The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-06-23
PRIZE LILIES.

''Five of them, Uncle Kress. " said Tib.
bic, triumphantly. "Great, rich scrolls,
as white as cream, each with a golden
spear rising out OF its heart, and sur
rounded by rank, green leaves, crouching
over the edge of Grandma Dallas old
majolica pot"
"Heyday, heyday" said Uncle Kress.
who sat among his manuscripts in the lat
ticed library, with one quill pen back of
his ear and one in his hand. "Our little
Tibbie is getting poetical. Golden
spears, eh! White as cream So l shall
have to hand over the prize to you, shall
II"
circumstances point in that direction.
Uncle Kress, said Tibbie, with a gleeful
sparkle to her eyes "Ten dollars in gold
Don't you wish you had been less rash in
registering promises2"
"What will Isabel say?n shrewdly
questioned Mr.. Kress, as he began to cut
a new quill-pen, with a -bladed pen
knife.
Poor Isabel, she is so vexed about
it, said Tibbie. 81 really think, Uncle
Kress, that if she could have done it
with her glances, she would have
blighted every one of those calla-lily buds
of mine"
Tut, tut, tut!' said Mr.. Kress, slicing
diligently away at the quill.
"Well, Uncle, l only say what think.
But where are you going to put the lilies 2
On the leading-desk, or at the foot of the
font2n
Haven't made up my mind yet" said
Uncle kress. Take them around to the
church Saturday afternoon, and I'll de-
eide at the eleventh hour where they
shall stand.
So Tibbie Kress cher ''given name" =" as
the old ladies phrase it, was Elizabeth
went merrily home, thinking what she
should do with the precious gold-eagle,
which was to be the prize for the pot of
calla-lilies; and in the midst of her ex-
ultation there came a pang of pity for
Isabel, whose lilies had all gone to leaf,
and produced never bud at all.
"a new bonnet is what need most, "
said Tibbie, as she surveyed her limited
wardrobc-''a bonnet of split straw,
with Nile-green ribbons, and cluster of
daisies and mignonnette-a real springy
! spring bonnet"
Which was an entirely feminine de-
cision, especially when it was taken into
account that Tibbie had not had a new
bonnet in a year, and that Harold Van
neker always came down to the little
| Westburgh church for Easter Sunday.
Isabel and Tibbie were sisters in
blood. Mentally and morally they were
as unlike as if they had been born on
different continents.
Isabel was a dark k-browed, rich-lipped
girl, who bore a grudge against fate for
having made a school-teacher Of her in
stead of an heiress. Tibbie was a
plump, smiling young damsel, who ac-
cepted circumstances as they came, and
made the best of them.
And Mrs. Duckworth, the matronly
old lady with whom they boarded, eX-
pressed her opinion, very plainly, that
Miss Tibbie was worth a dozen of Miss
Isabel, and so Mr.. Vanneker thought,
too, or she was off her calculationsw
"Well, said Isabel, contemptuously,
as Tibbie came into the sitting-room
which the two girls shared in common,
81 suppose you have been tl tho par
sonage, to crow over me"
Don't be vexed, Bell said Tibble,
depreciatingly. "Of course, / had TO
tell Uncle Kress that the lilies were ready
for him.
''And to demand the prize2n
81 had a right to claim his promise,
Bell"
Isabel bit her lip.
81 shall never try to bloom lilies again