The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-02-07
Sister Elizabeth.

Nothing is mole notifying to person,
especially if that individual is maiden
lady of thirty five, than the consciousness
that others bcgin to consider her toe old for
the society Of young people. 1t ism 'laying
on the shelf" that is by no means agreeable.
al least, such was my feeling rs glanced
cursion on the lake, which were handed in
by John. while we were seated by our cosy
break fast-ta in Snow Cottage one lovely
morning in June. The note was directed
to Miss Lottic and Miss Cornic Whitaker,
not addressed, rs previous envelopes had
been, to the Misses Whitaker, which would
OF course, include Elizabeth Whitaker,
spinstcr. The last word l announced al
most audibly, with bitter smile, which at
tractcd the attention of my pet, Cornlc,
who said tenderly-
''Sistcr Elizabeth, does your head ache
this morning2"
How my heart ycarned over that favoritc
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; but it seems to me that should
always wear the calm sober tints of "sccond
moIining," and in my inmost soul the
memory of that idoizcd parent would ever
be cnshrnct.
My own mother cannot remember; she
dropped and faded while l was All infant;
and my stcpmother, kind and indulgent as
she ever was to me, was not one to cal
forth tho ardent affection which but few
had power to awaken in my heart. Gentle,
dignitied and reserved, she had bcqueathcd
these same characteristics to her eldest
child, the golden haired Lottic.
But Cornie was like our father, the same
buoyant spirit. strong will, and impulsivc
affection, the same dark, curling hair, and
eyes of laughing blue.
thought OF all this as I watched her
fondlv on that June morning, and recalled
how had been second time orphaned
when her mother was taken from us fifteen
years ago. Since that time, when Cornic
was four years old, she had been to me as
lllCn u uauBlt0r us u SlStcr.
Lottie, who was five years her senior, had
always been 80 self-rcliant and womanly
that | could never regard her as needing
that loving watchfulncss that our younger
sister seemed to require; and the relation
bctweca us could never be 80 tender and af
fectionate.
AS | reflected thus long after we had left
the breakfast room, and were seated in our
little morning parlor, reasoned with my
self that it was but natural that should be
omitted in the plans for enjoyment formed
by the young people OF Caldwell. The
mothers were not invited with the daughters.
Why should expect to go with Cornic,
my sister child?
These reflections made me more calm
and content, and I could bid my sisters
a smiling adieu when they left me early in
the evening.
Cornie came back to give nc second
kiss, and whispered, 81 wish you were 60
ing, too you old darlingl'
"Oldl" repeated to myself. eyes,
that is the word"
And that night looked more attentively
than was my want into my mirror, and
tried to realize that 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. Anyhow, my
heart felt young, and with sigh tried tc
realize that must accept tho position IN
which of necessity was placed
The next morning my sisters were eager
In their rtcitals OF the charming walk ant
the delightful sail by moonlight. There
had been a pleasant company.
''Oh, Elizabethi'' said Cornie, edo 70,
know we saw an old friend of yours2 Ant
he is coming to call on you to- day"
Gan old friend of mnc2" l queried.
"Yes,' Lottic replied. "AIr. LOTUS; II,
is visiting at the Armcnts', and has Just re
turned from long foreign tour" -
"Will Loftusl" exclaimed. j"Is i
possiblc4" aig..
l felt the warm blood tingling in m,
cheeks as il I had been only fifteen, insteat
Of five and thirty. Memory was busy re
Z o'''iihS 'no oionS-Nahisileu suiiiicl, anu nov
often used to sec my boy lover, since los
sight Of for many years. Ours had beer
one Of those youthful attachments whicl
but seldom ripop into first and only love
They are often but "tho prelude to til,
strain, before the song is sung" We wer
on the verge Of an engagement when WI
waa suddenly recalled 70 his eistsn. home