Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-06-12
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It 0vercame The Scheming Of a
Selfish Sister.
BY ARAsELLA NAsMYTH.

by AhAbGLIA NASmv U ~.
Copyright. 1909. By Associated Literary
Press.l
The indisputable fact which has so
often sadly surprised people that two
aud two will not make five was star
Ing the Anslem girls In the face.
II was year after the death of their
father, and many evasions and putting
or of the fatal day had gone for
naught. They were face to face with
the 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 infinlteslmal in
come.
"In some way" said Regina, looking
up rather YEARLY from her pencil and
paper-"in some way we've got to have
money. We've got to go 10 work."
Regina was twenty-six, with rebel
lious dark hair and q firm chin which
always amazed people by the dimple
they discovered In II. Regina was the
one who always did things IN the fam
lily. Nobody had ever taken time to
call her 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 II was differ
ent. From the time her first fun of
golden hair had made itself manifest
and her big blue eyes had first glanced
appealingly at humanity It had been
decided that Esther was beauty, and
the decision had chung to her through
life. though at maturity It Is doubtful
II she would have been thought more
than an ordinarily good looking fresh
young girl had not those around her
been so educated in the other view
But ms beauty Esther had always
been 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 belledom the men who had wooed
her seriously had been few and. with
her aspirations. beneath her considera-
tion. At her sisters fiat Esther drew
her brows together fretfully.
Work" she said. You are ridicu-
lous. It's all very we'll for you to talk.
but how could ! work? What could
do? Regina
She hesitated 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
1t would be very easy for you to
place both of us beyond all money
cares forever. I'm 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 repressed voice. II
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. Brightright! He is selfish.
he has 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
millionaire" breathed Esther as her
sister stopped. Really. Regina, for
grownup person you are distressingly
silly. I'm sure DIR. 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, I'll
never marry him. I'll find work to do"
Its Neal MAXWELL the older girl
flashed angrlly. You'd be glad Of
the chance IL you weren't eating your
heart out for 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
clutching 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
for her, In spite OF the opinion voiced
by her sister and shared. as Regina
knew, by nearly all her acquaintance
In the town. did not help much In
bearing the taunt.
II was 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
whom she and Neal had not intended