The Newark journal., 1907-10-18
A CHANGE OF HEART
By MAUD s. pEASLEE
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowies. )

I was the only one who objected to Sylvie's marriage. Everyone else in the village thought she did so we'll Sylyie was my sister and several years Gy junior. We were a large family once. but now only she and I were left, and we clung more closely than ever together
 She was so pretty and lovable. could not bear to have her out of my sight.
 When I was young, and had had some claims to beauty myself, Walter Whitcomb had thought me fair For one bright summer, love may have made me so. Then came misunder- standings, fault-finding, with bitter re- criminations-and, parting that wrenched my heart-strinGs, though my lips smiled.
 Sylvie met Dick Ormond the summer she was IS. I can remember now how the faint pink flush used to come and go in her cheeks; but then I thought little of her admiring glances. I had been used to seeing Syivie made much over; l almost worshiped her my self.
 They became great friends. but I do not think he courted her at that time He went away in the fall to be gone two years. He was to finish his edu- cation at famous college, and then he was coming back to practice with his uncle, Lawyer Benson. I didn't like the old gentleman, and I remem- Der told Sylvie that hated lawyers. She looked quite grieved, for you see that was Dicks profession.
 1 do not think I was sad in those days; I'm afraid 1 was cross. I know I was morbid and heavy-hearted with an uneasy sense of coming joss. must have known even then how it would end; but I was 10th to acknowl- edge even to myself that Sylvie could ever love another better than me-
 When Dick came home in the spring he asked her If she loved him we'll enough to marry him in the fall, and help him make home. The dear child! how happy she was, and, thank God, is yet!
 1 could not refuse my consent; I had no reasonable grounds, but I looked with strong disapproval on every thing. Yet l remember how 1 worked and planned that Sylvie's outfit might be dainty and complete. She timidly proposed that 1 should live with item in the cottage on the hill, and assured me Dick was willing.
 But I am not!" 1 answered grimly, and l made our old sewing machine fairly rattle as ths yards of dainty rufiling fell crowdinG into my lap.
 They had not been married long when Lawyer Benson died of heart disease. As Dick was his heir, they left the cottage, and moved into the big house with it's fine library and handsome furniture Dick was very busy, for all his uncle's practice fell into his hands; and l must say he gave great satisfaction.
 Dick had bought the cottage with money his uncle had given him for a wedding present, and it was nicely furnished. They wanted me to go and live there when I still refused to go to them. They asked me to let my care of the house settle all question of rent between us, but l was paying rent on the house where Sylvie and 1 had lived, and so l insisted on paying them the same if l made the change.
 Sylvie used often to come up and sit with me, because I would rarely go to the big house to see her. Besides she loved the memories the house held for her
 By-and-by it grew to be too much for Sylvie to climb the hill, and she did not go out often in the carriage. Still I did not go down to see her un- less they sent for me-
 One day the buggy came for me in great haste, and 1 went, although I .grumbled all the way.
 When they put Sylvie's little daugh- ter in my arms, I kissed her because I just couldn't help it; but I didn't make any fuss over her, and I won- dered audibly if there was any need of my hanging around there any longer.
 Dicks face was very grave, and he asked me to stay a few days, if I could I only sniffed and made him no reply. I didn't offer to do anything at all that next day; indeed there was no need
 That night, though, Sylvie grew