Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-30

years old and had one more year IN
college before me. Ethel was eighteen
and had returned from a seniinarv
with her education completed I was
no longer able TO treat her as a sis
ter, and since J did not dare treat her
as n lover / fell, so to speak between
the two. Ny treatment Of her. be.
| ing neither the one nor the other, was
constrained. She made no complaint
but It seemed to me that the change
in me had produced an equivalent IN
her We played tennis and took long
walks together, getting on well enough
| at the tennis, but on our walks there
was none Of that easy chat, mingled
| with Jokes and laughter, Of former
| times. / walked beside her with the
secret between us. talking in that
| phiIosophic vein one IS apt TO fancy
! about the time he leaves his teens
while Ethel seemed at times tride
bored.
Why did not break the Ice by tell
ing her the secret? There were many
reasons from one point Of view and
none from another. Why are certain
events in families never referred to:
For the same reason that ! shrank
from telling Ethel that / was not her
brother. and as to telling her that the
spark of love for her had been kindled
within me. how could I say such a
thing to one who believed herself 70
be my sister?
This condition continued during my
senior year in college. NY letters 10
Ethel were bereft of either brotherly
or lover-hke expression. and hers to me
were also neutral. But when I re-
turned home a graduate a new element
had been injected into the problem
that was bound very soon to change
the situation. I found a young mar
hanging about Ethel whose intentions
were as plain as the sun IN heaven.
His presence threw me into a fever
at once. I found it difficult TO treat
him with ordinary civility. If Ethel
had been my sister I should doubtless
have freely discussed the matter of
the attentions of this young man with
her. As 1t was, I did not feel the
right even to mention the matter. Be
sides. I was so Unfortunately jealous Of
her sutton that should have doubtless
spoken extensively.
In Ethel there was no change to-
ward me. She was the same as she
had been for the past two years. She
must have known that there were fires
burning within me, but she did not ap-
pear to notice them. She said nothing
TO me about the attentions OF Mr..
Jackanapes, as I considered him, but
a sister is not likely TO speak OF a
sutton to a brother until the brother
first speaks TO her.
Ny pentup feelings kept rising until
the dam burst. One day, coming IN
expectedly upon Mr.. Jackanapes plead
ing his suit with Ethel, lost my grip
on myself and blurted out:
"What do you mean, sir, by wooing
my-my sister without first asking per-
mission from me, her natural guard
fan?"
He looked at me in astonishment,
then said: II beg a thousand pardons.
If it is not too late may 1 now have
that permission?'
IT prefer before giving my permits
sion to consult with her.
THAT being the case, will with
draw"
Rising, he left Ethel and me togeth
er. 1 stood with my back half turned
to her, scowling. l should have been
conscious of having made a guy of my
self. but was not
Dick" said Ethel, whats the mat
ter with you?"
Don't you think I should be con-
suited in love affair of yours:"
"How do you know that this is
love affair of miner
sit certainly is one if this fellow who
has intruded upon
Il can't help what he may feel for
me. l have not accepted him and don't
intend to-
Thank God"
"Why are you so concerned about
whom 1 marry? For some years pas!
you have acted coIdly toward me-"
THAT was because
Because what?"
al discovered
what did you discover"
''That you and are not brother and
sister. We are no relation"
81 have known that for a long while Il
you have known it n long while.
Why didn't you tell me?" II
why didn't you tell me-" II
I went to Ethel. Now that the bar n
Ter between US was broken down. my
ormer brotherly treatment of her was
help. Sitting beside her, l took her
o my arms, and, beginning rs BROTH
r. rapidly developed into lover III
Ethel and were the children OF two
'osom friends. My mother died when
was baby. and | was turned over
o my aunt Ethels mother died wren
ethel was four years old. and my aunt
eing near friend of her family. was
revealed upon TO take the child. beng
hiefiy moved by a desire TO furnish
ne with a playmate. She gave me ID
edition companion for life. A
have never been sure but thst
.thel encouraged Mr.. Jackanapes Id
rider 10 break the deadlock there was