The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-07-22

FM |" " 80" inter
ZW~ rupted her sis
~ ter, II Just
wish you would quit quoting poetry
and talk, and tell me what to do"
81 have told you over and over again,
that I would never marry one man,
loving another" returned Josephine;
then continued: "As a feather is watt
ed downward from an eagle in his
flight"
10" cried her sister, irritably, Evil
you stop that? ! declare" she added
''what with your husband, your baby
and your poetry. you are no earthly
good to me any more. When you were
in love / looked forward to your en-
gagement, when l supposed you would
be like an ordinary mortal again. But
no: after you were engaged you were
always incoming or spooning when
Geoff was in the same town, and when
he was away you were eternally read.
ing his letters, writing him, or med
itating what to write. Then ] antici
pated your marriage, but yOu boarded
the first two years, SO ] couldn't visit
You; and now you keep house you are
always with that baby, quoting poetry
or singing TO it; and working that rock
er continually. | declare, when | dc
get married l will not have a rocking.
chair in my house, and I will marry a
man rich enough to hire a nurse. As
for marrying one man, and loving an.
other, that sounds all right; but ] don't
know that I do love another. What is
Jack to me but a mirage, a memory, a
dream, anything but a substantial man;
while old Mr.. Smith and his millions
are very substantial, very real. How
do know that Jack isn't dcad?'
because he said he would let you
know if anything should happen to
him." replied Josephine.
well, married to another girl, then.
/ think that is rather more likely, on
second thoughts"
Josephine remained silent.
why don't you speak, 10? II you
were anything like a sister You would
think of my good-my worldly well
fare-and help me to make up my mind
to marry Mr.. Smith and-his millions.
You know that it is three years since
Jack went ~away-that we are not
bound to each other. All he said was:
Annette, the man that had charge of
my mothers money has swindled her
ont of every cent, and she and my sis
ter are quite dependent on me now. I
am afraid ! shall have all | can do to
support them for several years, so /
cannot ask you nov to be my wife, as I
intended to do before going west, but if
Fam fortunate I shall come back be-
fore very long, and | hope you will be
free That was three years ago, and
he has new er written me one word"
No; and | honor him the more fol. it.
He wished to leave you entirely free
and you are"
Josephine rose as she spoke. and went
out OF the room to lay the baby, that
had fallen asleep, in its crib. When
she returned, Annette was sitting in
the same position, before the CRATE fire.
apparently in deep thought. In a few
minutes she spoke again:
Il wish that had been home when
Mr.. Smith proposed, 10. Mother would
not nave hesitated in urging me to ac-
cept him. II would have seemed like
a kind of duty then"
Josephine was silent.
How loud that clock does tick!"
Annette continued, fretfully. After a
minutes pause: ''Why didn't you buy a
French clock, Jo?"
They were too expensive" replied
the elder sister. TRANQUILITY. taking up
some sewing that lay on the table, and
beginning to work.
Yes; that is the result of marrying
for love. Now If / wed Mr.. Smith, I
can buy French clocks"
Yes" returned Josephine, land I
hope their soft ticking will quite make
up to you for the tones of a voice that
you loved"
Il am afraid that you are sarcastic.
10" said Annette, laughing. You for
get the fine house, and diamonds, and
horses, and a yacht-and the presents
l can make you all.
My father should wear a broad
cloth coat, my brother should sail a
painted boat lam drendfnlly tired of
seeing mother and father going around
In shabby clothes l don't think, Jo,"
rather wistfully, at IL altogether
selfisfness that prompts ihe to marry
him."
NO; but suppose some day you
meet Jack, AMI he should say: An
nette, l have come back to ask you to
be my wife'-how would you fcel2"
Annette buried her face In her hands;
then, after a minute, she said THAT
Is all nonsense, 10: he never will come
back. dreamed only the other night
that he vas married 10 come girl out IN
those western wilds. You always were
SO romantic; / am 20 glad Geoft turned
u a nice man. j suppose you would
have gone and died IL he hadn't. Now,
/ am sensible and practical. have no
faith in fnen, and / am not going to
live forgotten and die forlorn for such
n mere chance as your romantic inag-
ination has conjured up. l am going to
marry Mr.. Smith"
Then You prefer Mr.. Smith and his
millions to Jack?" said Mrs. Murray,
rather sadly.
NO; but ! prefer living without Jack
seiM money, to living with Jack rithout
money" replied Annette, airily. 81
told the old gentleman ] wanted a week
to consider his proposition. and shall
not send him his answer until the week
is up. That will be in five days more,
butt have decided"
Now where was Jack; Inc 'ei!
afternoon the sisters had the
tlon that affected his happiness so
~ he was tumbling some of his belong I
.hgs into a grip-anyway, or anyhow.
70 great was his haste to catch the east
ward bound train.
why don't .yep wait until to-mor-
ow', asked his mother. Twenty
our hours vii. make very little differ
pce.n -E l