Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-01-21
Sister Elizabeth.

'auS Vi tnlIt live, lnan lne CONSCIOUSNESS
that others begin to consider her toe OLD for
the society of young people. 1t is '.laying
on the shelf that is by no means agreeable
Al least, such was my feeling as glanced
at the invitations TO little moonlight ex-
cursion 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
to Miss Lottie and Miss Cornie Whitaker,
not addressed, as previous envelopes had
been, to the Misses Whitaker, which would
of course, include Elizabeth Whitaker,
spinster. The last word l announced al
most audibly, with bitter smile, which at
tracted the attention of my pet. Cornie,
who said tenderly-
''Sister Elizabeth, docs your head ache
this morningl"
How my heart yearned over that favorite
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 il seems to me that should
always wear the calm sober tintsc ''second
mourning" and in my inmost soul the
memory of that idolized parent would ever
be ershrined.
Ny own mother cannot remember; she
dropped and faded while was an infant;
and my stepmother, kind and indulgent as
she ever was to me, vas not one 10 cal
forth the ardent affection which but few
had power to awaken in my heart. Gentle,
dignified and reserved, she had beiueathed
these same characteristics to her eldest
child, the golden haired Lottie-
But Coruie was like our father, the same
5uoyant spirit. strong will, and impulsive
affection, the same dark, curling hair, and
eyes Of laughing blue.
Thought of all this as / watched her
fondlv on that June morning, and recalled
how had been a second time orphaned
when her mother was taken from us fifteen
years ago. Since that time, when Cornie
was four years old, she had been to me as
much daughter as sister.
Lottie, who Was five years her senior, had
always been SO self-rcliant and womanly
that l could never regard her as needing
that loving watchfulness that our younger
sister seemed to require; and the relation
betweea Us could never be 50 tender and af
fectionate.
As | reflected tins long after We had left
The breakfast room, and were seated in our
little morning parlor, l reasoned with my
self that il was but natural that | should be
omitted in the plans for enjoyment formed
ny the young people OF Caldwell The
mothers were not invited with the daughters.
Why should expect to go with Cornie,
my sister child?
These reflections made me more calm
and content, and | could bid my sisters
a smiling adieu when they left me early in
the evening.
Cornie came back to give me second
kiss, and whispered, 81 wish you were go
ing. too you old darling!'
.'Oldi' repeated to myself. "fes,
that is the word"
And that night 1 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
nv fair, broad forehead. Anyhow, my
heart felt young, and with sign tried to
realize that l must accept the position In
which of necessity was placed
The next morning my sisters were eager
in their recitals OF the charming walk and
the delightful sail by moonlight. There
had been a pleasant company.
.Oh, Elizabeth" said Cornie, ''do you
know we saw an old friend of yoursl And
he is coming to call on you to-day
can old friend of minel'' l queried-
eyes" Lottie replied. Mr.. Lotus; be
is visiting at the Arments', and has just re-
turned from long foreign tour
..Will Loftus." i exclaimed. ''ls it
possiblel"
/ felt the warm blood tingling in my
cheeks as if l had been only fifteen, instead
of five and thirty. Memory was busy re-
calling the long vanished summer, and how
often used to see my boy lover, since lost
sight of for many years. Ours had been
one of those youthful attachments which
but seldom ripen into first and only love-
They are often but ''the prelude to the
strain, before the song is sung" We were
on the verge of an engagement when VIII
was suddenly recalled to his distant home,
and had seen him o more. Yet, foolish
as it NAV have been, had always kept one
corner of my heart sacred to his name, and
it was with strange thrill that heard he
was again near ne, and that soon should
see him.
That day he called with his friend, Harry
Mills. He was a tall, ine-looking man.
noIishei, refined, and fascinating in his
manners. Icould hardly identify him with
the slender youth that had once known;
but he referred 50 gracefully to our former