Crittenden press., 1907-01-03
Two and Two.
BY BETTE M. JOHNSON
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S"hS, "uN Wis "oJ ""o N"S PSAANN
one to sister, Constance. To be sure
though Constance's reasoning was
faulty; it showed the deep love that
dwelt within her and made every
sacrifice for her sister is deep delight
to her soul. Constance reasoned thus:
here was Anne as beautiful as the
morning, twenty-one, with love for
the pleasure and all the beautiful
things that go to make up life. Con-
stance was twelve years older than
Anne and when she was her sisters
age, she had, had everything she de-
sired, for that was before the terrible
calamity came that with one fell stroke
swept away their entire fortune aud
left the two-Constance and her lit
tly sister, orphans and almost penni-
less. As she herself had, had every
thing dainty and beautiful when An
MES age, so now desired to give these
things to Anne, and to do SO she
worked diligently, resolved if her life
had been somewhat of failure An
ue's should not.
Constanoe-though she had passed
the milestone of old-maidism, was
very youthful looking. She was a
bachelor girl not an "old-maid, p" she
declared empathically, and such of
she intended to remain until the end
the chapter: Her brown hair was
naturally waving, just enough TO
make it beautiful, and her eyes look
out on the world with smiling assur-
ance that won trust from all she came
in contact with. Her complexion was
rather pale but each passing emotion
brought more of colour that swept
over her face and was constant an
noyance to her-made her appear
NOR, like a bashful school girl than
anything else; as she would say half
bitterly. And Anne was very much
like her sister, yet more beautiful,
though certain self-cons ciousness in
her face marred somewhat its regu-
larity of features. The two sisters,
after their fathers failure and death
ten years before had moved to a dis
tant city. In tiny fiat made marvel
ously home like and neat by Constan-
ces skilled hands they had lived and
then Anne had grown to be a woman.
Constance worked in newspaper Of
fce--she had charge Of a department
devoted to all sorts of information
and she was often wearied with the
strange and almost impossible ques-
tions asked by her correspondents In
the city and various parts of the
United states for the paper had a
wide circulation. Anne was now
taking a course in music, having
graduated in the city high school and
while taking music she also. gave les
sons to half dozen pupils. "Con-
stance" Anne said one evening, look
ing up from dainty battenberg col
lar she was making as she sat on a
eozy lounge by the window from which
she could see kaleidoscope view Of
the people passing below. "Why is
it you always turn so red and look SO
fearful when l mention that Mr.. Has
tings that l met at his sisters, Mrs.
Arlingtons?"
Constance was in dreamy mood.
She sat in low rocking chair, heE
hair unbound and falling over heI
shoulders. She had been brushing
it, and it glistened In the lamp light
like Furnished gold. A red wave
swept the creamy whiteness Of hei
cheek. 81 will tell you, Anne,
used to know a Mr.. Hastings long
I ago. And the name always recalls
him and our dear home life before
! papa died
"Hs is a nice gentleman, l like
him SO we'll and l mean for you tC
meet him soon, Constance" went OIL
i Anne in her soft baby voice, and {
smile rippled over her face as a pleas
ant thought came to her. He who
so kind aud courteous, had walked
xv;tb az oftan, from Mrs Arlin0ton',