Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-11-23

ElliOu VI buCu lGI-
ters was attended with much agony
md littering of the floor with torn
paper. Sibylle had made one draft,
which 1t took her five minutes to write.
She read it over once and it seemed to
suit her, for she folded and addresse
it, and then called, in her low, musi-
cal voice, 'Letty!" .
A young girl appeared at the door
almost instantly. She was tall as ST.
bylla, but had not her suberb figure.
One saw at Il glance, however, that
they were sisters.
81 want Joe, Lefty" said Sibylla as
she pressed the envelope on her blot
ting pad.
"Joe drove grandfather into town
this morning." replied the younger
girl.
"Call Absalom then. I want to
send letter"
"Absalom has boil on his foot and
can't walk"
Sibylla made gesture ofimpatience.
"There is Chrlssy," said Lefty,
tentatively.
81 won't have her; sho bungles
everything. 1t is very provoking
that can find nobody to do so simply
an GRAND"
Sibylla rose and walked to the win
dow, where she stood looking luoodily
out upon lawn that was better kept
than the lawns of most Virginia coun-
try houses. Lefty STOOD in meek
silence as though she had done her
sister personal injury.
"Well, send her here; ] suppose
she'll have to do, said Sibylla, after
a moment, in slightly modified tone.
Lefty ran down stairs to do her sis.
ter's bidding with her usual alacrity.
Sibylla drew the letter from its enye .
lope and read it a second time.
1t ran thus:
Julien 1t simply cannot be. l
do not love you as | ought. | have
known this Tor lotg time, and I
have honestly tried to feel differently,
but l cannot. You fr3 not man
whom woman should hive to try to
love. Think well OF me ii you can,
for l have been honest with you. You
would be excusable for despislng me,
perhaps, but You will do nothing O.
the kind. You will remain my faith
full and respected friend, as I SHALL
yours. SIBy1LA ASHLEY"
The swift, straight dash under the
signature was drawn with S1bylla's nc.
customel tirmness. She sealed her
letter, and, looking up, saw little
colored girl standing bashfully in the
doorway. The child was barefooted
and her dingy frock was in tatters.
she held disreputable old straw hat
by its one string.
a frown gathered upon Sibyli's
brow.
'You little beggar, have you no
better clothes than those? Mercy,
what a messenger !" and Sibylla burst
out laughing in spite of herself.
Chrissy was IN dire confusion.
"Deed I has, Miss S'bylla; shall
put em ou?"
''Yes, do, for heavens sake try to
make yourself decent and clean. |
want you to carry letter for me. If
you succeed, Miss Lefty will give you
that little gray garden coat OF mine.
You must hurry"
ooh, Miss S'bylla!" cried the child,
and in moment she was stumbling
down the staircase.
In short time she was back again.
Her face ard hands were clean and heI
tangled kinks had been combed into
something like order. The torn,
so!led garment had been replaced by a
neat pink frock, and Sbyll's garden
coat was clutched tightly between her
fingers, where it had been placed by
Lefty.
you're not to wear that coat now,
Chrissy; you'll look too ridiculous
Aunt Lena will cut it down for you
Now listen to every word 1 say. Yor
are to take this letter to the Exchang,
Hotel. 1t is for Captain Booth, nnt
there IS no answer. You are to CONE
back Immediately. Repeat that aitel
me-"
Chrissy did 80 without q mistake,