Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-03
The TalliaferrO Twins

No" said Olmstead, as became a prac-
tical man.
IL had one last night. Something was
wrong, something"
In olmstead's mind was a startled
thought.
You were not at home last night ?"
mo, indeed" said Miss Sallie's tender
voice. while Miss Sallie's limpid eyes ques-
toned.
Docs Miss Dade live near the track ?"
No; the Dade's are way back in the
country"
Yet Miss Sallie was the girl he had seen
In the door OF the old house! And looking
straight down into the limpid eyes, he
doubted her.
A sudden curve had brought them close
to the Talliaferro mansion. 1t was white
pillared and white-porticoed, and had a
general look Of rundown grandeur.
On the dying grass of the lawn were the
marks of hoofs. A little frown gathered
on Miss Sallie's fair face-a little worried
frown, and as she went up the broad steps
Of the porch. she stopped as IL to examine
something. Then, drawing herself I'D
sharply, sho fitted on. Olmstead, follow
ing her, saw that muddy footsteps extended
from the steps across to the door that last
night he had seen flung wide open.
1t was shut and barred now, and Miss
Sallie struck it with the brass knocker-
once, twice. There were shutting steps
within and an ancient colored woman
peeped out.
us dat you, honey?" she said. well.
you all is up soon" She smiled knowingly
and nodded to Olmstead. Evidently she
counted him as Miss Sallie's latest target
for Irritation.
In the big hall, a fireplace faced the door,
and Olmstead was invited to sit down while
MISS Sallie went to prepare her father
Tor his coming. AS she left him, Ohm
stead saw her eyes rest searchingly on
the fender. When she had gone he bent and
looked at the polished brass. On the edge
was a line OF dried earth as IL a muddy boot
had scraped II.
The door was open and Olmstead could
see straight down the path to a little sum
mer house at the end. Several times he
thought he saw the futter of a dress be-
hind the lattice, and this thought was con-
hrmed as a girl came out with a basket on
her arm, heaped with late roses.
1t was Miss salie! But how did she get
thereY He had heard her go upstairs, her
high heels tapping the polished steps, and
she could not have come down without his
knowledge. She had changed her dress, too,
and wore a faded blue cotton, simple and
c~linging.
She came up the path and across the
porch. He saw her eyes. But they were
not laughing eyes now--in them was weari-
ness unspeakable, and her face was very
pale. What had happened to change her
In a few minutes since she left him?
She did not enter the hall, but following
the porch around the side of the house
disappeared.
In another moment he heard hor voice
on the stairs, and turned and faced-a girl
in a pink cotton gown, with eyes that
laughed and lips that curved happily.
Surely she had worn blue! Surely-hIs
head whirled.
you can come and see father" she said.
Then she looked at him curiously as he
stood and stared.
What's the matter?' she asked. her
bdushes pinker than her dress.
i saw you down there Olmstcad was
pointing toward the summer house. mot
more than two minutes ago, and | was
sure you wore blue, and now here you are
III pink' are you a lightning change artist,
or are there two Of your"
Miss Sallie's head was thrown hack IN
irrepressible laughter. Then she dropped
him a little c~urtesy. Please" she said
there are two OF me- This is Sallie and
the other is Sophy.''
'sophy always wears blue" she ex-
planned as they went upstairs together.
In the room that Olmstead entered an
ola man reclined in an invalld's chair.
BY his side was the girl in blue cotton. She.
too, was smiling Eow.
They are good girls" said the old man.
'Sophy wanted to go to the dance, but she
stayed with her old father and let sallie
CO."
AS he spoke there crept into the eyes OF
the slrl IN blue a shadow that was not in
the eyes of the one in pink.
Did you sleep all right?" asked Miss
Saiiie. and Olmstead caught a note cf eager
questioning in her voice.
Al night, without a break" and the
old man nodded his head, like a pleased
child.