The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-09-09
up. gazing as far as the tangling trees


situation? / had seen my wife, Mir.
lam, not once as shadow, but
twice, thrice, living, ecstatic, pres
ence. She had smiled at me, the
same golden hair in mist over her
eyes, the same laughing, bright,
breezy face, the same coy, enhancing
manner. What did it mean?
What could 1t mean? Except that
there was daze in my brain, cloud
creeping over my faculties; also, the
curtain of materialism swept aside
and let down heaven
l was hardly prepared for my
mothers entrance. She looked at
me, the same mystery in her eyes,
the same cautious, secretive manner.
She spoke after a minute.
You saw her, then? You saw, or
thought you saw, Miriam?"
II saw my wife," / exclaimed,
struggling to an upright position.
you thought you saw her. l al
ways do. Isn't 1t wonderful? I've
been going TO tell you, butt didn't
know. I thought perhaps l had bet
ter write, but when | tried l found l
didn't know how Yes, it's Miriam.
To all intents and purposes, it's Mir
lam. She's darling, and we love
her So"
"For heavens sake, mother, ex-
plain yourself" cried in an agony.
Yes, of course. l forgot that you
are not accustomed to her as we are.
Well, that girl is Miriam's sister, her
twin sister"
l was at the same time Mortified
and delighted, If the two conditions
can be named together. The vision
of Miriam as l had twice seen her
hoated in my vision, only there was a
pink, misty cloud before my eyes.
''Miriam's twin sister?" l asked.
miriam had no sister"
mot to your knowledge, nor to
mine. Your father bought this house
some years after Miriam's birth. The
matter was a great secret. Miriam
neverknew it. But this is the story:
Miriam's mother had a sister Lefty,
who married early and went abroad.
| The two sisters corresponded, but
never met until Miriam was born.
Letty's soul was torn with-not jeal-
ousy, only terrible, vehement long
ing for a child, and she made her
| first visit to this country, as l said,
when Miriam was born. She said she
| was sent by foreboding that her sis
| ter would have twins, and made the
latter promise that If she did, she
would give one of them to her. Her
sister laughed at the prediction, and
so sure she was that there was no
| foundation for IL that she assented to
the desire, promising, even going the
length of recording the promise, that
il she had twins one of them should
| be given to Lefty, but there was to be
the utmost secrecy about the matter.
Well, it happened. Miriam's mother
was both frightened and indignant.
| That two should be sent when only
one was expected and provided for
sorely perplexed and even offended
her. l have heard that she was glad
| to part with one of them. l would
have welcomed both. Wild horses
should not have torn me from my
child.
81 don't know how the thing was
managed, but both sisters were salts
fed, and the little one was trans
ported over the water to an almost
royal home, and there grew up, ig-
norant, of course, of the circum-
birth. When this girl was sixteen
her reputed mother died. Her father
had died some years before, and she
was left with a fair fortune. Some
busybody on this side of the water
made her acquainted with the facts
of the case, and she returned at once
to her real mother.
| For months we have been inti-
mate. The boy was the bond between
us, your boy. We have talked many
times about you, and she felt in a
sense acquainted. She is Miriam s
| living image. l think heaven willed
that you two should meet and that
the boy should bring you together.
Now, are you sorry you came home,
that you found little Edgar so Iowa
| ble? 1t is in great measure to this
| girl that you are indebted. She has
a wonderful way with children, and
this little fellow, her nephew, is ex-
oeedingly fond of her, fonder than he
is of his granny"
"Or his father" put in bitterly.
ooh, that will all come in time.
He must first get acquainted with
YOU" my mother said.
Do you wonder that for weeks !
was in brown study almost to the
neglect of my boy, the baby, for from
the first instant l set eyes on Mir
iam's sister I loved her 1t was a
love broken off, but continued, for in
Eta, as they had named the girl,
every good quality that had graced
the character of her twin sister was
inherent-her sweetness, grace, in
telligence, her vivacity and her inno-
cence. had no need to learn to love,
as she did. often told her she took
4. e.. 4. l. Il