, 1885-01-27

uove TOR the man, enough she thought
him handsome. as much as love for his
estates. Phoebe was very ambitious,
and she was poor. living With her aunt
md obliged TO take everything from
her hands, There was. perhaps, some
excuse 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 IL he had been a
poor mechanic, instead Of Burt VIII
liams 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-
day. she said, and as he behaved on
this occasion she would Judge of his
heart. IF he likes Phoebe best, l will
stop thinking Of him. she said to her
self.
ssCome girls said her mother. dress
yourselves, and pa can drive you over;
and take wraps, for IL is sure to be
chilly after dark; and don't sit down by
the river--I misdoubt it's dangerous
And don't stand in the sun"
But the girls were off before she had
done speaking. and in few moments
Lizzie was heard to cry, in a melan-
| choly way, from the head of the stairs;
..0h, maj l 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 turquoise pin
she heard them decide that the shoes
had been stolen by a tramp.
1.-The idea of putting them on the
sillr' said the mother.
II thought they seemed damp said
Lizzie. ssOh, dear, how foolish | wasi
Now / must stay Mt home-n And she
began to cry a little.
they came and told Phoebe, who was
all establishment and commiseration,
and who asked if she should stay at
home. also.
"Of what use would that beP" asked
Lizzie. .Oh. no; go. l declare l am
the u~nluckiest girl! / wanted to go SO
much.n
ssof 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,k and Phoebe felt very
mean and contemplate. Somehow she
could not enjoy herself, and as the
time wore on and Burt Williams did
not present himself she became utterly
wretched.
where is BurtP" asked everybody.
But Burt came not.
Evening drew on. People began TO
90 home. II had been the stupidest,
the most wretched day for Phoebe.
Meanwhile, Lizzie, sitting with her
crochet work on the piazza, hoard a
voice at the gate. saying;
''Good morning, Miss Miller!n
She looked up. There stood Burt
Williams.
Il met your father in the road he
said, land he told me you were not go
ing to the picnic
''Yes, think of the funny reasonl l
haven't any shoes. F" said Lizzie. moth
ing but these slippers; a tramp has
stolen mine.
All the world looked bright to her
now. and she could laugh.
well, i nm not going if you are
not " said Burt. MAY I come mp and
sit downP''
Vi COblocs cltu AiLAlts
The mother was busy up stairs; no
body vas lear. Burt sat down very
close to Lizzie and played with the ball
Of blue-worsted she was knitting into a
match receiver.
She felt her cheeks glow, and she was
glad that she had not gone to the picnic.
The bees hummed in the garden; the
scent of the new-mown hay came up
from the pasture
They sat silent for many moments.
In all her life Lizzie would not forget
that happy time.
Lizzie" said Burt. after awhile, 81
suppose you know / love you. haven't
told you so out and out, but l think you
must have seen it,
mo, l didn't know; Iwasnot sure
said Lizzie.
"And I'm not at all sure about you,
Lizzie said Burt; do you care a lit
tie for meP VIII you marry me. dar-
lingo 1 shall be very wretched If you
win not"
What Lizzie said did not make Burt
wretched.
When Phoebe came home that night
| she looked cross and dispirited.
"Had a nice timer" asked her aunt.
sNo, it wa stupid. Lizzie didn't
miss much,n said Phoebe.
.sWhy, there now, l rather think she
didn't said Mrs. Miller; II can't
keen 1t to myself. Phoebe. Pa met Burt
Williams and told him she wasn't go
ing and he called, and they are en-
gagged, Phoebe. Why, it's like a story,
isn't itP"
yes" said Phoebe; she could not
say any more; her anger was too great;
andMrs. Miller hrewdly suspected why
The next morning Lizzie's shoes were
found just under the window.
mot a bit damp with dew or any
thing said Mrs. Miller to herself.
But though she had jumped at a pretty
| correct conclusion rs to their disap-
pearance, all had turned out SO well for
Lizzie that she was generous enough to
say nothing to any one