Holbrook argus., 1911-08-29
SISTERS 5
By VIRGINIA BLAIR

yond all youthful folly. It was only when she was alone with Edith that she showed the child in her. One of us has to seem grown up," She could explain to Edith, "and you are such 8 baby that l have to put on an extreme amount of dignity"
 Edith smiled. '1 am not such baby" she said, but you have more courage than I, Vicky; I do not be- lieve that you are afraid of anything"
 Yes I am,' Vicky admitted. q am afraid of George Miller, Edith
 The color famed into Edith's face. Why. why should you be, vicky?" she demanded
 He always looks at me as if he could see through me-" Vicky con fessed, "and I feel as if I ought to be in short dresses and wear my hair in pig-tails.
 "He does not make me feel that way" she said
 Vicky's short nose was up in the air. of course not, he's ih love with you, Edith"
 T hope not said Edith gravely.
 " ny nut NlChy uGLudHueu
 Because I don't love him." was the response
 And he loves you. Isn't that just the way of it? All the good things come to you and you don't want them, while r.
 Edith looked at her in astonishment. Why, Vicky Osborn" she said 'I don't see why you should care.
 'I don't said Vicky bravely, but George Miller is too good to be hurt"
 She said the same thing to the young man that evening when he came out white-faced from a talk with Edith.
 q want you to be happy, George" she said
 You are a nice little thing, Vicky." he told her, and we've always been good chums But cannot come here any more"
 Vicky looked after him forlornly. "I couldn't tell him the truth" was her thought, that Edith cares for some one else"
 She found Edith in tears on the porch. T am not going to sympa- thize," Vicky scolded; you ought to love him, if you don't
 But there is Richard" Edith faltered.
 He cannot hold a candle to George" Vicky said.
 q believe you are in love with him yourself, vicky."
 Vicky turned on her, her eyes blaz- ing. Do you think I'd love a man who "didnt care anything for me?''
 But that night she cried herself to ] sleep, and in the morning she rose early and went for walk through the garden and down the road which led to the river. Her big dog, Laddie. followed her. She talked to him on the pier while watching a fisherman drawn in the nets with the mornings catch
 Edith has always had everything" she said. She's the pretty one and the popular one. I wouldn't care, Laddie, if she loved George; I'd give him up, but it is such pity to have so much devotion go to waste
 In silence she watched boat shoot l placid pond
 Its George" Vicky said. and rose. ready for flight.
 He saw her and waved to her. Don't you want to go for row?" he asked.
 Vicky consented, and with Laddie in the stern they turned down stream. There was a little inn on wooded point. There they had breakfast, tel ephoning to Edith that they would be back at noon.
 All that morning George poured the tale of his troubles into Vickys sym pathetic ears. And Vicky listening said within her soul: Tt isn't Edith that he really loves, it's what he thinks Edith is.'
 Yet she dared bring him no disillu sion. for she could not break faith with her sister.
 When she reached home she found Edith in a fever of excitement. Rich ard wants me to marry him." she said "He has it all planned, we are to live in his college town and he will finish his studies and have me for his in spiration."
 Nothing that Vicky could say or do could influence Edith, and so it hap ened that the young and irrespons ible pair were married within the month, and thus Vicky was left alone Since the death of their father and mother the two girls had been chap eroned by an old aunt whose feeble ness made her poor company for young and eager girl. Vicky packed her things and went to the city. She took small studio ir an old building down town, and there she painted in company with half dozen other art ists.
 There was one man, a Russian, who scrutinized her pictures and gave her valuable suggestions. You have genius,' he told her, but your heart