Connecticut western news., 1884-12-24
"She's Lucretia's sister, you know,

"Aud her voice rather drowns Lu. cretia's." said Dr. Slow.
 Mir. Lindsay was giving great satis- faction. The practitioners talked of re- modelling the old rectory, adding a bay-window, and even spoke of taking in an adjoining field, so that ''Lucretia might have a flower garden" They even meditated an increase of salary as soon as he should be settled in the par ish, and MT. Grimm thought he should add codicil to his will, in favor of the new pastor and Lucretia's husband.
 "When they're married" reckoned Miss Rich, with unchristian thrift, tive shall have all our church trappings em- broidered for nothing, suppose"
 "Do you think Susan will live with 'em ?" asked Mrs. Phelps. "P'r'aps he won't care about marrying the whole family"
 "He's powerful kind to Susan, though"
 "He takes sight of notice of her."
 "You kinder forget she's Lucretia's sister," put in Miss Rich, "an' all she's got"
 It was surely plain that MT. Lindsay took pleasure at the Shaw homestead. At picnic, at prayer meetings or choir meetings, he was always on hand to take Lucretia and Susan home: he lent them his books, and directed their read ing; he brought them flowers from town when he happened to go up.
 'I shall be so glad to give up the presidency of the Bethel Society and the Dakota League to Lucretia," said Miss Rich. "It's only proper for the clergyman's wife to be at the head of them."
 "You'll feel sorter lost without 'em ?'' asked Mrs. Phelps.
 "The parish is large field. I think Lean spare them to Lucretia. Do you know, the other night as I was going to watch with Miss Hart when she had in- formation of the lungs I came acrost Lucretia and Susan and MT. Lindsay. l must say should think Susan would have more taste than to follow 'em everywhere. Why don't she keep her self in the background ?"
 "She's been pretty much in the back ground all her ife," said Dr. Slow. Perhaps she's tired of the situation"
 "But she ought to have more consid- eration. P'r'aps the lovers don't mind her. There they were, all three of 'em, watching the comet and studying the heavens"
 "A proper study for a clergyman, ? said Dr. Slow. .... -s
 "And he was pointing out all the con- sternations, and it seemed to me they was looking at him instead of the stars, Y" pursued Miss Rich.
 "It would be complication, suggest ed Mrs. Phelps, ''if, while he's counting Lucretia, Susan should get in love with him."
 Ut wouldn't be no use," said Mrs. Grimm. 'Lucretia's that smart she'd make him believe it was her he was dying for"
 "But what's the use of talking about Susan? Who ever expects him to marry Susan Shaw? People usually do what's expected of 'em, and the parish expects Mir. Lindsay to marry Lucretia.'"
 "They want to settle Lucretia, eh ?'' asked Dr. Slow.
 The Shaws had enough to keep the wolf from the door, but nothing to spare; they owned their house, but kept no servant. "Help would be dread. fully in their way" Miss Rich declared. II wonder they don't feel glad they can't afford any,"
 Susan always wore the simplest gar ments, which she designed and execu- ted herself, while Lucretia- "Well, ii there's anything that units Lucretia for her future position at the h cad. of the parish," confessed Mrs. Phelps, 'it's her love of fnery."
 Lucretia always blossomed out in 8 pretty spri ng bonnet-and smart new suit made in the latest wrinkle.
 cts natural" Miss Rich explained "a girl likes to make the most of her. self. Now Susan looks as well in hel old things as she would in Indy cash ueres; besides, Lucretia earns her rib bons and faces. Ain't she embroidering day and night ?"
 Except when she's off skylarking with the parson," said Dr. Slow.
 'I'm sure she's always chaperoned by Susan, returned Mrs. Grimm.
 "Yes; there 'ain't been no secession of Susan's going about with 'em," added Miss Rich. "Sh @ don't seem to have the smallest idee she ain't wanted. She ain't used to lovers, you see."
 But if Lucretia embroiders night and day." said Mrs. Grimm's sister-in law-who was only in Lennox on visit and had no earthly concern with parish affairs, Mrs. Grimm thought-"whc keeps house, and does the house-cleali ing and the dustiug and sweeping, cooks and mends, I'd like to know?"
 "Of course Susan does them little things" confessed Miss Rich. "Any, body can do lem; there's nothing els she knows how to do. Wouldn't 1t be g pity for Lucretia to waste her time now, washing dishes, keeping the lodg ers' rooms in pimlico, spelling them white hands of hers-pretty enough fo parish to be proud of-when she car make such lovely ferns and flowers a she does?'
 "Who made all the evergreen trim mings for church last Christmas2' aske Dr. Slow. '1t wasn't those pretty hand of Lucretia's ?"
 "Well, she's Luc-etia's sister; an that give her taste for decorations,