Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-07-12

hand
You should so to her and have II
out in wor7s. There may be some mis-
take"
There is no mistake She was SIM
ply playing with me. Elsie, you were
always my co,rrade. be SO now In time
of need" Elsie laughed, but it hurt
her a little
VERY web, John. come to me when
walk and you shall try TO forget.
will not fail you"
March was gone and April had had
her last day OF grace. 1t was the even
ing before May day. Elsie, happy
hearted, was waiting on the porch In
the twilight. John was to come. Now
We nearly always came They were
going for another walk i'll the spring
twilight to wander across the green
hills and back along the rOadways In
the white moonlight. Elsie thought
only Of the moment, but she could not
help little throb Of gladness that he
so seldom spoke of Rose. She did not,
sprung up between her and Rose
Nothing seemed to matter but being
happy without thinking why. John
called her SISTER half jokingly, but
with entire affection, and while he
sometimes wandered off iuconsolately
by himself he seemed content to be
with her. And so she waited As she
<nI hn, n
ed Interestingly from his room:
isis, for goodness sake get my good
coat from the closet in the hall! I'm
goin' to be late to that party
Elsie went to the dark closet and
emerged with coat. She knocked at
his door.
'Oh, come on in and help me with
this fool tie! Great snakes, If You
haven't got the wrong coat. Just like
girl. Haven't worn that old thing
since winter He snatched it from
her impatiently upside down. A letter
fell from the pocket.
Elsie picked it up. and AS she glanced
at the address her face went white
TERRY! What Is this:"
At the sound of her voice he turned
to look and then stood stricken with
tardy penitence 1t vas addressed to
John Copeland, and in the lower left
corner was Inscribed in Roses hand.
kindness of Terry Terry stared
and struggled with the refractory tie.
"A pretty mess! Rose gave me that
months ago and l promised to take it
Straight to John. And like fool for
got" Then he cheered up. well.
they're Off anyway now. Probably
she'll be CAD he never saw 1t. | Will
take it back to her tomorrow" He
wondered ut the strange brightness Of
his sisters eyes, at the extreme white
ness Of he's face.
Gee, Not even Rose can touch you
for looks. Sis. l don't wonder that
john She turned from him as Johns
whistle sounded below. She still held
the letter.
Il shall give it to John. 1t is his. l
shall tell him you forgot. r.
Then she went down TO John.
He sat contcniedly on the porch with
his hat pushed back ON his fair head.
He looked careless and happy enough.
At her approach he rose.
Ready, sister," Her smile was odd,
and she held the letter out to him. She
spoke as il she mad been running:
"John, take this Into the parlor and
read it. No one is there. told you
there was a mistake. Ii is to you from
Rose She gave it t. Terry, and he for
got it. l just found it in the pocket OF
his winter coat" John did not know
he almost snatched it from her hand.
When he came back from the parlor
his face was shining.
elsie. you are an angel. You have
the heart of sister, You have given
her back TO me. She did love me. She
does. r.
Elsie smiled and gave him brave
little push.
"Well, you silly boy, go to her this
minute!'
He snatched her hand and pressed 1t
hard. Then he went from her with an
eager swiftness that he had never
shown i'll coming to her. She knew it
she had always known it, but never
theless it was not easy to see. And uli-
der her breath she whispered bravely:
THE heart of sister,