The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1907-09-28

SISTER
By EMMA HOWARD WIGHT.
Cc~opyright, BY Joseph B. Bowles)

NCopyrlShti Dy Joseph ID boNio9J
At about six o'clock on a warm
June morning l arrived by boat at
Cambridge, a town in Maryland,
where l was to take a situation as
governess in a family of Rev. Mr..
M%argrave, an Episcopal minister.
AS | came off the boat a young girl
advanced to meet me, and with a
smile, said: q think this is Miss
Gray, is it not? l am Amy Mar
grave
l told her that | was, and then we
shook hands, l took a good look at
her. She was about 10 years Of age,
and not at all pretty, being darS and
sallow, but | liked her face, there
was something so true and earnest in
the dark eyes. We walked up the
broad white street which led into the
town, together.
The parsonage was a picturesque
gray house with a smooth green lawn
in front, and the inevitable rose gar
den at the side. The low white gate
opened as the girl and myself drew
near, and a little boy advanced a few
steps into the road, then paused I'M
certainly, and put out his hands.
Amy sprang forward and caught the
little outstretched hands. ! stared in
surprise, for her whole face was
transformed with an infinite love and
tenderness. She kissed the boy
fondly and then drew him toward
me.
Miss Gray" she said, this is my
little brother BERTHE"
He was a pretty child Of about
eight years of age, with dark, curling
hair which fell upon his shoulders,
clear olive skin and very beautiful
brown eyes. 1t vas rather a sad little
face, however, and even the smile
which parted his lips only seemed
to intensity it's sadness. | smiled and
held out my hand; he took no notice
of it, and Amy laid the little one
she held within mine, and looked up,
with a shadow of pain in her brown
eyes, into my face.
"He is blind" she said, simply.
Blind" l repeated, then l bent pity
ingly and kissed the sweet, childish
lips.
We went into the house, where ]
was welcomed kindly by Mrs. Mar
grave, l had been told by the mu
tual friend who had procured me the
situation that Mrs. Margrave had
Spanish blood in her veins, and had
been very beautiful, but l saw that
that beauty had sadly faded.
The minister's marriage had beer
a love-match, and life in the pretty
parsonage had been all rose-coloret
for a few years. But the babies haC
come too fast for the minister's purse
and the struggle to make both ends
meet had worn the bloom from the
wife's cheek and dimmed the bright
ness of her eyes. 1t was from hel
that the children inherited their darE
eyes, hair and skin.
AS Amy was showing me to my
room a boy of about ~ years Of age
came rushing down the stairs, whist
ling at the top Of his voice. The
whistling ceased abruptly, however
and he came to a sudden stop, look
ing very sheepish when he saw me
He had a round, fair, freckled face
blue, mischievous eyes, and very ligh
hair, brows and lashes.
miss Gray" said Amy, let me in
troduce you to master Teddy, the pes
and torment of the family, the mos
incorrigible mischief that ever lived
1 hope you will be just as YER will
him as you know how"
{ ! descended to the dining-room
little later, at the sound of the bell
and was introduced to the minister
He was a tall, thin, dignifed man
very clerical in appearance, and Ted
dy was ridiculously like him, only tn
minister's blue eyes were grave an
full Of thought, while Teddy's wer
trimming over with mischief. Break
fast was half over when the ministe
suddenly asked:
Where is Pearl?"
"She had a headache last night,
answered Mrs. Margrave, "and
wouldn't allow her to be disturbed.
ITS no wonder she had a heat
ache" spoke up Teddy, for she at
a whole pound of chocolates befor
she went to bed. l know it was
whole pound, for I asked her for some
but nary one did l get"
"That will do, Teddy" said the mil
lister, while Mrs. Margrave gave tn
boy an angry look,
The door opening created a dive
( sion, and a girl a year or so younl
er than Amy came slowly and Lar
( guidly into the room.
l stared at her admiringly, for sh
was extremely pretty, evidently ii
heriting the rich Spanish beauty {
her mother. The lustrous, long-lasl
ed, dark eyes, penciled brows, tn
clear olive skin, damask colored o
the cheeks, and silky midnight hal
falling in loose curls to her waist.
The next day / began my duties |
the schoolroom with Amy, Pearl an
- ~.