Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1909-07-01
HERCONQUERINGFAHH
It Overcame the SCheming of {
Selfish Sister.
BY AaABELLA NAsMYTH.


and two Will not make FIVE was star
ing the Anslem girls in the face.
1t was a year after the death of their
father, and many evasions and putting
on Of the fatal day had gone for
naught. They were face to face with
Ehe knowledge that they could no Ion
ger afford to keep up the old family
home and, moreover, must do some
thing to add to their infnitesimal in
come.
fIn some way" said Regina, looking
mp rather wearily from her pencil and
paper-"in some way we've got to have
money We've got to go to work"
Regina was twenty-six, with rebel
lIous dark hair and firm chin which
always amazed people by the dimple
they discovered in 1t. Regina was the
one who always did things in the fam
sly. Nobody had ever taken time to
call her a beauty, so she had never
quite realized the fact that she came
very close to being one and could de-
vote her leisure to accomplish results.
OF course with Esther 1t was differ
ent. From the time her first fun of
golden hair had made itself manifest
and her big blue eyes had first glanced
nppealingly at humanity it had been
decided that Esther was a beauty, and
the decision had clung to her through
life, though at maturity it is doubtful
If she would have been thought more
than an ordinarily good looking fresh
81 HnI hn-
been so educated in the other view.
But as a beauty Esther had always
sbeen waited on and put forward, and
even when time went on and girlish
petulance and fickleness and caprice
degenerated into pettishness and self
ish inconsiderateness nobody ever ex
pected Esther TO do anything but ex-
ist.
And now she was thirty, for in spite
of belcdom the men who had wooed
her seriously had been few and, with
her aspirations, beneath her considera-
tion. At her sisters fat Esther drew
her brogs together fretfully.
"Workw she said. you are ridicu-
lous! It's all very we'll for you to talk,
but how could l work? What could
do? Regina
She hesitated a little, for there was
something in the straight browed face |
meditatively surveying her as though |
she were seen for the first time that |
bid her pause "Regina-if you would |
it would be very easy for you to |
place both Of US beyond all money |
cares forever. Pm sure
The voice died away before the spar
kle of anger in the dark face across
the table. Regina bit her lip before
she spoke in a repressed voice. IL
won't pretend to misunderstood you"
she said. ITS like you to propose Of |
fering something else than yourself,
Understand once for all that I'll never |
marry DR.. Brightrightl He is selfish |
he has a cruel and vindictive nature |
with all his surface and polish, and he
Is sixty years old"
"Also he owns the most magnificent |
country place in the state and is a
millionaire" breathed Esther as her
sister stopped. Really, Regina, for a
grownup person you are distressingly
silly! I'm sure Or. Brightright is no
worse than lots of men. and think
what you'd havew
(Which you, Of course, would share"
said Regina coldly. Her face took on
an immobile expression as she looked
down at her sister Understand, III
never marry him. I'll find work to do"
ITS Neal Maxwellr the older girl
flashed angrily. You'd be glad Of
the chance if you weren't eating your
heart out for a man who threw you
over and never cared anything for
you! YOU
But Regina had swept from the
room, her head in the air, her hands
elutchlng mechanically the papers COW
cred with their rows of discouraging
figures
She was hurt as only proud person
can be hurt, and the sure knowledge
deep in her heart that Neal Maxwell
had indeed, beyond all doubt cared
Tor her, in spite of the opinion voiced
by her sister and shared, as Regina
knew, by nearly all her acquaintances
in the town, did not help much in
bearing the taunt.
1t was a year since Neal had gone
abroad as foreign representative for
his firm and eleven months since his
letters had stopped abruptly, without
warning. Her two letters of inquiry
bringing no response, pride had step
ped in and she had made no further
effort to hear from him beyond learn
ing from his firm he was alive and
well
And when he left they had been en-
gagged. She. could hardly remember
when she and Neal had not intended
10 marry one another, so many had
been the years Of their more than
friendship. In spite Of her Indignation
and her secret grief, in spite OF his
mysterious neglect, Regina still clung
to the feeling that, wherever he was,
whatever had happened. Neal still
Irv,