The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-21

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nobody to do so simple an errand."
Sibylla rose and walked to the window,
where she stood looking moodily ont upon q
lawn that was better kept than the lawns OF
most Sussex country houses. Lefty stood in
meek silence, as though she had done her
sister personal injury.
"Well, send her here; l suppose shell have
to do" said Sibylla, after moment, in a
slightly-modifed tone.
Lefty ran downstairs to do her sisters bid
ding with her usual alacrity. Sibylla drew
the letter from its envelope and read it a
second time.
1t ran thus:
50 Julen,-It simply cannot be. ! do not
love you as ought. have known this for
a long time, and have honestly tried to feel
differently, but cannot. You are not a man
whom woman should have to try to love-
Think well of me if you can, for have been
honest with you. You would be excusable
for despising me, perhaps, but you will do
nothing of the kind. You will remain my
faithful and respected friend. as / shall yours.
"Sibylla Ashley. ),
The swift, straight dash under the sig
nature was drawn with Sibylla's accustomed
firmness. She sealed her letter, and looking
up saw little girl from the neighboring
village standing bashfully in the doorway.
The child Wore very much tattered frock,
and held disreputable old straw hat by its
one string
A frown gathered upon Sibylla's brow
"Have you no better clothes than those,
child. Mercy, what messenger T" and
Sibylla burst out laughing in spite of herself
Chrissy was in dire confusion. Yes,
has, miss; shall put 'cm on?"
Sc Yes, do, for heavens sake-try to make
yourself decent and clean. l want you to
carry letter for me. If you succeed, Miss
Lefty will give you penny and that little
gray garden coat Of mine. You must hurry" !"
'sOh, miss !" cried the child, and in a
moment she was stumbling down the stair
case.
In short time she was back again. Her
face and hands were clean, and her tangled
locks had been combed into something like
order. The torn, soiled garment had been
replaced by neat pink frock, and Sibylla's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. Your
mother must cut it down for you. Now
listen to every word say. You are to take
this letter to the Queens Hotel. 1t is for
Capt. Booth, and there is no answer. You
are to come hack Immediately. Repeat that
after me. -
Chrissy did SO without a mistake.
"T'hat is right; see if you can remember
it all until you get to the village"
After the child had gone Sibylla sat for a
while with her hands clasped above her head.
The sleeves falling back showed her two per-
fectly moulded arms. Then she took book
from the table, and, opening it, stared at it
absently for a few minutes.
book and holding out hand toward where
her sister sat quietly sewing at the other side
of the room. She drew Lefty close to her,
and laid her head against the younger girl Is
arm. want you to kiss me" she MUIR
INJURED.
Lefty flushed with pleasure, and taking
the beautiful head between her hands kissed
Sibylla's mouth
II am not going to marry Julien. Lefty.
I have just broken the engagement. Now
run away"
Chrissy trotted along the three-mile
stretch of road between the Ashley home
stead and the village, Sibylla's letter tucked
in her bosom. Anon she skipped and
t6uKuCu Nv TIC ldtOAlCaIluK JUOUnuG Oh Iuc
beautiful gray coat She drew in great
breaths Of the sweet country air, and trum-
peted shrilly in imitation of the elephant
| she had seen at the circus. Her heart wa
filled with the very joy of living, and she
knew nothing of the heavy tidings she bore
in the bosom of her pink frock.
She longed to chase butterflies through
| a wood, like that lovely little girl in the
story Miss Lefty had read to her. She
looked to left and right, but saw no but
terfiies. A little way ahead were two cows
grazing by the roadside. Cows were not
butterflies, but Chrissy must chase some
thing, and the cows were at hand.
Hi. vi! " she cried shrilly, and ran down
the dusty road, at every few steps leaping
high in the air. Hoo, hoo!D she roared
like lion. It was great fun. The placid
| animals numbered heavily along before her
but not fast enough for Chrissy. She had
taken Sibylla's letter from her bosom for
greater security when she began to run, aud
now held it in her hand.
Woo, WOO: it's wild beasts after you! y
she shouted. One big. dun-colored COW re-
bclled ut 3 farther chase, and. turning, tried
10 climb tho hank by the roadside. Shoe! y
cried Chrissy, in hot pursuit waving her
] handA