Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1895 — Brother and Sister. [ARTICLE]

Brother and Sister.

“Marry you! No, you goose. Do get up off your knees and not strike such sanctimonious attitudes.’’ And the girl burst into a peal of laughter, but suddenly checking herself, said: — “There, Al, I do not mean to hurt your feelings, but you draw such long faces! I like you very well as a friend, but cannot love you. Please don’t think me a flirt, for I don’t mean to be, and I had no notion you cared for me. Can’t we be friends?’’ Here the young girl offered tier hand, which Al took, and then hastily picking up his hat left the room. “O, dear!” Dotsighed, lookingout of the window after the retreating form. “Now he is angry with me. Why can’t I have a friend without his falling in love with me? That is the third or fourth offer I’ve had within a few weeks, and all from boys that I’ve known ever since I was a baby. Seems to me since I returned from school every one seems possessed. If they would onlj' treat inelike a sister I should like it much better. How nice it would be to have a brother! But here comes cousin Will. He is a dear, good soul, and the only one I take any comfort with. I’ll go and see if his friend came.” In the next room there is but one occupant, a young man, who seems convulsed with laughter “Well,” says Harry Percival, for that is his name, “she made quick work of it. Proposals made and rejected in five minutes. Wants a brother, does she? I’ve a good mind to apply for the vacancy. Wonder what she would say. By Jove, I’ll try it. There comes Will, now.” “Hi, Harry!” said Will, bursting rather unceremoniously into theroom. “All ready? Supper is, so we’ll go right down. Here, Dot,” he continued, as they met that young lady at the head of the stairs, “allow me to make you acquainted with my friend, Mr. Percival Harry, my cousin, Miss Dora Andrews.” Supper is over, and Dot sitting on the piazzi in the hammock when Mr. Percival and Will appear at the door. “You look too comfortable to be disturbed, Dora,” Will says. “Nevertheless, I see some friends of yours coming down the road, bent on dragging you on some moonlight excursion or other.” ’‘l shall play martyr with very good grace, Will. It is a lovely evening, and nothing would suit me better than a boat ride. Of course, you and Mr. Percival will go?” “I see I’m booked,” Will laughingly answered, “for there’s Perry Hunter and his sister, Frank Willis and sister, 1 Ellis Munro and two sisters. Now, as each of those fellows are escorting another fellow’s sister, I suppose, the extra Miss Munro is for my benefit.” “Then I hope,” says Mr. Percival, “you will allow me the pleasure of being your escort, Miss Andrews. I never had a sister. We shall be under the same roof all summer, and I assure you I will prove an exemplary brother. May I call you sister, Dora?” "Certainly,” Dot answered. But somehow the arrangement did not please her much. “If you will excuse me a moment I will go up stairs and get my shawl, and be ready by the time they reach the house.” The merry pa ty enjoyed a pleasant sail,, and before parting agreed to have a picnic the following week at a grove five miles distant. Before the week had ended, Harry and Dora had become better acquainted, and he had taken on himself the office of mentor, as well as brother. The evening before the picnic Frank Willis called to take Dot to ride. She went up stairs to get her wrap. Coming down she met Harry Percival on the stairs. “Where are you bound, sister mine?” he asked.i . “Out to ride,” she answered. “It is such an elegant evening.” “Don't.you think your adjective misapplied ?” he rejoined, coolly. “Elegant refers to polished or polite ” “Haven’t you mistaken your vocation? Instead of a gentleman you should have been a critic.” “The two cart be combined,” he answered, quietly. “I don't think you ought to go to ride this evening, sister.' You will be too tired to enjoy the picnic to-morrow; besides the air is damp.” “Allow me to pass, please; I o keeping Mr. Willis waiting.

“Sister, indeed,” she muttered when she reached the piazza. “Any one would think I was in leading strings. I’d go if I caught my death.” Dora did not enjoy her ride as she expected, and the air was damp; nevertheless she kept up such a chatter of small talk that Mr. Willis, who had long been one of her admirers, thought her one of the liveliest girls he had ever met, “ Good night,” she said, when they had reached her home. “I will keep that promised seat at the table for you. ” Just then Dora heard one of the upper windows shut, Upstairs Mr. Percival was muttering to himself—“ Not if I know it shall he have the seat next to her at the table.” The next morning daw’ned bright and clear. The picnic party was all in good spirits, the baskets well filled, and everything promised well. Harry found pleasant sets for himself and Dora, and then went to help one lof the ladies carve some refractory 'fowl. On his return he found his I place occupied by Mr. Willis. “You won't mind sitting over here.” Dora said sweetly, pointing to a vacant place opposite. “I promsed this seat to Mr. Willis last night, and of course you don’t care to sit here, as we are brother and sister, and see each other every day.” “ Certainly not, sister mine.” Harry answered, biting his lip. Then he muttered to himself as he moved away, “ Caught in my own trap, but I’ll pay her off.” After dinner a party was formed to go further into the wood in search of berries. Mr. Percival asked Dora to accompany the party, and they were proceeding in a most amicable manner, notwitstanding their little scene at the dinner table. At last they reached an opening in the wood and all sat down to rest, Dora declaring she could walk no further. “I am so sorry,” said Annie Hunter, “for I had set my heart on going to the haunted oak, as it is called. It is not very much further.” “I will go with you,” Mr. Percival volunteered. “What will Dora say.” “She won’t care,” Harrj' said, before Dora could reply. “We are brother and sister and understand each other perfectly. Come, Miss Hunter.”

Dora was fiercely gay all the way back to the grove, and devoted herself entirely to Mr. Willis. Mr. Percival and Dot were again together alone. “Well,” Dot commenced, “we’ve had a splendid time. I don’t remember ever enjoying myself so much at a picnic. Mr. Willis is so entertaining. I hope he and his sister will stay all summer.” “I am afraid, sister Dora, that it will not be best for his peace of mind, unless he is merely flirting, as well as yourself. By his manner I should judge him, to be in earnest. Beware, little one, how you trifle with such a heart.” “Quite a little homily,” flashed Dorn. “You would be quite successful as a preacher. But how long since have you constituted yourself Mr. Willis’ keeper, as w’ell as my men tor?” “ Pardon me,” he said. “I do not intend to anger you. Here we are at the house. lam going to the city on business in the morning, and shall not be back for a week. Let’s make up, as all good brothers and sisters should. ” So saying, he stooped and pressed a kiss on Dora’s lips. “ How dare you?” she exclaimed, her cheeks flaming; “ this farce has gone altogether too far. Don't you ever address that odious title to me again. You shall not call me sister. ” And bursting into tears Dora broke away from him and gained her own room. “I shall be glad when that odious creature is gone,” she sighed. “What makes him tease me so. I suppose he thinks I am a simple little country girl. I verily believe I should hate him if he stayed much longer. Oh, dear, I wish I could hate him.” * * * All that week Dora roamed listlessly round the house or wandered down to the river bank, with a book in her hand, but very little reading was done. Mr. Willis called several times to take her to ride, but after accepting the invitation once she declined to go again. In Harry Percival’s office in town that gentleman does not look very busy except in the wear of shoe leather, for he is striding up and down the room, with his hands in his pockets, as if walking for a wager. “By Jove,” he mutters, “I must settle this matter soon or I shall be in a mad house. A decided ‘No’ will be preferable to uncertainty. I suppose she prefers that fellow Willis, but it will be better to know my answer from her own lips. I expect she hates me, but somehow I don’t understand women, and perhaps she does like me. Anyway, I’ll go down this afternoon and liear my fate.” About five o’clock Mrs. Hatnmond was surprised by the arrival of Mr. Percival. “I am so glad you have come back,” the good ladj' said. “The house is so lonely. Will has gone to town to get me some groceries, but Dora is somewhere around the place. Shall I go out and call her or will you go to your room and reSt?” “No, I thank you, Mrs. Hammond, I will take a little stroll, the fresh air will rest me after the city dust. I may meet Miss Andrews.” “She took her book to read, so I guess you’ll find her down by the river.” Coming to the water's edge he lifted his hat a moment to let the cool breeze fan his ‘forehead when suddenly he saw the gleam of a white dress, and knew he had found her. Dot was sitting under an overhanging rock, her book lying on the grass amd her face buried in her hands. “•Pardon my intrusion,” Harry said, laying his hand on her shoulder, “hut mayn't ! team fort you?” Dora shook his hand from her shoulder amd sprang to her feet with a startled look. “Oh, Mr. Percival,” she -exclaimed, “yea tftrightemed rmeil”

“Am I then so repugnant to you that you cannot bear that I should touch you? And I love you so, Dora. In what way have I offended you so deeply?” “Never mind,” he continued, “l will not trouble you, but I will go away, for I cannot bear to see you happy with another. Will you say goodbye,” and Harry stepped toward her, his hand outstretched. Dora looked up and the gladness sparkling in her eyes cleared the cloud from her face. “Don’t go, Harry,” she said, and he clasped her in his arms, hardly able to realize the sudden change to happiness “Then you do love me, Dora?” “Yes; a little, brother mine,” the saucy girl answered. But her mouth was closed by a kiss, and Dot declares she shall surely drop the title if that is to be the penalty for using it.—[Boston Globe.