The National tribune., 1893-06-29


after tanning for moment. "How cool you
look, Renie, and as sweet as q peach. But,
there, what are you blushing about? l
didn't think compliment from your great
overgrown sister would have such an effect. If
it had only come from John p
The slender, dark-eyed girl, dressed in the
daintiest of white muslin gowns, which set of
her shapely shoulders and arms with bewitching
grace, had checked the impetuou speech Of her
younger sister by a warning motion OF her
finger, which was long and white and slender
and taperiug.
"You had better not keep mamma waiting
for her letters" she said; 'and you may just
mention to her that you brought me ono
from Mr.. John Redmond, which will leave on
the mantel, if she cares to see it,"
Evaline looked up in surprise when she re-
ceived this message. but she could read ex-
PLANTATION in her sisters face. The long lashes
dropped until they almost rested upon the
cheek, and there was demure, selfsatisied
something about the expression of Irene's
counteuance.
As soon rs her sister had disappeared with
| the letters and the message, Irene tripped
lightly within, fastened to her own room,
dipped the corner of her handkerchief in tho
water-pitcher upon the washstand as she passed
it. as though she had need of rubbing some
stains from her dainty finger tips before they
touched the missive iuciosed in the plain
| ing. lawyer-Iike hand: Miss Irene Middleton.
Iredell," and which bore its upper right
hand corner the p0stmark, "Bluntvile," OPP
posite the Columbian two-ceut stamp.
But if Evaline had supposed there must be
something in this letter which John Redmond,
the handsome young fellow who had been so
ardent al admirer of her sister last Summer,
had written her. which would make her heart
| beat quicker she ought to have been there to
glance over her sisters shoulder as she read
the commonplace sentences which barely flied
single half-sheet of note paper inclOsed in the
envelope. 1t ran:
Miss MIDDLETON: hope you will pardon the
liberty taken by one all but a stranger TO your
family in thus addressing you in attempt to re-
store to you piece Of lost property which was
identified by the Friends at Elm Grove yours.
You will receive by express to-day parcel con-
tanning your paraso which. trust will reach you
unchanged. The Friends at Elm Grove join me
in wishing you pleasant Winter at lredell and a
sure return next Summer to the Circle of which
you formed 80 delightful member. May not
crave the honor of being remembered to your es-
teemed father and mother. and also express the
wish that some fortunate accident may throw 1t
within my power to become better acquainted with
them.
Hoping that you will not mention SO sght a
thing rs the attention have paid to your property,
remain, yours, JOHN REDMOND.
This prosy missive was soon after deposited
upon the mantel below according to the in
structions given to Evaline, with as much in
difference as so matfer-of-fact and unsuggestive
epistle seemed TO merit.
Irenes mother must have shared somewhat
the feelings of her younger daughter RI she
finished reading it for the third or fourth time,
and then laid it back in its place upon the
mantel with shade Of expression upon her
couutenauce which could perhaps best be de-
scribed as relief mingled somewhat with disap-
pointmeDt.
But ups stairs Irene sat musing in her own
boudoir, still holding in her left hand the lace
handkerchief with which this subtle scent of
white lilac partially incssing the envelope. as
though that portion of the letter which is
| usually thrown into the waste basket was to
her the part most full of pleasing thoughts.
"O!" she said, springing up from her reverie,
| perhaps I'D better take this envelope down
stairs and leave it with the letter"
AS she made movement to do so she first
hastily thrust something into her pocket.
Bnt just as she was about to descend the
| steps she noticed one thing more. The stamp
from the envelope had become detached by the
moisture still retained in the corner of her
handkerchief. and was elnging to the hand
kerchief and not TO the envelope.
Going to pretty escritoire she deftly
gummed it. aud reattached it to its former
place upon the envelope by the help of blot
ter.