The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-09-08

| - him Eancyforrh III business hours!
rr'%, ns | cant Gsrestly profess 10
| iral ,h2 irtc. So GniiS,t III his COMPANY
wh;.h n,ar E;s .tpsi,,ycs you an.
f;,,.'r arlfthc ha%s. shall elGeavor
| q uiArerSc With ;:,s presence o"cas-
i0laiiy. FUr inslauce, think IN give
iiiiu Il hirt that, heavy as the big wa
Icriug pot t.. I'd Ia tiier carry it round
the gnr;'en every evening myself than
have him marching solgmnly about the
| beds With !Nc"'
Dear, dear" sighed Mrs. Bristowe.
as Annie left the room with a saucy
laugh. how contrary things do go IL
Ibis world. Such n nice, unaffected
fellow. and the place has been 50
cheerful again sine i:e car1e. If only
| we could have made 1t comfortable for
| him, we might have counted on his
coming regularly for his holidays, and
l DO believe that lie admjres Annie,
| and-but, there, it's no use thanking
about it!'
One morning, few days later, An
| ME was busted up stairs with the small
maid-of of-allwork in bed-making, dust
ing and tidying genGrally-there were
! no idlers In this modest household.
Presently Sarah summoned her in
stage whisper from John Morton's
room.
"Do'ee just come here a moment,
| Miss Annie; look at this. now! 1t has
just dropped out of his coat rs l was
| hanging 1t up."
"This" was the photograph of a pi-
quaint, dark-eyed girl in Pierrette cos
tune and on the back of the card
were the words, with Dolly's fond
| est love to dear oil Jack"
"It's his young lady. Miss, I reckon;
don't your" said Sarah, with de-
| lighted siggle. NJ, aint she hand
some, tocT'
Put 1t back ut once" said Annie,
severely, disregarGing the handmade
ems inquiry Mr.. Morton would be
very vexed, no dcabt, TO find it lying
| about"
1T wouldn't be 6 sister of his. Miss
Annie, ncw?" Ss!;ed Sarah, as she
slowly restored tie Photograph to its
hiding place.
"No," came the reply in an iDdiffer-
ent tone. ''Their names are Mary and
Helen-I have heard him speak of
them once or twice
Of course. john Niortons love af
fairs ccI!G have 70 possible interest
! for Annie YET, with u curious feeling
| of annoyance, she found herself mora
than once that day speculating about
the original Of the photograph.
Another fortnight passed, and the
family learned with regret that their
visitors stay was r,G-ing its close,
a. business claiiIaa his presence in
London.
Annie listened with an illogical sink
ing of the hearE, mt did not join in
the chorus of dis.r.ayed eNpostulations
which greeted the announcement.
On the morning of John Mortons
departure she was sitting in the kitch-
en- garden with . heap of green goose
berries in her lap. Waich she was dill
gently topping and falling" The
thrush was piping as chcerily as ever
from the bottom of the garden, but
somehow the jub:iance of his song
| was lost on Anuis.
AS the goosebeT,1es dropped, each
with an empnatic little boGDce into
the big brown dish, Rollo came up,
gravely wagging bis tail, with a big
covered basket between his teeth.
Attached YVES card which read:
"A peace Offering from Rollo and his
| LlG3tsr."
Annie unfastened the wicker lid,
Ind discovered sisepiDg White kit
ten, the very double Of the hapless
Fluffy.
I'm very glad you've forgiven me-"
said John Morton wistfully, as she
thanked him in grave, sweet tones for
the gift.
Don't speak of nat" she rejoined
quickly. II: is VINO need pardon, for
I'm afraid I've been -ather-unpleas.
ant during your stay"
Suppose, theu," came the prompt
reply, "rhat you give me something
in token OF penitence-a bunch of lilac,
saw"
She hesitated, tIen, with n hard lit
| tie lnugh, in which there was yet a
perceptible treIEblc, she reached up to
the fragrant h!oons.
JOHN Morton watched her in silence,
| then said awkwe-Gty: MY younger
sister Dolly--Helen, I should say, but
| The old childish pb:le drops out una
wares, sometimns-!s very fond of Ii
iacs, and I promised to bring her q
| Gunch.'
His sister Dolly;
She turned o swift, startled glance
| upon h!rn. and JaGn Morton stopped
! and took her in his arms.
| "But you were going away; wa
should never nave net again" said
Annie, little later. an they stood by
the lilac bush.
! ION the contrary" answered he,
cheerfully, II had rd,iy intended to re-
| quest Mrs. B7istows's hospitality for
another holiday tjlue--and vet another