Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1900-02-09
The Two Sisters.
[Ry N. crosbIe Thompson.l

life or death. To me. helpless, de-
spairing. there seemed less torture in
the icy grip felt so suddenly upon my
heart. So at first counted death, too.
among my enemies,
Then came the day found out their
secret-found out why and how ! was
dying. and realized that the discovery
had delivered into my hands those
who wronged me.
Weary days as lie here alone and
look back on the past few months, l
wonder that a commonplace life like
mine could have been wrought into
such terrible tragedy. II is not yet
a year. Millicent, since you came TO
us. with your sweet. sad smiles and
funeral widows weeds TO make havoc
of my life and take my husband from
me You, nv little sister, so grief
stricken and subdued; ! so anxious TO
mother you and comfort you. But all
my ministrations failed TO rouse you
from your hopeless sorrow, till at last
appealed 10 jim my husband Jim. TO
cheer you up, Dear God, how unwit
tingly one may set about the ruin OF
ones happiness.
/ remember how he acted on my
suggestion. began TO show Millicent
some small attentions. brought her
home a few trining presents; and so
successful were his efforts that In his
presence the heart-broken little widow
ceased 10 droop and pine. ! remem-
Der the first time heard them laugh
ing and chatting gayly together ! felt
| could never thank Jim for his kind
ness to my sister Poor fool, poor fool
BIindly loving and trusting both, | re-
jolced as the sadness dropped from
Millicent like the widows weeds which
were so speedily lightened. Interest
ed and amused at her bright talk and
pretty ways. Jim began to desert his
club and spend his evenings at home
with us. | was not jealous-then. But
it's like sitting in hell now to look
back on those quiet evenings when.
for all those pretty ways of hers and
childlike manner, the woman set her
self deliberately TO take away my all
Before my unseeing eyes she wove
cunningly the web which bound my
husband to her. Her web has proved
snare Tangled In its folds we shall
now all three perish together.
When Millicents visit to us had pro
longed itself indefinitely, | began to
wish for her departure. While she and
jim had kept close friends. her man
ner toward me became persistently
disagreeable. Even in Jim's presence
she criticised my housekeeping, found
fault with the cooking: In fact, for
want of better occupation, she openly
sat I'm Judgment in my every action,
and generally found much to condemn
In each OF them; and when at last, in
answer to her appeals, Jim began to
side with her against me, my patience
could stand ID no longer. She was
making my life intolerable; SO, com
ing To a sudden determination one
day, ! went aud told her IL was time
her visit should come to an end. For
an instant | believed her TO have gone
crazy. when she informed me, with a
cruel sneer that she was my hus-
bands guest. not mine and that only
at his request would she leave the
house. Furiously angry | rushed to
Jim He was alone in his dispensary.
| repeated Millicent's words to him.
and catching hold of his sleeve, ]
would have dragged him straight into
her presence.
You must come and tell her to go
at once" | said. she shall not stay
another hour i'm my house"
He freed his arm from my hold with
a sudden jerk. Damn you!" he said
angrily: what makes you think I'll in
terfere? Can't two women ever live
together without lighting? Your sis
ter is welcome to stay here as long as
she likes. She's far better sort to
get on with than YOU. my dear wife.
As he spoke my whole world seemed
suddenly to so To pieces-swift as
fash though wholly unsupported until
then, the knowledge of my position
came upon me. Millicent and Jim
were together against me. | stood
alone. None OF lifes lessons is sc
hard for woman to know and under
stand as that a man can cease to love
her. Stupid perh Fps in all else, | un.
derstood now. all too quickly. that
.lims love for me was dead He loved
Millicent A lifetime of agony seemed
compressed into the moment that
brought this knowledge to me.
We looked straight into one an,
others eys. There was message for
me in his which | could not fail &c
read. you know all now" they said
defiantly; do your worst"
Either Millicent or | must leave
this housed" | cried. Decide, Which
OF us shall IL be-"
swered doggedly
This was the end. Il will go at
once" | said.
My preparations for departure were
soon complete. My first impulse was
To go somewhere by train. miles and
miles away. A long way off from Jim
and Millicent ! could think things over
better. Putting on my hat and coat.
noticed my purse lying on the dress.
ing table-mean. poverty-stricken
purse that | suddenly remembered
contained but one farthing. had in.
tended 10 ask Jim for an advance out
of my housekeeping money that very
morning. and now--l could never in
this life ask Jim Moreland for any.
thing again.
A woman's face stared at me from
the looking glass. II could not have
been my own face. for this woman
smiled at me--a grim. hard smile: she
nodded her head significantly once or
twice, and found myself repeating
the words | read upon her hooking
lips: Drown yourself, drown your
self! The river journey cost moth
ingi"
oh. cruelty wise words, You are
right, you are right. The river was
there to drown me and my trouble,
and the sooner the better.
AS | turned TO leave the room. that
might fare forth on this, the great,
inevitable journey, Jim knocked at
my door He came in sulky and re-
luctant, but conciliatory. He hadn't,
nf u-ba hA no A..