The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-27
HER SISTERS SIN.
A COMPLETE STORY.

Ing trees in full, fresh green covering; soft'
springing grass spread over the earth pe
low-while above fioated uninterrupted
cloudets, seemingly broken off from
great mountain of billowy, sun-fringed |
mass lying far away to the West.
Birds fitted and sang among the trees |
fed their broodng mates, and bathed IN |
the little brook that rippled through the |
grove, it's tiny waves catching the shlftlng
giints of sunshine that quivered and darted
through the foliage of the tall old beeches
e1mS and lindenS.
Trembling shadows crept here and there.
cool, soft and noiseless; their quivering
patches of undertone lightened up now and
then by the brilliant colOrS of drifting
butterfys wings, or the passing of big,
droning bee, seeking for the sweetness
hidden down deep in the hearts of the
flowers that lifted their faces from the
banks of the whispering brook.
Ferns grew out of the rich damp moss,
and wild roses leaned over the water the
faint, pink glow from their delicate petals
tintng the rifles their reflection smiling
back at them AT the south end of this
beautiful grove, and standing just within
it's shadow, is a plain but comfortable
frame house, it's coating of pure white
making it stand out in pretty relief against
the background of dense green.
wide porch extends clear around the
house, and is so overrun with vines and
blossoms as to look like veritable sum-
lIlcT mousse "A hammock Swings lIOm wv
of the posts, and the soft swish of
woman's dress, as it touches the floor,
tells that the hammock has an occupant,
although the vines thick that the
curiosity of the paSSerby is satisfied by
nothing more than glimpse of white
gown that shows for instant through
the lattice work, as she swings gently to
and fro.
But now there is the sound of voices
and the woman's is saying: Yes, Mr.
Lyons is very anxious to buy our home
but nothing in all the world would tempt
me to part with it; no consideration he
might offer, no matter how great. Papa
left it to AleNa and me, and the income
from the farm is quite sufficient for our
simple needs while we live as quietly as
we have since our father and mother left
u.s.
Il do not blame you, Mae, for it is, in
deed, a beautiful place; but how will it be
after we are married, sweetheart; you will
have to give it up then at least a
greater part of the time" deep, musical
voice makes answer.
But surely we may spend our summers
here, at least Cyril-or I can, for nothing
Will move or change Aleza in her deter
mination to still live on in the old home
with dear Aunt Agnes to take care of
her, and faithful old Daddy Jo, as we call
him, to look after the garden and every
thing, just they have done for 10 long
years." the girl replies.
Excuse me for changing the subject; so
sister has forgotten her infatuaton for
that young scamp Robert Greyson? l hope
so, most sincerely for he is not fit as
sociate for young, innocent girl like
Aleza, and l have been very much put out
and worried about it,
Yes" the womans voice makes answer;
yes, cyril, L feel certain that AleZa has
thrown him over for all time, for she has
been at home over two months now, and
mas never mentioned his name; but yet,
she does not seem happy, and is restless
and uneasy. She is far from we'll be-
sides. but steadily refuses to allow me to
call in our wise old DOCTOR who, l am sure
would bring her out all right in no time
| am at loss what to do to cheer her up
and make her appear her old merry, lively
self again; and it is so near our wedding
day, too l cannot bear to leave her
alone, unless she grows to be something
like the laughing, merry-hearted Aleza of
few months ago"
Then you do not lay her unhappiness
to anything in connection with young
Greyson. do you?''
mo, Cyril, / do not; really believe she
has found out for herself how unworthy
he is of the pure love and trust of any
young grl-and 1 think she has put all
thoughts of him entirely out of her mind
But we must do something to arouse her
from the dreamy. languid state into which
she has fallen"
Perhaps it will be we'll to explain to the
reader who the two girls are we are to
have with us little while this spring day
Mae and Aleza Whitney were left or
phans when Mae was II years old, and
AleZa but 8.
They had the pretty home surrounded by
It's 10 or II acres of ground and a small
yearly income upon which to live. The
well cultivated garden doing no small
share toward this end.
An aunt, their fathers only sister, came
70 care for the little girls, having no fam
lily of her own and faithful old Joe, the
gardener and man of all work, never lef
them, and who loved the two girls az
dearly as he could have done had They
been his very own. Their lives were quie
and happy, and nothing broke the peace
full monotony of their existence until hand
some, gallant Robert Greyson came to the
little town but mile away, and remained
there through the summer months, hunt
ing and fishing along the beautiful rivers
and lakes of the Brierwood
his manners were charming and debon
air. He sang like an angel to the soft
sweet accompaniment Of Guitar, coult
sketch very little, but quite enough tC
pose as an artist, and altogether was JUS
the sort of fellow to charm and win 6
young, inexperienced girl who had seer
nothing of the world or learned anythinz
of its deceit and wickedness.
Macs lover, Cyril Farley, had made care
full inquiries as to the character of thi.
gay young man, and his worst fears hat
been confirmed. Then they talked ant
pleaded with Aleza, but all for naught
She loved him blindly, madly, and nothins
they could say or Go made any impressio,
upon the girls mind, unless, indeed i
made her fonder of him. as opposition us
ually does in such cases. At last Mae
Cyril and Aunt Agnes decided to send he
away on a long visit to the home of
former minister of Brierwood, whose fam
lily had been on the most friendly and in
innate terms with the two girls previou
to his removal to an adjoining pastorage.
So, much to their surprise, Aleza SCENE
willing to go, even anxious, and they be
gan to hope that perhaps everything woul
turn out all right yet, and, much to thei
relief, as soon as Aleza left Brierwood
Mr.. Robert GreySon also took himsel
speedily away, and the pretty home unde
the beecheS and lindens knew him no more
And now, at the time our story opens
AleZa, after three months absence ha
been at home about two months. She ha
never mentioned her lovers name, or ind
Gated by a word or action that she ha
ever known, much less loved, a man b
the name of Robert Greyson.
This fact led her sister to believe she wa
fast forgetting him, much to their gres
satisfaction.
The evening of the day the conversatio
given above had taken place between Ma
and Cyril, Aleza complained of feelin
tired and sleepy, and at an early HOT
bade the family goodnight, went slowly III
stairs, and they heard her bedroom doc
slam and the lock click into its place.
Il am so worried about Aleza Aur
Agnes" Mae says, as the echo of her si
ter's footsteps die away at the end of tt
hall. 'She seems to be unhappy, but ST
Will tell me nothing, and persists in sayin
that she is perfectly WELL when I am pos