The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-04-26
Little Sister
-. BY
r. b. WRIGHT

CeCeoecs0scsCCs sCCsCeCsCsCsCeC
Aren't you going to answer my
| question? Won't you take me with
| you:r
/ Clifford Vane turned with surprise
as he heard the voice. A girl with
| deep brown eyes and hair i'm which
| there was a tint OF gold was standing
beside the boat. her skirts blown out
| against her slender figure. The tiutter-
| Ing sail had made so much noise that
| yane had not heard the girl before.
| He frowned unconsciously. for he was
| In no humor for company.
.Its too rough today. There's a
| nasty sea running. and you'll get wet
through" lie answered.
| AS IL l cared for thatI And II it's
SO rough why do you venture outT'
| Because want to. Because 1t suits
| my mood"
| The words sounded rude. but Mar
jorie Winthrop knew from the intent
expression on vane's face as he gazed
out on the black clouds. the sullen
| green water OF the bay and the wind
blown whitecaps that he was speak
ing more TO himself than to her.
And IL it suits my mood?"
/ "You with moods, ohild?" Vane said
wondcringly. What can you know OF
thoughts black enough TO suit with
such a day. Go back to your dolls or
read your pretty fairy love stories and
believe in their truth as long as you
can" he added bitterly.
"You think because I'm only seven
teen I'm not to feel and think"
Think only OF pleasant things"
"But If the day suits me IL is pleas
ant. Please take me-"
What will your mother say?'
.'She won't care. She only thinks OF
Edith. IL it was Edith, now, II would
be different. but I'm not such valu-
able cargo. No one will bother about
me-"
There was a quaver in the girls voice
that made Vane look at her. She was
looking out over the yeasty water with
misty eyes and set mouth.
-AIl right" said Vane after a mo-
ment's hesitation. I'm in a reckless
mood. Let fate take care of us. What
will be will be. Jump in"
1t was a gusty day. and the Dot, too
light for such weather. her lee rail al
most under water. staggered under the
flaws. every now and then burying her
nose into the rollers and sending a
shower of spray into the boat. Vane
had all he could do to manage her and
for time forgot his companion and al
most his gloomy thoughts in the grim
pleasure of his contest with wind and
storm dashed sea. 1t was Edith Win
throp he was thinking of, the woman
who had led him on to love her and
| then thrown him over for another man
Edith did not care. Every one mus
be sacrificed for her amusement-yes
| even this child, her sister. At the
thought he glanced at the girl WHERE
she sat poised out TO windward, like
some spirit OF the sea. her hair blowing
in the wind, her cheeks aglow with ex
citement, her eyes fixed with a far
away look on the horizon. Vane hat
never noticed how pretty she was be
fore. He had always thought OF he
as a mere child, and, 10. she was a wo
man What was she thinking Of? h
| wondered.
As IL In answer to the question, Mar
jorie turned and met his eyes for al
instant and then looked away.
you've heard of Edith's engage
mentE" she said.
YES" answered yane, setting hi
teeth hard. Il only found 1t out to
day"
Il knew 1t weeks ago. You though
she cared for your
Yes
You might have known she didn't
, | Van Allstyne is a richer man than yo
lin money It's wealth and power sh
wants. and attention and admiration
Lovel She doesn't know what
means. And you thought she had
heartr' cried the girl. This sea ha
more"
81 know IT now." said yane. "whe
| It's teo late"
And you-oan you care for her still
asked Marjorie after silence.
"Yes-at least l care for the ideal
thought her"
/ What did you think her"
= Brave, courageous. noble heartet
with a soul as beautiful as her body.
comrade for a man, to face with hiI
the storms OF life. woman tender an
true. to fight for and dare for. l woul
n have tried to give her everything sh
wanted. No man can love her as
do-and now Vane laughed bitterl
as an ending TO his sentence.
"Wliy did you come out today in TIL
galef" said Marjorie. rs your lii
Is so worthless to you that you would ris
p 1t because thoughtless woman hs
IN wounded vou?"
" My lifeI What does 1t matter?
y don't care"
- Il thought you didn't" returned IL
- girl gravely. 81 knew you didn't. That
ie why | came. l couldn't let you con
t. alone"
ne And you came because yo
lie thought
Id "You would be reckless? Yes"
"And you were not afraid:"
mo. Why should be? | knew yC
m would take care of me-if not of you
- self" The girl smiled at him CO
es fidcntly Il am perfectly safe vii
to you" she added.
IL So Marjorie had risked her life Il
him. so that I'm his desperate humor
should not go alone. But how can
she. Il mere child. to understand? Sh
at least. had heart 10 make some ms
| hannx. And hara H.. xx-aS nnttfn= "