The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-02-09

eel of them, when the sight of his pho
tograph caused me to realize the fact
that ''to be wroth with one we love
doth work like madness on the BRAIN"
and I fairly broke down. Casting my
self upon the bed, I wept bitterly. The
end of the world seemed to have come.
After awhile some one stole softly into
the room. I knew the frou frou of Vic
t%orine's gown, the tap of her high heels.
She paused a moment at the table.
She came to the bedside and sat down
upon it. Her hand, which would stand
the Virginia test of aristocracy-''foss
silk would not stick to the fingers
passed tenderly over my hair, rested
gently on my cheek.
"Oh, my poor child, don't grieve
So" she said. "a man is not worth
grieving for. Take example by me.
For an hour or SO I succumbed to mis-
cry, but look at me now"
L looked as we'll as I could through
my tear dimmed eyes. Victorlne had
transformed herself. She had dressed
her hair high at the back and crimped
it over the forehead. She had put on
a very bright Powered silk with a lace
fchu. She wore bracelets, earrings
and her watch and chain. She had in
her belt a Lady Betty rose from the
greenhouse, and, whisper it low, she
had frightened her color with rouge
just the tiniest dab, but enough to make
her eyes blaze.
"Sco1n him, despise him as I do,
she said. "Say to yourself, He is
northern Twas shocked, Mortified, sick
at heart. but it is over"
"Thank heaven for that. dearest" I
said. But how did you know? I
never meant that you should know" I
paused.
How you felt?'' she queried. "Oh,
you show it more plainly than you
think. Besides, you weep, and you are
packing up his presents"
Harry Summers presents" l ex-
planned.
"Of course" Victorine assented.
ct am glad you take the initiative"
merely hid my head again.
81 do not hesitate to admit that I
have hidden adieu to happiness, said
Victorine, ''but I can be content. I
know that I am doing my duty. Any
communication between our two fam
lilies becomes impossible. Of course we
cannot blame one man for the deeds of
another, but no matter-it is over. Sis
tiers must stand by each other. Besides,
fancy father and son quarreling for n
lady! Observation-Disclosures"
Indeed it would be, Victorine," I
said.
Even now I feel as if I had heard
the voice of a serpent, said Victorine,
indicating with tragic gesture an m
broidered representation of Adam and
Eve, the apple tree and a boa constric-
tor with a simpering human counter
ance, which being the work of an es-
teemed ancestress had a place of honor
over the high mantelpiece. 1.-THE dis
parity of years would make it hideous,
even did you not suffer-"
"Oh, never mind me, Victorine," I
cried. IF you can get over your trials
and believe me as utterly innocent of
any intention to-
why, what do you mean Persis?'
querie1 Victorine. "You make me feel
afraid hat you are feverish. Won't
you take a hot bath and go fairly to
bed and let me read you to sleep?'
sit is l who should pet you, Victo-
rine," 1 said. But I yielded. I also
imbibed some ';yarb tea" presented in
a fine china bowl by Aunt Emily. and
I can still remember how l drowsed
away and awakened at intervals to hear
scraps of verses from a volume en-
titled, VERSES of Love and Sorrow"
which Victorine read dramatically, with
appropriate gestures. I also remember
being wide awake all night and steal
ing down into the parlor to pace the
carpet in a pair of knitted slippers and
wonder if I should get over being mis-
cradle.
Now and then I heard a soft little sob
from Victorine's room, and once I
heard from the garnet a low groan and
a murmured, "Oh, CORA mighty as if
sleep had been murdered for Emily as
we'll as for "her ladies'"
The moonlight was white upon the