The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-01-18

Sfzs4 FL them'
% And little Mary
III Melbrook stood glee.
xsaEAANsttsszSe lJIek fully on tiptoe to ex-
little bouquet OF wax lilies of the valley
that lay on the table--a chubby child Of
seven years.
"You will be sure and take good care
of Agnes while am gone, Mary" said
the thoughtful elder sister, glancing
toward worn lounge on which reposed
the pale, slight form of 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 "tempers the wind
to the shorn lamb" had gwen Agnes
Melbrook patience to bear her affliction
and Lily herself sometimes envied her
young sister the unruffied peace of her
daily life.
Lillian Melbrook had been left sole
guardian aud protector of her two sis
tiers at the age, of eighteen, and she had
unhesitatingly assumed the charge. DR..
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 the time when her
accomplishments proved themselves of
use.
''My dear" said the head partner Of
the great jewelry firm of Gold 6 Jett,
'you may bring as many of your wax
flowers here as you please, and I'll sell
'em for you without cent of commits
sion. You needn't go to thanking me
now; l should be cold-hearted old
fellow, indeed, If / 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 faxen 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.
''I ought to have FIVE dollars for this
little bouquet" thought Lily. "L9t me
see-two dollars for rent and and dol
lar for more wax, and l shall have two
dollars left for Marys cloth coat. Only
two dollars-oh, if we were only rich
againl"
Lily sighed involuntarily. 1t was very
hard to live upon the slender wages of
her work; and woman fighting the
battle of life alone strives at fearful
disadvantage. But she thought of
Agnes, accomplishing and serene upon
her couch of suffering, aud of little
Mary, eager in her studies, that she
may ono day be able to teach, aud
thereby "help sister Lily" and re.
solved to harbor not one repining
thought.
All of sudden, as she glanced up
ward, familiar face seemed to flash
across her vision-a dark, bronzed face,
with pleasant hazel eyes, and puzzled,
half.recogniziug 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 over her face and darted down a
side street-why, 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.
al thought he had gone to Spain"'
soliloquize1 Lily, with throbbing heart.
al am sure some one told US he was liv-
ing in Madddi"
The crimson flushed softly over Lily's |
cheek, as she remembered the note she |
had found, in Major Diapers handwrit-
ing, among her deceased fathers papers
"a note asking for permission to woo
Lily Melbrook as his wife-aud the copy
of her fathers reply. Dr. Melbrook had /
discountenanced the whole thing with.
out once submitting it TO his daughters |
decision. "Lily was too young-he did |
not wish such things put in her head. |
Major Draper, though unexceptionable 4
in every respect, was too much Lily's |
senior-he must beg respectfully to de-
cline the honor" etc.
al was only sixteen then," thought |
Lily, "and yet Major Draper could not
have been more than thirty, and he was
very handsome, and winning in his
manners"
And Lily thought for one Aeeting mo !
ment how pleasant it would have been,
could she, as Angus Diapers wife, have !
offered luxurious home to Agnes and |
little Mary.
"How foolish am to build such alb
surd castles ia the airl" was her reso-
Lutte ultimatum, and she carried her tiny
bouquet to Gold & Jett's aud came home /
again to the dingy house in the second.
rate street. resolved to dream no more