The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-02-25
ELSIIi'S LOVER.

suppose IL lSn 1:Ght 10 say such &
thing" said winsome Elsie, with n
plaintive sigh. to her fri, cd and conf
dant old Nurse Barnes; "G~y ! often
wish I'd never been born. Nobody
knows what to do with me, and | GER
tainly don't know what to do with my
self"
Dear, dcar!'' said Mrs. Barnc,,
"what are they going to do with youP"
81 don't know" said Elsie sadly.
"Uncle Joseph wants me to 90 and
work in the factory. He thinks imight
earn twelve shillings q week, after had
had n few weeks practice"
''lts not hard work." said Mrs.
Barnes. You'll soon get used to it,
thing"
"And Aunt Betscy wants to send nc
up to the Manor House help Mrs.
Perkins, the housckccror," went on
Elsie. 81 was there Il week in the
spring. Oh,"-with long breathe
lit is the prettiest place! One room all
tull OF bonk', don't you know, and a
nail where they hahg nothing put pc
hircs. J. used TO creep all over the
Place. when the squire was gone out on
horseback, and Mrs. Perkins was takin"
her after-djnnGr nap. I used to st down
an the silk chairs. and fan myself with
the big scented fans, and make baliavc
was Il great heircss, with lots of scr
wants to order about
"Oh, Elsie! that was making gery
bold" said Mrs. Barnes. with an awe
stricken shud,lcr.
~,,Yns, know" confessed Elsie: "but
it Was only making believe. after all.
and nobody knew. But | SAY Mr.
Raven twice, and he talked to III" last
as kind-oh! a deal kinhrr that IN .e
Joseph does And II" tod ne .hn names
OF som" of the rarcSt flowers, and u,,rrrd
TO lend ne books out Of tie MYuu.l IL
brary. But Mrs. Perkins tod Aunt
BctScy that | ann TOO id;c and awI;ward
for service. So ROW Gnn' kruw
whether | am 20 Be bound 10 Miss
MlggS, the drcSSnlulior, or ayul to learn
the artiIicial flower trade"
"lt S most pity. ain t ll?" said Mrs.
BarncS, looking sylNpAfhiH;nrlY at Ehjo.
Ahd just then, as sl!H surveyed ihn larwe
dark eyes, the checks -IlHvmnc %car!at
under their stain Of 2ypay s,mhurn, tao
1.-THE. graceful figure in its ourorown
gown, the fancy suddenly crossed her
mind that, undcr some circumstances,
Elsie Linn might be almost handsome.
lyon see, have no one really b.
tH,nnging to me-" said Elsie, si1hinv.
"E, IN Uncle Joseph was only nv
mothers half-brothcr. And they don't
know what< TO do with me-"
"What world you like best to doP"
said Mrs. Barnes, who was pairing pota-
toes for the one o C. .'ock dinner.
II should like to be an auh0ress and
write books" said L sic, with kinding
eyes.
"Bless me, ohildr' said Mrs. Barnes,
"what do you know about auhorcs9CsP'
Nothing" confessed Elsie; 'that'S
the trouble. Or l should like to paint
pictures, and to be famous; or be queen
of n country that was ut war;, and lead
the soldiers to victory, mounted on Il
coal-black horse; or do something very
great and grand, so that people might
never forget my memory"
Mrs Barnes first started and then
sighed, Pour soul, there was perhaps a
time when she, too, had her wild dreams
and impossible imaginings.
"Such things don't happen nowadays,
Elsie," said she. women have to
scrub, and wash and sew in this coun-
try, not ride to battle or paint grand
pictures Better leave of thinkinr of
such q fate"
Yes" cried Elsie, with n start. rs tho
CLOCK struck twelve. ."And Aunt Bctscy
WIZ be wanting mo to set the table. I
must hurry home. How she will scold
to be suron va va '0'A|'
But to Elsio's infinite relief, when sbo
reached rel el home, Aunt Botsey met herwith
Come in quick, child,b said she
here" - hi' MAVEN IS
."0h!" cried Elsie, with a skin ove,,
the doorstep, "am Ito be Mrs. Pertin,s ITt
maidp" % nm .
1--WE don't know" said Aunt notoo,.
= mysteriously Time will show. Donst
jump about, my child Try TO tai,e
short steps, and be d lady. And. oh ob
what dreadful tear that is in yo5r
dress. Never mind now. Run cniclr
and change it as soon as ever you can.
and then come down to the best parlor. i,
But long before Elsie Linn's simple
toilet was made. an awful fear took nos.
session OF her that Squire Raven had
come to tell Uncle Joseph OF the bio
bunch OF hothonse o1.anna which eb9