Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-01-13
THE YOUNGEST SISTER.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES

~ don't know how it is, groaned
Kate Blessington, "but in our family
things always happen cross grained"
What's. the matter nowp said
Georgia, tife eldest sister who, with a
blue apron of checked domestic ging
ham tied around her waist, and her
luxuriaut flxen hair confined in a rcd
bandlnna pocket-handkerchisf, was
cooking tomatoes for ketchup
Why here have the Morefelds
come to spend the day, and mamma has
just taken to her sofa with an attack Of
neuralgia and there's nobody on cath
to 60 to the train to meet the city boarl-
er.. You couldn't go, George, I sup
posc2"-with a faint CLEAN of hope.
Georgia glanced up at the clock, and
shook her head.
"Couldn'tpossibly,' said she. There
isn't time to get ready. Why don't you
send Peterl'
"Peter, indeed He's cleaning the
cistcrn cut Such figure as he isl"
"fhcn I'm sure observed Georgia,
"Idon't see what you are going to do"
"CouIIn't l 60, Kate}' pleaded a
small, sweet voice.
And the second Miss Blessington be-
came conscious of some one pulling
gently at her sleeve. She turned
sharply around tall, rosy girl stood
there-a girl just arrived at the age
where 'brook and river meet half
child, half woman, but infinitely pretty
in both her personalities. Sunburned,
dark-eyed, clad in an outgrowa calico
frock, and with her hair braided into
sTrg stcoa ia rGlsaz ssazgleamiug queue behlQd
"a good ideal' sait Georgia, tasting
of the bubbling scarlet mass in the ket-
tie and adding trif1o moro red pepper
Let Chrissy go"
''But Chrissy can't drive"
ooh, yes, l can" urged Christine, the
youngest and least presentabe Of all the
BIcssingtons. Il drove old jerks up
from the farm yesterday with load of
pumpkins. I've often driven him when
you didn't know it, George"
ooh, you horrid tom-boyw said
Georgia, ha!f-laughing.
But Kate gave little Chrissy sound
box on the ear. Her black eyes flashed
wrathfully.
"Christinc, " said she, I'm ashamed
of you. You're a disgrace to the family
Don't howl now" (as Chrissy rubbing
her cmpurpled ear, broke into an indig-
nant waiD "Thc Morefcds viii hear
you. Go quick--gct on your hat; and
mind you doa't show yourself at the tea
table Your new frock isn't flushed,
and your old one isa't half decent; aad
besides, you'll be needed in the kitchen
TO wash dishes.
The tears dried OF Chrissys cyelashos
at the prospect Of driving oil jerks to
the depot all by herself.
She made haste to pull a white
worstcd polo cap over her rebeilious
hair and to scramble into the rather
dilapilotel buggy that was waiting at
tlc door.
"G,t up, Jenks!' she cried, braadish-
ing the whip with gleeful countenancc.
pete, I'm going to drive to the
depot"
"Al riglt mi $, said Peter, who,
fresh from the depths of the newly
cmptisd cistcra, was holding old jerks,
as if there was any danger Of that
ancient oteed running away. "Drive
kecrful past Bowery Lane he arays
wants to turn il there--and mind you
keep tight grip o the reins, if you
meet a load o blrrel5 or one o them
jangln' tia-pe ldlar's wagons"
Away clattered the venerable buggy,
old Jeaks falling into stiff trot like
an automaton horse, and Chrissy
fairly radiant with delight.
"Bat Kate oughtn't to have boxed
my ears, ~ she poaderel, as the first ella
ton subsidized "There was nothing
wrong in driving the load of pumpkins
home came by the back road, and
nobody saw me. don't love Kate
nor Georgia neither. They're always
laughing at me and making fun of me,
just because | eroy V so fast. They won't
let me come into the room when they've
got company, because I'm only child;
snd they scold me for running races
with the dog, because I'm a woman.
wonderif they call that consistency
Never mind, I'll pay EN- eff yet, see if I
don't"
By dint of extraordinary efforts on the
part Of Old jerks, and liberal applica-
tion of the whip on that of his mistress,
they contrived to reach one side of the
depot building just as the train steamed
away from the other.
Christine looked up and down the
Platform Most of the passengers had
flrcady started forth in different direc-
tons, out one man stood there, glanc-
ing ur and down the road, with a valise
in his hard, folded newspaper protrud-
iag from his coat-pocket.
Chrissy hcsitated what to do; then
she rose to the emergency.