The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-12-11
Little Siste.
r.
By X RAY BAKER
tcspyrighi 1918. BY the Acciurs Nsvs-
payer syndieAisb

or her room and looked out on
dreary, drixEls day Sunday. Marci
80. In one hand she held a letter
which was somewhat crumpled. a.
though she had started TO convert 1
into waste paper and had thought bet
ter Of IL.
Two robins were holding a converse
ton In the tree whose branches
brushed the window. The birds start
ed ont ms II they were quarreling, bu
the excited chirping diminished into :
sound that was as near cooling as car
be expected OF robins.
Wouldn't II be fine 10 he bird Y
Frances sighed. They're Away,
happy, II seems"
She looked at the letter and a wry
little smile adorned her face
He calls me sister" she unused
THAT'S what they all say when they
want TO leave you for someone else
Little sister'-that's what he says, I,
sounds pretty, but he used 10 say
things that were prettier."
She stood up and made q motion as
though TO throw the letter In the
wastebasket but changed her mind
again and placed II in drawer Of the
dresser. Then she stood before the
mirror and surveyed herself critically
for several moments
The person who gazed back at
Frances from the glass was not en-
actly beautiful. but there was some
thing about her that would not permit
her to pass unnoticed In q crowd. The
eyes were just common eyes; that is,
there were no special arches 10 the
brows. and the long, graceful lashes
that are considered so desirable were
no: there. There wac lot Of good
wholesome blue In the eyes. which
could not be discounted In an inven-
tory Of attractive points.
The nose was inclined TO be pug"
which gave the face 4 kind OF saucy
look, and the hair was nearly stringy,
being OF \ rusty hue; but there was
plenty Of it, and IL was done up At
tractively, II not UP to the minute In
style. The teeth were the principal
attraction OF Frances Hayden's coun-
tenance. When she smiled even the
least bit they showed, dazzling white
and even. and the smile was about as
sweet as any girl could hope 10 offer.
But Frances was unhappy. She had
long suspected that Melville Clark had
ceased to care for her--in the way he
once had cared. But, she told herself,
it was hardly unexpected, despite the
protestations Melville had made, when
he left Glendale two years ago, that he
would never care for another girl and
that he was coming back "some bright,
sunny day" 10 make her Mrs. Clark.
She remembered the apprehensions
she had entertained at that time, re-
CARELESS OF his earnest words that he
would come across someone else in the
big city. However. Melville had writ
ten sitdulIy ioT ychi' anu ~ tNSis
letter had reiterated his intentions.
During the next year, however, she
could not help noticing that his letters
alluded more and more TO friendship
and less TO love. Finally they dropped
off altogether, until for a period Of
five months none came at all
Frances went about her steno.
graphic duties in the real estate office
with the usual smile and the same ca
pacity for work that she had always
displayed but when she got home at
night she often shut herself In her
room and thought hard and sometimes
cried little.
Frances had given her heart to Mel
Vile when he went TO the city to make
a name for himself and few coins for |
his pocket. Ii was 4 hard and rocky |
road, as his letters showed during that |
first year, and then his communities
lions began 10 take on more hopeful
tone. Things are coming. slowly but
surely" hewould write.
Frances hoped in vain that Melville
would return home for a visit. He
had said he would come for her when
he made good" but now, when he
was making good. there was no men.
ion Of the visit. Then came this let
Ter referring to her as little sister"
~ which he told her that be had nj
asst attained the object he had sought
de was a successful stock broker, with
IN Office OF his own and q neat sum 10
,ank. But never = mention Of coming
o Glendale did the letter contain.
Later In the day the sun chased the
'Iouds away and warmed the earth
gain and Frances went for walk.
Maybe this Is the bright. sunny day
le referred TO-" she said. as she
dreaded her way through the village;
nd she laughed. with u tinge OF visit
Illness, when she recalled the little
lister" passages .of The episile from
ielville.
AT the edge OF Glendale was wood
n bridge which spanned silent little
rock. vending its way through The
alley with many twists and turns.
'oliage was beginning 10 adorD the nn-
nerous trees on either side Of the
,ream. which looked delightfully."- re-
reshing. Frances leaned over the
alling and looked into a miniature