Middletown transcript., 1876-08-05
@riainal Storp.
Written for the Trans
ELSIE LEE.

Il wish l could write." exclaimed
Elsie Lee as she smoothed her glossy
brown hair with one hand, and glanced
toward her sister with smile hall
confident, half doubling.
"Well, | was wondering whittier
your cogitations were tending, for
though I've ventured several remarks
within the last half hour, none of them
seemed sufficiently interesting to recall
you to earth, and earthly things, y
quietly answered Lulu. t.
"Pm all attention now, sister"
"N'importe," said Lulu, "you have
at last unscaled your heart. You thought
to surprise me but were unsuccessful
this time. The only wonder to me is
that you have not attempted it sooner" !"
"You speak, Lulu, as though you
believed I have been entertaining the
idea Of becoming an authoress. If so,
you have certainly suspected the truth,
but how have l betrayed my secret? 1
am sure, quite sure have never spoken
of it to any one. Do you then not
think my scheme wild ons?''
"As a school girl Elsie, l had great
faith in your ability to write compost
tion on any subject, and at the shortest
possible notice You will remember
many of our schoolmates at Oakwood
Seminary shared my sentiments You
never seemed to think it trouble to
write for US, hesitating only to warn US
that it would be far better for US to
spend little more time and thought on
it ourselves. 1t must have been a
weary head which lay on your pillow
on Friday nights, far more SO than
many Of Us tboughtless school girls
guessed, after lnmencing, finishing,
revising and sometimes writing the
whole Of an essay for some dull girl
who could not comprehend her subject
And, Elsie l have sometimes heard you
say what glorious thing it would be
to write book
"It would be folly to attempt book
Lulu that l am quite sure is far be-
yond my ability"
1t was night at Willow Grove, the
home of Elsie and Lulu Lee Their
father both mentally and physically
wearied had sought his couch and was
now locked in the embrace of Morpheus
The sisters were seated in tue sitting
room watching the dying embers in the
old fashioned CRATE that chilly spring
evening. The room, though bright and
cozy, had no pretence to elegance. Mr.
Lee had once been prosperous farmer
but the scale Of fortune had turned and
it was with difficulty that both ends
were made to meet His daughters
had enjoyed good educational advan-
tages; and, it may safely be asserted,
none ever appreciated them more
Their reduced circumstances made it
necessary to economize in every way,
shape and form. "But we must earn
said they. Lulu announced
her determination to take few music
scholars Elsie fixed her bright blue
eyes on the glowing embers without
seeming to see them, and leaning her
head on her hand sat lost in deep
reverie which ended in the exclamation,
II wish I could write p
"Then you deem it advisable to at
Tempt story, Lulu. The first thing
70 be considered is the sort Of story to
be written"
"Oh!" answered Lulu, with mis-
,hievous smile" write about the con-
quests of some fascinating belle tell of
he many hearts she has crushed, and
low, at last, Cupid's arrow buries itself
n her own heart and the little blind
,od laughs triumphantly."
Lulu, you know" " exclaimed Elsie
everely. then her tone suddenly soft
'ning-''you know my opinion Of flirt-
ng. No one shall ever be encouraged
u such folly by anything | shall have
written"
"Why did you change your tone SO
quickly ?" asked Lulu.
"At frst," replied Elsie II was
xasperated, then considering you we're
'nly teasing concluded not to give you
he scolding you deserved" As Elsie
poke the color deepened in her cheeks.
md Lulu declared herself unsatisfed |
With the explanation. There must be |