Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-01-18

ters was attended with much agony
and littering of the floor with torn
paper. Sibylla had mado 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 nddresse 1
it, and then called, in her low, musi-
cal voice, 'iletty!"
A young girl appeared at the door
almost instantly. She was tall as ST.
bylla, but had not her snberb figure.
One saw at glance, however, that
they were sisters.
81 want Joe, Lefty" said SibylIa rs
she pressed the envelope on her blot
ting pad.
"Joe drove grandfather into town
this morning." replied the younger
girl.
"Call Abselom then. I want to
send letter"
"Absalom has boil on his foot and
can't walk"
Sibylla madoa gesture of impatience.
"Thero is ChrIssy," said Lefty,
Tentatively.
II won't have her; she bungIes
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 luoodily
out upon lawn that was better kept
than the lawns OF most Virginia coun-
try houses. Lefty stooo in meek
silence rs though she had done her
sister personal injury.
"Well, send her here; I 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 a}acrity.
Sibyila drew the letter from its en7e
lope and read it second time.
1t ran thus:
Julien; 1t simply cannot be. I
do not love You as | ought. [ have
known this for n lorg time, and I
have honestly tried to feel differently,
but l cannot. You fr4 not q man
whom a woman should have to trv to
love. Think well 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
ful and respected friend, as / shall
yours. 5IBYLLA ASHLEY"
The swift, straight dash under the
signature was drawn with Slbylla's nc.
cusIomed frmness. She sealed her
letter, and, looking up. saw a little
colored girl standing bashfully in the
doorway. The child was barefooted
and her dingy frocb was in tatters
she held disreputable old straw hat
by its one string.
A frown gathered upon Sibyll's
brow.
"You little be3gar, have you no
better clothes than those? Mercy,
what n messenger" I" AMI Sibyila burst
out laughing in spite OF herself.
Chrissy was In dire confusion.
"Deed [ has, Miss S'bylla; shall l
put 'em oa?"
eyes, 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 moment she was stumbling
down the staircase
In short time she was back again.
Her face ard hands were clean and he,
tangled kinks had been combed into
something like order. The torn,
so.led garment had been replaced by d
neat pink frock, and Sibyll'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 Exchange
Hotel. 1t is for Captain Booth, ant
there IS no answer. You are to come
back Immediately. Repeat that after
NE"
Chrissy did SO without mistake.
"Ihat is O simple thing: see if yor