Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-06-24

the rooms ready. She had talked her
self hoarse to induce the butcher to
condone the arrears and to persuade
| the aggrieved general merchant" to
extend new supplies of -four and spices,
tea and sugar.
GAS soon rs / get the first weeks
board, " said Janey. 81 can pay some
of these debts.
''But Philippe must have spring
hat, " said Amelia.
''And Amelia wants to go out sketch
ing with the Poyntzes, declared
Philippa, ''and how can she without
an outfit? You must let us have the
first weeks money, Janey Don't you
see, you silly little goose, that Mr..
Poyntz is getting interested in dear
Amelia? Oh, yes he is, i'll spite of that
great-ayed Miss Duchesne, who goes
about with tapping hat and straight
up-and-down gown. like one of Bough
tons pictures. Only think what a
thing that would be for us all Why,
| Mr.. Axworthy SAYS he's rich man, in
spite of this artist kink of his
erich men sometimes are artists, -
drily remarked Janey.
And so the first weeks earnings were
swallowed up by these human octo
puses.
Miss Revere. as Amelia called her
| self, took great pains with her toilet,
/ developed q new enthusiasm for art,
and smiled her sweetest on Perciyal
Poyntz, while the other Miss Revere
devoted herself to Harry Duchesne and
Frank Axworthy.
Like the lilies of the field, the tall
sisters toiled not, neither did they
spin, but sauntered gracefully about
the green fields, posed under the
greening boughs of the elm trees and
studied the newest novels and poems,
SO as to be able to hold their own in
the literary chit-chst of the sketching
party.
'Its such splendid opportunity
for lis, " said Amelia, complacently.
'I'm SO glad Janey thought of it, B"
smiled Philippa.
One spring day, however, when they
were all copying the fantastic leaps of
certain cascade not far from the
house, Mr. Poyntz happened to be sit
ting beside fair Amelia, with his easel
before him, and his palette on his
I thumb
"Oh, by-the-way,' said he, ''there's
something | want to ask you, Miss Re
we're !"
Amelia blushed
This was not the way that proposals
generally began but then, she reflect
ed, artists were so unconventional!
''its confidential, of course" said
he.
"Oh, of course !" murmured Amelia.
well, then, is it true that that
pretty young hostess of ours has two
selfish sisters who are boarding gen
/ teelly somewhere, and leaving her to
/ bear all the brunt of care and respons-
ibility?"
/ Amelia was silent.
The blush was gone now; her cheek
wore the pallor of wrath, instead.
"Of course l don't believe it." said
he. Il never have heard of any such
/ persons since ! have been here. But
/ Mary declares it is fact. | tell her,
/ though, that ii there were any sisters
( they would be here to help her in her
/ household tasks and duties. She's the
brayest little soldier | ever saw. -
Miss Amelia bit her lip; her eyes
| lightened ominously.
Il don't know how You should ex-
pect me to know all about Miss Wal
tons household affairs, said she. 81
am Reverb"
''Oh, | beg your PARDON said
Poyntz. II supposed You were old
acquaintances.
and really cant imagine, vim
dictiv6ly added Amelia, why You
should he interested in the matter, one
way or another.
| Cant you?' He smiled, and
( touched the glittering edge of the cas-
/ cade with ivory-white. Why, because
I'm interested i'll Miss Walton herself;
because / find her the most interesting
! person 1 have ever met because have
asked her to marry me-
Amelia leaned forward, with little
gasp.
"And-snd has she accepted YOU"
81 don't know. / have not received
vet any answer to the note ] sent to
her this morning
DO you mean-Janey
"Of course | mean-Janey.
Miss Amelia started up, letting her
sketching utensils scatter themselves
every which way,
81 think II bee has stdn9 my finger"
said she. II must hurry back to the
house
Mr.. Poyntz looked after her IN some
amazement, but before he could decide
whether it was best for him to follow
her and inquire into the full. extent of
her injury, his sister Mary came to his
side.
''Pereival, she whispered. 1--WE dis
covered il all Revere isn't the true
name at all of those big blue-eyed girls
They are the selfish sisters. masking as
ladies of leisure, for their poor lit tie
sister TO do the work and bear the
blame of everything. Oh, ! never
heard anything like it in my life She's
us much a Revere as they areip
"Well," said Mr.. Poyntz, quietly.
eff | have my way, she won't be Re
we're longl"
The family secret was out al last
the true personality of Amelia and
Philippe was finally recognized, and
Janey could scarcely believe her eyes
when she read Mr. Poyntz's letter.
IF it had been Amelia he meant,
she murmured, cor even Philippa
But me! Can it be possible he cares
for me ?"
Two arms stole softly around her
neck a soft cheek was laid az ainst her
oWn.