Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-23

my sister? God knows. The question already begins to press upon my heart. In the very first instant 1 knew that she was not, but when looked into her eyes and saw the loneliness and the longing would have died rather than grieve her. So l sat there and lied"
 "Greatw said the doctor. You're the man for my money. You lied like a gentleman. Nobody could have done it better don't know what would have happened if you hadn't"
 Give me week." cried COnnor, "and I'll prove she's your sister, no matter if you're an Eskimo. Why, man. it's positive certainty
 And meanwhile whatT said I.
 GO right ahead,' said the doctor. Accept her affection upon false pre- tenses," said l. Cheat her into talk ing gifts from a stranger; sit by her bed and help her to build air castles with the very solid foundation of my money. And you have been so kind as to call me gentleman"
 "If you do the other thing" said the doctor with fervor. "I give you my professional word that the result won't look to you very much like the work of gentleman. If you value her safe ty you'll play brother"
 That's talking" said ConnOr And, anyhow, she is your sister, so what harm can there be?"
 When I returned to my apartments received word that Mrs. Gilbert had requested me to call her up by telc- phone, whatever the hour might be. It was then midnight, but I obeyed in structions.
 q happened to think" said the lady, that you'd want some help tomor- row"
 Its very kind of you" replied. About what?"
 Why. your presents; the things you'll buy for Hilda. Of course she needs everything, just simply every thing, but don't you buy necessities for Christmas. No woman wants them. We want trlnkets, luxuries, useless things. It took me five years to beat that into my husbands head. and even now he doesn't know 1t as he ought to. Just give me the money for the need ful, and I'll manage all that. Hilda will enjoy 1t as coming from you, but not as gifts, Do you underestimate"
 T thought I was her brother" said I, Aren't you proceeding on the theo- " that Pm her husband?"
 Ut wouldn't make any difference If you were her father" she declared. We don't want clothes from our ia thers- We want the money for them But we'll take diamonds. Oh. you must buy Hllda lots of pretty things Isn't 1t lovely that you can do 1t? And isn't she a dear"
 T surely never dreamed of having q sister like her." said l, and was sur prised to find that had told the truth
 So Mrs. Gilbert and I went shopping next day at the earliest possible hour
 1 had not supposed that it was possi- ble for a man to tell so many lies in one day. I spent the forenoon with Mrs. Gilbert. and we talked of noth- ing but my sister"-every word of mine lie. of course. I spent the aft ernoon or most of it with Hilda. whom l called by that new name, though knew 1t was not hers, and. 10 make matters worse, she had fallen into a dubious state of mind, and I must re hearse to her all Conuor's proc.'s with an air of serene and bissful convic- tion, for if a mere shadow of doubt could so affect her spirits what would the plain truth do?
 On Christmas day Hilda woke to find the plain room from which we dared not yet remove her bright with many flowers which the nurse had softly set in their places. This was the best day that Hilda had had since the beginning of her illness. The tide of returning health had begun to run strong, and so we were able to make it something like real Christmas without risk of harm. But the climax MAS reserxed- for the