Daily Republican., 1884-11-21
BECKY'S LOVERS.

BECKY'S LOVERS.
BY GERALDINE FLEMING.
Clarice, dear, 1 wish you would
stay homo and help me bit this morn
ing" Becky said, coaxingly, as for an
instant she glanced up from huge pile
OF dishes that she was removing from
the long breakfast table.
Handsome Clarice twirled her dainty
white parasol and pouted.
And l wish, Becky, you would not
be 20 unreasonable" she answered,
pettishly. am not strong. like you,
and You know that helping you with
the baking and all that always makes
me Ill. And am sure there Ii not 30
much to be done; II you were more
energetic you would not mako such .
ardship OF doing things. daresay,
now, you have not even made ready the
jam and sponge cake wanted for
Granny Jipps."
Il have not, indeed have had NO
time" Becky replied, quietly, a. with
her burden Of plates and saucers, she
started toward the Sliding. kitchen.
Miss Rsbecca begins her charities
at home," dryly commented staiwart
young fellow, who was securing . 70
fractory Ivy about q window OF the
breezy dining-room.
wish You would not be sarcastic,
Fred Renzlor," the elder sister pouted,
with a disdainful toss Of her handsome
blonde bead. am sure, II Becky
1 ~ - at tnvpa
anyw here else, she would not begrudgt
me the leisure l absolutely require, moi
be 80 heedlet about the things l want
for Granny Jipps."
| And with that petulant assertion the
young lady tripped down the low
wooden steIs, and along the narrow
wooden walk Of the pretty garden.
And Becky came back 10 the dinini
room only to perceive the CLEAN Of
white parasol, and the sheen OF silk!
pink dress vanishing up the irregula
village street.
~ am sorry about the jam and cake,
Becky said, ruefully, as she begal
another pile of dishes. Clarice wa
10 disappointed, and poor Granny Jipp
II 80 grateful for any little delicacy.'
Miss Clarice Is not 30 disappointe
40 she would like US TO believe, Ere
Renzlor said, as he secured the LAT
Irebellious ivy tendril, and swingin
la stalk Of scarlet Rladiolas, presente
his stall wart and smiling self before tn
pretty little house worker.
) But am sorry all the same" sal
lshe.
and Am sorry" he returned
lbluutly, "that you allow Clarice " in
pose upon you as she does. You allo'
her all the credit for charity 10 tina
helpless old body, when she really doe
nothing but occasionally carry the del
cacies you have the labor of preparing
! she has done no real charity in untirin
and tedious nursing, as you have done
Her interest in Granny Jipps 10 pre-
text; while you are busy with tn
IdrudRery she declines to share, Will
you imagine she is tending that aim
old creature, she Ia elsewhere, takin
her ease and pleasure" =,
" But ease and Amusement are reali
4 necessary for her." Becky said, with
= tired sigh. "She has never been stronI
and she has finer tastes than hav'
you know, and then, too. she learne
the ways of genteel people while 81
Twas 80 long with our aunt In the city.
"She learned q great DEAL Of mol
, Sense" he said, impatiently. An
with her new fine tastes AID her ne
geenteel ways, she has come home onl
to make you trouble, Becky"
h The rich rose.red wavered In Becky
T dimpled cheeks; her cups and spooI
ratified and clinked In hands wbit
7 were suddenly unsteady.
How could Clarice, my only sisre
B make me trouble" she asked, with
= suggestion of resentment In her ola
and gentle young voice. :,
For q moment he contemplated b
,,dl glowing gladiolas and looked uncoi
w Portable.
or Becky, she does not take her re
~ and amusement quite Alone" he sad
w len 9Th, with some irony and with CO
n siderable hesitation. oscar Ra
dele is W it'll her always and ever
where-boating, riding, and often wi
% gay parties, from the summer no
D. over yonder "
" Becky manifested no surprise /; 8
N still held her comely bro,
, head proudly erect and there WAS
~ look of injury In her soft, brown ey
~: "Well, Fred" abe responded, co
20 posedly, "there 10 no positive M
Is. rage promise between Mr.. Rsuda
and myself. And he cannot be blam
for admiring my handsome sister
attentions to her are not positiv
= wrongs to me-"
Her proud unconcern and mild RESET
seemed to sorely perplex him. Hev
Iguilty of q downright stare and p
longed whistle of incredulity, while
Iawkwardly fdReted with the gorgeo
, blossoms de still held.
3. "All the same, Becky, everybo
tn knows that Mr.. Randelle was TO
nd enough of you before your handso
he sis ter came back with her genteel tas
nd and fine dresses" he stainmered, ratl
he, humbly. "And everybody knows =
or cared o great deal more for him tn
se.i you did for some othors. Becky,-so
raj others who would be truer, perhaps
are YOU would be more willing"
ant swell, you need not quite spoil
en-. pladiolas Fred and you need not
~ silly" Becky said with dignity an
strange. swift blush. What eve
by body knows 10 not always what
les. know ourselves" she concluded, 81
w tentiously, as she turned rather abru
''ee' Ily and hurried back to the still
Il kitchen.
Once beyond his sight her cour
nance changed the brown head dr.
ned. and tears filled the gentle ey
She grieved, out not for the faith
lover she was grieved by The dupiic
of the only sister-ths unsisterly &
of whom she had always been so prt
,ac. land fond, whose caprices she bad
ass ways INDUCED, to whose selfshn
she had always patiently submitted