Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-07
SISTER ELIZABETH.

udlItu Vi llllTtS-uNc, tlliu INC CouSoiouo-
ness that others begin 10 consider her too
old Tor the society OF young people 1t
is a 'iaylng on the shelf that is by no
means agreeable.
At least, such was nv feeling as 1
glaAced At the invitations TO q little
moonlight excursion on the lake, which
were handed in by John, while we were
seated by our cosy breakfast-table in
Snow Cottage one lovely morning in
June. The note was directed 90 Miss
Lottie and Miss Cornie Whitaker, not
addressed, as previous envelopes had
been, to the Misses Whitaker, which
would, of course, include Elizabeth Whit
taker, splnster. The last word announc
ed almost audihlv, with a bitter smile,
which attracted the attention OF my pet,
Cornie, who said, tenderly-
Sister Elizabeth, does your head ache
this morning"
How nv heart ycarned over that favor
ite sister OF mine, the very image OF her
lost father, We were now laying aside
the sable robes worn for three years in
token Of our loss; bat it seems to NE [
5ilpullS always veal litC No4lli ocCIi tiiio
OF second mourning. and in my lnmOst
soul the memory OF that idolized parent
would ever be enshrined.
Nv own mother | cannot remember;
she dropped and faded while l was an
infant; and my step-mOther, kind and in
dulgent as she ever was to me, was not
one to cali forth the ardent affection that
but few had power to awaken in my
heart. Gentle, dignifed and reserved,
she had bcqUeathed these same charac
teristics to her eldest child, the golden
haired Lottic.
But Cornle was like our father; the
same buovant spirit, strong will, and I'M
pulslve affection, the same dark, curling
hair. and eyes of laughing blue.
[ thought Of all this as [ watched her
on that June morning, and recalled how
I had been second time orphaned when
her mother was taken from us fifteen
wears ago Since that time, when Cornie
was four yeas old, she had been to me
as much IL daughter as Il sister.
Lottie, who was five years her senior,
had always been so selt-reliant and wo
manly, that | could never regard her as
uCCulu4 IIlttb holLSiALulllCoS t-iiN
care that our younger sister seemed to
require; and the relation between us two
could never be so tender and atiectionate.
AS I reflected thus long after We left
the breakfast room, and were seated in
our little morning parlOr, l reasoned
with myseit that it was but natural than
[ should be omitted IN the plans for en-
joyment formed by the young people OF
Caldwell. The mothers were not invited
with the daughters. Why should l ex
pect to go with Cornie, my sister child?
These reflections made me more calm
and content, and | could bid my sisters
smiling adieu when they left me early
in the evening.
COrnie came back to give me a second
kiss, and whispered, 81 wish you were
going too, you old darling"
"Ol4r l repeated to myself. Yes,
that is the word
And that night looked more atten-
lively than was my want into my mirror,
and tried to realize that I deserved the
epithet But saw no threads of silver
in my dark heavy braids, and but few
lines OF care on my fair, broad forehead.
AL llON, lily Hiatt iCll NOunS, tiEb Will
a sigh / tried to realize that must ac
.cept the position in which of necessity 1
was placed.
The next morning my sisters were Gag
err in their recltals Of the charming walk
and the delightful sail by moonlight.
There had been Il pleasant company.
ooh, Elizabeth said Cornie do you
know we saw an old friend of yours? And
he is coming to call on you to-day.
AN old friend of mine?' l querled
Yes Lottie, Mr. LOTUS; he is visit
ing at the Arments, and has just returned
from L long foreign tour
viii Loftusr l exclaimed. Is 1t pos
sible?'
I felt the warm blood tingling in my
cheeks as if had been only fifteen, in
stead of five and thirty Memory was
busy recalling the long vanished summer,
and how often I used to see my boy low
er, since lost sight of for many years.
Ours had been one OF those youthful at
tachments which but seldom ripen into
first and only love. They are often but
1.-The prelude to the strain, before the
song is sung We were on the verge of
an engagement when Will was suddenly
recalled to his distant home, and l had
seen him no more. Yet, foolish as it
may have been, had always kept one
corner Of my heart sacred to his name,
and 1t was with 4 strange thrill that
heard he was again near me, and that
soon should see INN.
That day he called with his friend.
Harry Mills. He was tall, tine-looking
man, polished, refined, and fascinating
III his manners. | could hardly identify
him with the slender youth that l had
once known; but he referred SO graceful
~ to our former acquaintance, and ex-
pressed SO much pleasure at renewing
the intercourse so suddenly interrupted,
that felt at perfect ease.
How pleasant the days were that fol-
lowed. We called each other 'Will' and
Lizzie in the most friendly way, and
Lottie and Corme seemed already
to regard him in very sisterly
manner. We read, and walked, and
talked, and laughed. And night after
night his deep, rich voice would accsm-
pany those OF my sisters, while I played
the old familiar tunes upon the piano.