Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-01-21
!: HER CONQUERlN6
FAITH
1t overcame the Scheming Of
a Selfish Sister.
By ARABELLA NASMYTH


The indisputable fact which has so
often sadly surprises people that two
and two will not make five was star
ing the Anslem girls in the face.
1t was year after the death of their
father, and many evaslons and putting
off of the fatal day had gone for
naught. They were face to face with
the knowledge that they could no lon
ger afford to keep up the old family
home and, moreover, must do some
thing to add to their infnitesimal 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 to work"
Regina was twenty-six, with rebel
lious dark hair and firm chin, which
always amazed people by the dimple
they discovered in it. Regina was the
one who always did things in the fam
ily.' 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 it was differ
ent. From the time her first fluff 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 a beauty, and
the decision had chung to her through
life, though at maturity it is doubtful
if 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 as a 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-
list.
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-
ton, At her sisters fat Esther drew
her brows together fretfully.
Work. she said. You are ridicu-
lous! It's all very well for you to talk.
but how can 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 for
ever. 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 i'll a repressed voice. II won't
pretend to misunderstood YOU she
said. Its like you to propose offering
something else than yourself! Under
stand once for all that I'll never marry
Or. Brightright! He is selfish, he has
cruel and vindictive nature with all his
surface polish, and he is sixty years
Old
"Also he owns the most magnificent
country place in the state and is mil
lionaire," breathed Esther as her sister
stopped REALLY, Regina, for a grown
up person you are distressingly silly!
I'm sure DIR. Brightright is no worse
than lots Of men, and think what you'd
| haver'
(Which you, of course, would share, !.
said Regina coldly. Her face took on
nm imnohite expression as she looked
! down at her sister. Understand, III
never marry him. I'll find work to do"
'It's Neal MAXWELL" 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 i'll the air, her hands clutch
ing mechanically the papers covered
with their rows of discouraging figures.
She was hurt as only a 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.
1t was a year since Neal had gone
abroad as foreign representative for his
firm and eleven months since his let
tiers 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 that he was alive and
we'll
And when he left they had been en-
gagged. She could hardly remember
when she and Neal had not intended to
marry one another, SO many had been
the years of their more than friend.
ship. In spite of her indignation and
her secret grief, in spite of his myste-
rious neglect. Regina still chung to the
feeling that, wherever he was, what
ever had happened, Neal still must care
for her just as day must follow night.
And she was of too strong a nature
to seek to cover her jilting by accepting
the man who had haunted her foot
steps for the past year. DR.. Brightright,
whom she instinctively ,iisliked and
steadily Stunned, to the furious exas-
peration Of Esther This had not been