Huntsville gazette., 1884-10-25
PHGBE'S TRICK.

"An invitation to the picnic-and
Burt Williams will be there. How
splendid !" Phoebe looked in the glass
as she spoke and thought to herself that
she was really very pretty, and that she
was just the person to grace the Will
liams mansion as its mistress. s'And if
/ can only have Burt to myself for the
day." she thought, "he will surely offer
himself. He don't know which he likes
best, Lizzie or me. If l could only
keep Lizzie from going"
But to keep Lizzie from going would
not be so easy. What excuse was there
to make to her cousin for wishing her to
absent herself from the merry making?
A sudden thought occurred to Phoebe.
1t was fearfully mean one. She could
hide Lizzie's shoes. At that moment
Lizzie had just one pair besides her slip
pers, and her foot was so small that she
could not wear those of any other MEM
ber of the family.
There would not be time to buy a
pair, for they were miles from town,
and the general store only dealt in
rough boots that Lizzie could not wear
sYes," Phoebe said to herself, "that
would keep her at home"
She crept into Lizzie's room, and saw
the shoes, with their tops turned over,
set upon the window-sill. Nothing
could have favored Phebe's plan better
Some tramp would be supposed to have
stolen them. She whisked them away
in an instant, and, hiding them under
her apron, carried them to her own
room, and hid them at the bottom of
her trunk.
"All is fair in love as in war; she
said to herself but, after all, it was not
hIm fauu5v1,rv, ,tstscr.-.t.,-- IL - AtvI I'I,
estates. Phoebe was very ambitious,
and she was poor, living with her aunt
and obliged to take everything from her
hands There was, perhaps, some eX-
cuse for her wishing to marry well.
Down in the dining room Lizzie was
laughing over the picnic. She, too,
hoped to have Burt Williams at her side
all day, and she had really given her
heart to him. 1t would have made no
difference to her if he had been poor
mechanic, instead Of Burt Williams
with the greatest fortune in the county.
She thought he loved her sometimes !;
still Phoebe tried hard to cut her out,
and Phoebe was prettier than she was; !;
she knew it.
'.He would show his preference to-
dav," she said and as he behaved on
this occasion she would Judge OF his
heart. IF he likes Phoebe best, | will
stop thinking Of him." she said to her
self.
: s'Come, girls" said her mother, dress
yourselves, and pa can drive you over;
and take wraps. for it is sure to be
chilly after dark; and don't sit down
by the river-I misdoubtit' dangerous.
And don't stand in the sum-"
But the girls were off before she had
done speaking. and in few moments
Lizzie was heard to cry, in melan-
cholv way, from the head OF the stairs:
..Oh, ma! | can't find my shoes. /"
Phoebe heard, and laughed. The
mother ran up stairs. AS Lizzie pinned
the black lace scarf about her throat
with her most becoming turquois pin,
she hear them decide that the shoes had
been stolen by a tramp.
"The idea of putting them on the
sill" said the mother.
II thought they seemed damp, said
Lizzie. ssOh dear, how foolish was!
Now I must stay at home" And she
began to cry little.
They came and told Phoebe, who was
all astonishment and commiseration,
and who asked if she should stay at
home, also.
"Of what use would that be?" asked
Lizzie. ssOh, no; go. l declare, l am
the unlnckiest girl! wanted to 60 SO
much"
"Of course you did," said Phoebe to
herself
Her uncle drove her over to the pic
mic grounds. talking all the way about
Lizzie's shoes; and Phoebe felt very
mean and contemplate. Somehow she
could not enjoy herself, and as the time
wore on and Burt Williams did not pre-
sent himself she became utterly
| wretched.
..Where is Burt?" asked everybody.
/ But Burt came not
| Evening drew on. People began to
90 home. 1t had been the stupidest,
| the most wretched day for Phoebe.
Meanwhile, Lizzie. sitting with hel
crochet work on the piazza, heard
voice at the gate, saying:
"Good morning, Miss Millern'
She looked up. There stood BUR-
| Williams.
"Imet your father in the road, ht
said, ssand he tod me you were no
going to the picnic"
"Yes; think of the funny reason!
haven't any shoes said Lizzie. moth
ing but these slippers; q tramp haI
stolen nine"