New-York tribune., 1903-02-05
NEW.YOR TR1-1UNE THURSDAY. FEBRUARY s. 1903
TIE Mans Role.

mutual vow-a compact entered into with my sis
funeral We two were left alone She was pretty
and (as 1 supposed, for had not been living at
She looked SO sad, so pathetic, helpless such
type Of The interesting orphan. that my heart
m c22me 2 little SIS said opening M arms .ob in
5lns face some there in the region Of my necKtle
will ne al in all TO each other.
"Dear-dear brother she sobbed. I'VE will never
part None shall ever come between US Say they
= swear they never shall"' cried L in the fervor
And I win swear the same" she answered look
ing up INTO my face with her childish. pathet;
Thus were the VOWS exchanged-the compact
made. I know how it may have been with my
hIed the case Of Jephtnah l little realized at the
time how rash my voU- was-hoW much it would
sibyl, you see, had seemed such gentle. tender.
clingngIike thirs-a little parasite TO whose
soIt. curing teEqrl4s u was reai plsasuts pt 70
she is the honeysuckIe."
suckle has fragrant blossoms and soft pink shoots
But now I have good cause 70 know that it pos
will warp and twist and distort any branch. how
ever strong. round which il twtnes. o insinuatins
appealing; winning the support OF the noble oek by
the mere patlos OF thy gentle heplessnessi then,
with cautious stealth establishing thyselfi until,
eer+ eng b ~ +Tl1'ls T, ~, eg ob Tncbi1g c6okng
strangling nature-upon the generous tree which
afforded thee refuge in the hour OF thy weakness
The first six months passed tolera6ly enough ugh;
3nc{Ie 1ttIe ssTeT (as ndging bT exter1ais had
supposed herr proved iIDon an intimate acquaint-
ance. be not at all gentle. and very far from
once. They break themselves TO you gently and
by degrees. It was thus that my sister SibyI
what liked I was now allowed to do nothing that
slipners and blazer because it was bad form
I mustn't smoke cavendish in the drawing
mustn't splash while taking my morning tub. be;
| El0iln nd r1a Gi7Iu -lO /
bear as sit and read the paper when she want
ed TO talk, tnconsderate as TO talk when she
wanted to sit and read the paper must not
my pet bulldog IN the house. because he snuffed
so disgustingIy aad his skin was so unpieasantIy
These and a hundred other agreeable habits she
them up She made things so Jolly unpleasant (and
you would never believe how unpleasant spiteTuI
girl can make things till you try) that usually
gave way for the sake Of peace and quietness.
Ny men friends were treated by her on the same
lines If I asked any one of them to come and
stop for a night or two, without previously con
grievance Yet she always had her own girl friends
times even when she didn't A case OF the latter Ter
kind occurs 10 ne. which, from its bearing on the
one morning at breakfast she had a letter which.
after reading it over she threw down. with petu-
liant gesture:
That ttresorne Mildred venabIes has written and
proposed herself on visit she exclaimed, pout-
who on earth IS Mildred venabIes?' I inquired.
sneak Of herr She always Would be very friendly
with me and Will insist on keeping up, she
eGcourasenent For she's a cat and a mink. and I
can't bear her Just like her 10 write and propose
herself 7 wish TO goodness she hadn't II IS most
provoking and tiresome."
''Oh, you can easily make some excuse for put
ting her of, said zone cat IN the mouse was
quite enough for me. and l did not relish the
our spare room IS unfortunately occupied just
4 couldn't tell a Iie-eveu TO get out OF Mildred
answered SibyI with some severity Besides, she
gives me choice OF dates. I can't say that they
Good manners have their requirements; after an
thought Of what bad manners Shy! would nave
been guilty and expected me TO De guilty mad one one
nothing. Sibyl went on
I don't see how I can get out OF her And this
with il she proposes next Tuesday as first Of
her dates shall write and tell her that she can
''For how long does she invite herself?' in
For week or so whatever the so may mean
replied Sibyl- AS far indeed. as / am concerned
dav longer. but Of course. II she takes a less
rigid view OF the matter can't very well turn
Tt is beastly nuisance" I grumbled. II sup
20 be sure answered sibyI Much as dis
ike Mildred, who IS really quite despca Die char ar
acter 7 should not ike her 70 think tnaI my
Nv should it be considered the mark OF
savage 70 wear comfortable clothes in the even
fng?'' 7 demanded, sententiously;
backed out Of the necessity Of replying with her
oh. # YOU are going to raise the. whole ques-
rior Of social amenities" she exclaimed. Il de-
Cine TO ne 5e o PaEy Gs fbe ' tje9 If You don't hurry
III, vou'T miss your bus and late at the office
rf,e nor the heart to argue with one whose notions
Of logic and truthfuness were-to say the least OF
thern-so elementary
Weu-next tuesday arrived. and with it Mildred
venabes. Il became evident 10 ne ne: syfr S1 ba5
iibeIIed her old schoGlfellow. At any rate, she
toT1-7ara5 favorab bv in looks manners and good
CoLl-p1 - "a - mana ing sister She was taller
than Sibyl; she had better ngure he5 lace ~ NJ
rather pretty-n the brunette 'tyLeLandd d cert.l-E ~
set off nv sisters dOsh and insipid FAIRNESS 70
rather poor adFaIltase As Qs 9a 70 live I-i+F
I used TO admire fair girls unit CaLlle 70 ~ 80
one I used to regard haXen hair PINK ana I WllIIs
cheeks and light blue eyes as types and ernoIeIAs
Of innocence and simplicity Sibyl had quite cured
me % % t;ar @ HTfe Ve3ables's conversation. 1t
interesting it was clever it had something IN II.
She could argue with SOM idea Of ratoclnatioR.
sbe conIS ~erort with some semblance of Wit On
the whole striking balance II was more pIeaSlIItt
HES 20 talk to. than lounge in shooting Jacket
and nave 70 submit 10 the conYerSauoi4a- AdIIS
After more agreeable evening than mad spent
for some time Miss Nenaoies was 'he r71 10 le--ie
THANK goodness that's over cried my my slf5sr, lbsI
terbox Mildred is! She likes nothing 50 we'll as TO
hear the sound Of her Own M yosf s,I of all people
nlied me with cynical amusement thought or
nreveTb about the pot and the kettle thought Of
those things repeat, qiq 1+a5 a9' E months Of
SibyI's temper. II it had taught me nothing else
nag ws 'l'!tS You don't speak what 40 you think Of
her?' demanded my sister IN her lInperl9uSS
piled
..Agreeable?" cried SibyI. with a mockng little
Iaug6 ..Oh. ves-she can be agreeaple enough
u-Fsn she is on her best manners. Ilats Jhe
natTIra of cats. You have only seen her in one OF
her rlIrring moods. Wait Until she starts 10 spit
and scratch .-,.r
sT hone that Will not be my ioI 70 witness such
n, eTbIbj4ion on the Of Miss NerabIes- said
no vou3 Then / think your hopes have told you a
iatterng tale. And yet don't know dare fors say
shall keep her nasty humoFs out OF slght peIoIe
you You are And Mildred was dIWayS
Saref11l make herself sweet and pleasant 10
men declared my sister, auiaAy- Ihe masters