Show I A KINDLY SISTER I I Ho was a most persistent young man I If he believed In the old story that I faint heart neer won fair lady he I p also had reason enough to believe that I I I a bold one stood very little better chance He had known Miss Ellis since she was a school girl with frocks short enough to allow of lengthening and a L plait long enough to pull and since I then he had been her l devoted slave and worshiper her fetcher and carrier and I handy light porter I Twice every season he had told her the old old story with embellishments each time and twice every season she said No thank you very kindly I very politely but very firmly It began to get quite a regular feature of the t I year For A week or two after each event the young man chunncd her re ligiously and went about as Jf he were about tob the victim of some awful tragedy He feared he moralized he denounced the world of womankind for good and all and grew pale and sad and morose in consequence but at tho end of the month he began to rally It was then that she coaxed him back to her bide with sweet looks and stveefer smiles and the whole affair would commence again 1 No wonder Miss Ellis wont have anything to say to you said his sister sis-ter contemptuously one day after his return to favor I wouldnt If I were In her place Youre only half a manh Oh so thats your opinion gold he Indifferently To he always dangling after a girl who wont have you at any price If 1 were a man and a girl wouldnt marry mo Id Well what would you do I Keep away from her said I l hjs adviser ad-viser Dont go near her for two or three months Be strong Jack yoii can if you like F I will snId her brother bringing his fist on the table determinedly Clss I believe youre right Jack do you really mean It Clss If she begged on her bended knees to me It wouldnt affect me In the least was tho strongminded an I swer At that mQment the maid appeared at the door I A letter for you sir she said handing him a fragrant pinktinted I note The young man took it and tearing I it open read with very mixed feelings the following words Dear Old Jack Come and have a cup of tea with me this afternoon Im all alone CLARE He flushed folded the note hesitated for a moment and then reaching for his hat made quietly for the door Jack from whom is your note queried his sister who had been lo king k-Ing suspiciously on Oh only a line from the office he stammered Important business must go up at once j Do business men usually write on I pinktinted paper asked his sister raising her eyebrows No but you see they Hang It all Clss Its from Clare That girl can do Just what she likes with me and she knows it Im like wax in f her hands I And with a groan of despair at his own weakness the young man shook himself Into his coat and arranging I I I his tie went off to dangle hopelessly j once more by the side of his tormentor j I l If I have any knowledge of my own j i sex said Miss Clsslc Reynoldr to her j self a few days later when the despondent I de-spondent Jack suffering under < his tenth rejection mooned disconsolately about the house I think I shall be Fable F-able to settle this little matter for good I I am getting about tired of thlpgs as1 they are So saying she dressed herself with unusual care and went to pay a visit to the fickle Miss Ellis J How good of you to come dearest CIssIe said Miss Ellis It only you would run in more often I get so tired of poor old Jack It was about him I came today said Miss Reynolds taking a comfortable I seat About Jack queried the young ain A a-in Innocent surprise 1 Yes It was so kind of you to refuse I him dear Thin was unexpected Mlsa Ellis dropped her embroidery Into her lap I and looked up In some bewilderment Kind of mo to refuse him she j I echoed Yes You see If you had accepted him you wouldhave spoiled all my ulans I Oh Mid Miss Ellis a trifle coldly And pray what may they be Oh Ill tell you replied Jacks sister sis-ter confidently You see dear you are i a very nice girl and all hat quite one t I of the nicest girls I knowbut our Jack I 1 must do better He must marry money Oh I have arranged It all for him Ive got charming little American girl coming to stay with me such a dear girl and with heaps money She and l Jack have got to fall In love with one I another Misc Ellis smiled a little disdainfully II I I 1 J shouldnt depend upon It too much I dear she said You will be so dlsap I I polntedj J j Oh jor I wont laughed Miss CIssie I 1 Jacks In love with her photograph ftlrcaily and we have arranged all sorts I of outings together Jack says he always al-ways did admire American girls I Have you got the photograph with you No dear but Ill send it round If I you like Dont trouble prayf Miss Ellis got up and walking to a pier gloss on the I other side of the room arranged a I I stray lock of hair By the by did you say she was pretty she asked In an I offhand sort of way Pretty Shes lovely Shes got the sVee t est little figure you ever saw and golden hair And eyes eyes like violets and acomplexion like milk and roses Made up I expect said Miss Ellis with z alight curve of her lips You wouldnt say so If you saw her Clare declared Miss Reynolds You would Just fall at her feet and worship her like my Jacks going to You seem very keen on managing poor Jacks affairs said Miss Ellis Pray when Is this divinity coming Next Thursday Well goodbye dear J am so glad you sent that stupid I I Jack about his business It was the I best fhlng for him Hearts are often caught In the rebound you know Good bye1 And with a very affectionate kiss Miss Clsoie walked off very pleased with hcrralf l at the result of their short Inter view Jacks inamorita was Jealous and when a girl begins to show signs of Jealousy said she you may be pretty ure how the land lies HorrId thing said Miss Ellis as the door closed behind her dearest friend I believe she Would hate me to marry that precious brother of hers Well If she thinks Im going to stand quietly by and see that horrid forward Ameri can girl marry m Jack my she makes a great mistake Money or no money Miss Reynolds well sea who wins With this she took out the pinktinted note paper again and sitting down wrote off another short but very affec 1 1 I tlonate missive to Jack That night the young man returned I home flushed and radiant with success I I Clssi he said youre a fraud a regular fraud Catch me taking a wo mans advice again Well what do you think Shes accepted me atlasU Never saId MSS cissie In well reigned astonishment Its the glorious truth he returned Now Clssle confess you girls under stand very little about your own sex Pictorial I do said Magazine his sister meekly Penny i I I |