bread, and now was tue time when her
accomplishments proved themselves of
use.
"My DEAR" said the head partner OF
the great jewelry firm of Gold s. Jett,
styou may bring as many of your wax
flowers here as you please, and I'll sell
'em for you without a cent of commits
sion. You needn't go to thanking me
now; / should be a cold hearted old
fellow, indeed, if I weren't willing to
do as much as that for Roger Melbrook's
daughter"
Lily looked very pretty as she sped
through the frosty October sunshine,
with glowing cheeks and fresh lips
slightly apart, to put her little bouquet
on exhibition. She was small and
plump, with peach-red cheeks, hair of
the real daxen gold and soft gray eyes,
whose appealing glance spoke to you
with an irresistible charm; and her SIM
pie dress of some drab Worsted fabric,
trimmed with bars of scarlet velvet
ribbon, set off her beauty with artistic
contrast.
81 ought to have five dollars for this
little bouquet" thought Lily. stLet me
see-tWo dollars for rent and and a dol
lar for more wax, and / shall have two
dollars left for Mary's cloth coat. Only
two dollars-oh, if we were only rich
again!o
Lily sighed ~invoiuntarily. It was very
hard TO live upon the slender wages of
her work; and a woman fighting he
battle of life alone strives at a fearful
disadvantage. But she thought of
Agnes, accomplishing and serene upon
her couch of suffering, and of little
Mary, eager in her studies, that she
may n day be able to teach, and
thereby "help sister Lily and re-
solved to harbor not one repining
thought.
All of a sudden, as she glanced up-
ward, q familiar face seemed to fash
across her Visions dark, bronzed face,
with Pleasant hazel eyes, and a puzzled,
half.recognizing expression.
"Major Draperl' she murmured look
ing around almost ~bewildered. And
then, as the tall form, borne uncon-
sciously forward By the crowd, seemed
to pause and hesitate, she drew the
vail owe her face and darted down a
side street-whE, she could hardly have
told herself, except that Major Draper
had known them in the days of their
prosperity, and Lily Melorook-over
sensitive, perhaps-shrank from meeting
him again.
II thought he had gone to spainw
soliloquized Lily, with throbbing heart.
II am sure some one told us he was liY-
ing in Madtidl'
The crimson flushed softly over LiIy's
cheek, as she remembered the note she
had found, in Major Diapers handwrit.
ing, among her deceased fathers papers
IA note asking for permission to WOO
Lily Melbrook as his wife-and the copy
Of her fathers reply. DR.. Melbrook had
discountenanced the whole thing with
out NICE submitting it to his daughters
decision. Lilly was too young-he did
not wish such things put in her head.
Major Draper, though unexceptionable
in every respect, was too much Lily's
senior-he must beg respectfully to de-
cline the honor" etc.
II was only sixteen them thou .ht
Lily, land yet Major Draper could not
have been more than thirty, ard he was
very handsome, and winning in his
manners
And Lily thought for one feeting M
ment how pleasant it would have BEEN,
could she, as Angus Diapers wife, have
offered a luxurious home to Agnes and
little Mary.
aHoW foolish I am to build such alb
surd castles III the airlp was her resp
lutte ultimatum, and she carried her tiny
bouquet to Gold q Jett's and came home
again tc the dingy house in the second.
rate street, resolved to dream no more
delusive visions Of what might have
been.
81 don't think I'll settle on the brace.
lot to-day. The turquois ii 50 pretty that
really | can't decide between that and
the topaz
Miss Fontaine sauntered gracefully
toward the door. with her father and
Major Draper IN attendance.
Upon my word, said Nj. Fontaine.
with a grinacs expressive OF relief, al
begin to think you never conld tear
yourself away from the contea. III on Of
trinkets, and il grows late. WHAT
now Helanaan