The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-07-10

Ill
the trimming for the bottom Of the
skirt; she had decided in the night that
rose quilting would be the best; she
had scrap of the wedding dress in hel
hand as she opened the door.
Jessie was leaning against the house.
/ looking down the garden path. ghe
childish lips were quivering, and the
pretty gray eyes red and swollen. She
had evidently been crying all the way
over.
Jessie. what is the matter?@ she
cried. quite sharply.
Its all over she said, mechanical
ly.
Jessie Parker. what do you mean?
Come in and tell me about it,
Its all over" she repeated, IN the
same duh fashion.
Jessie, look at mel she commanded.
sternly.
Vow tell me what is the matter"
Jessie began to cry hopelessly.
George says he isn't going 10 be
bothered with Dolly, and | can't leave
her alone. and there isn't anyone else
TO take her"
make you leave your own sister,"
she cried
20. she isn't my own sister, said
Jessie. YEARLY. 'She's only my step
sister. I'd leave her If / could. but I
can't"
\ sudden thought came 10 Miss Al
yira. Was it-could It be possible that
| there was love in the world that nobody
wanted? Love that she could take and
have for her own with no other claim
upon it? She was fairly trembling,
and mad to cling to chair before she
could speak.
"Jessie, are yeu sure you would be
willing to give her up?"
The girl looked at her in surprise.
"Why. IA give her to anybody. If |
could" she answered. The possibility
of caring for the child's love never en-
tered her mind.
Miss Alyira's checks were flushing
and then paling. and she spoke with
strange effort.
Jessie. viii you give her 10 me?''
Even Jessie was reused then to a
faint protest.
"Why, Miss Alvirey, you don't want
her-she'l be such cafei'
Bnt there was an nndertone of hope
In the girls voice and Miss Alyira drew
n long breath and sat down in one of
the hard, eaneseated chairs as if she was
very tired. She picked up piece of
Jessie's wedding dress.
II thought we'd make this with the
rose quilting, after all" she said.
Jessie's wedding day was clear and
bright. Miss Alyira went over very
early in the morning for her and Dolly
All Dolly's clothes had been brought
over the day before, and it had given the
little dressmal<er exquisite pleasure te
see how few and poor they were. She
dressed the child herself and then
dressed Jessie. and the three went over
to the little village church together.
Miss Alsira had looked forward &c
that day for months, and yet when il
came-Jessie and George, the old minis
ter, and the familiar faces of the neigh
bors-all seemed like a dream. The re
atty was the little warm clinging hand
c.asped in hers.
In the cool of the afternoon they
came back and had tea at Miss Alvira'i
Jessie, usually so Indifferent, had in
sisted on that. Then at dusk she KISSED
the little sister good-by, and she and
George walked away together, as they
had done before SO many many times
but they all felt the difference, anC
knew that now she could never turn
back again.
Miss Alyira and Dolly stood at the
gate watching them, and then walked
hand in hand down the path and bach
into the little room. The child was tired
, by the excitement of the day; sh'
climbed up into Miss Alvira's lap, ant
/ sat looking into the twilight with heI
grave, dark eyes. Once she nestled
/ sieepily and said something to herself
/ Miss Alvira bent down to catch tn,
! words.
Dolly loves Miss 'Virey," she wills
pered drowsily, and then the long lashe
/ dropped on the round cheeks and sh'
/ was fast asleep.
t Miss Alvira sat there sits an,
straight. Her arms and back ached
but she never moved. The new moor
was shining overhead there wer
/ sweet, soft whisperings in the trees
and little plays of light and SHADOW
across the grass and in the tiny garden
The sweetness and graciousness SCENE,
TO sweep through her lonely heart an'
/ fill it full to overlooking. And thel
Miss Alvira knew her love-life had be
gun.-Waverley Magazine.