The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-11-04


ters was attended with much agony
and littering of the floor with torn
paper. Sibylla had made one draft,
which it took her five minutes to write.
She read it over once and it seemed to
suit her, for she folded and addressed
it, and then called, in her low, musi-
cal voice, ''Lettyl"
A young girl appeared at the door
almost instantly. She was tall as Si.
bylla, but had not her suberb figure.
One saw at 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 tc
send letter"
"Absalom has boil on his foot and
can't walk"
Sibylla made gesture of impatience.
"There is Chrissy," said Lefty,
tentatively.
81 won't have her; she bungles
everything. 1t is very provoking
that [ can find nobody to do so simply
an errand."
Sibylla rose and walked to the win.
dow, where she stood looking noodily
out upon a lawn that was better kept
than tue 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; 1 suppose
she'll have to do, said Sibylla, after
moment, in q slightly modified tone.
Lefty ran down stairs to do her sis
ter's biddingwith her usual alacrity.
Sibylla drew the letter from it's enve
lope and read it second time.
1t ran thus:
"Julien; 1t simply cannot be. 1
do not love you as l ought. I have
known this for a lopg time, and 1
have honestly tried to feel differently,
but | cannot. You Srs not a man
whom a woman should have to try to
love. Think we'll of me if you can,
for 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 l shall
yours. SIBYLLA ASHLEY"
The swift, straight dash under the
signature was drawn with Slbylla's ac.
cusiomed frmness. She sealed her
letter, and, looking mp, saw little
colored girl standing bashfully in the
doorway. The child was barefooted
and her dingy frock was in tatters.
she held disreputahle old straw hat
by its one string.
a frown gathered upon Sibyll's
brow.
"You little beggar, have you no
better clothes than those? Mercy,
what messenger !" and Sibylla burst
out laughing in spite OF herself.
Chrissy was IN dire confusion.
"Oeed 1 has, Miss S'bylla; shall
put 'em on?"
"Yes, do, for heavens sake-try to
make yourself decent and clean. |
want you to carry letter for me. II
you succeed, Miss Lefty will give you
that little gray garden coat of mine.
You must hurry"
"Oh, Miss S'bylla /" cried the child,
and in a moment she was stumbling
down the staircase.
In short time she was back again.
Her face ard hands were clean and her
tangled kinks had been combedy into
something like order. The torn,
solled garment had been replaced by a
neat pink frock, and Sibyl's garden
coat was clutched tightly between her
fingers, where it had been placed by
Lefty.
You're not to wear that coat now,
Uhrissy; youll look too ridiculous.
Aunt Lena will cut it down for you.
Now listen TO every word l say. You
are to take this letter to the Exchange
Hotel. 1t is for Captain Booth, and
there Is no answer. You are to come
back Immediately. Repeat that after
me"
Chrissy did 80 without a mistake.
"lhat is 4 simple thing; see il you