The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-04-06
THE YOUNGEST SISTER.

"I don't know how Il IT," groanod
Kate Blessington, '.but In our family,
things always happen cross-grained."
ssWhat's tho matter now" said
Georgia, the eldest sister. who. with q
blue apron OF checked domestic ging-
ham tied around her waist, and her
luxuriant faxen hair confined in . red
bandana OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. was
cooking tomatoes for ketchup.
why, hero have the Morefields
come to spend the day. and mamma
has Just taken to her sofa with an ut
tack of neuralgia. aud there's nobody
OH earth to go to the train to meet the
city gentleman. You couldn't 60
Georgia. 1 supposep" with a faint
CLEAN of hope.
Georgia glanced up at the clock.
and shook her head.
"Couldn't possibly" said she.
..Tlero isn't time to get ready. Why
don't you send PeterP"
..Peter, indeed! He's cleaning tho
cistcrn out. Such q figure as he isl"
"Tlen I'm sure" observed Georgia.
81 don't see what you r going to do"
Couldn't l go, Katcp" pleaded a
small, sweet voice.
And tho second Miss Blcss;ngton be-
came conscious of some one pulling
gently ut her sleeve. She turned
sharply around. A tall, rosy girl
stood thcrc-a girl just ut the age
where "brook and river meet" half
child, half-womaM. but infinitely pretty
in both of her personalities. Sunburn-
cd, dark-evcd, clad i'm an outgrown
cotton frock, and with her hair braided
into one long, gold-glcamimg queue
behind, she stood there, with an i'm.
ploring face.
"a good ideal" said Georgia. tasting
Of tho bubbling scarlet mass in the
kettle. and adding a trifle more red
pepper. ..I.ct Chrissy go?'
s.isut Chrissy can I drive"
"Oh, yes, l cant" urged Christine,
the youngest and least p%rescntable Of
all the Blcssingtons. IL drove old
jerks up from tho farm yesterday
with IL load of cabbages. I've often
driven him when YOU didn't know it,
George"
"OL, you horrid tom-boy" said
Georgia, lialf-laughing.
But Kate gave little Cllrissy n sound
box on the ear. Her black eyes flashed
wrathfully.
"Christinc." she said, "1'm ashamed
OF you! You're Il Disgrace TO the
family. Don't howl now!' as Chrissv,
rubbing her empmpled ear, broke into
an indignant wall; .'ti,c Morclicld:
will hear you. Go quick-get Oh you,
hat; and mind youdon't show yourself
at the tea-tablc. Your new frock isn'l
finished. and Your old one isn't half.
decent; and besides you'll bc needed in
the kitchen to wash Dishes"
The tears dried on Chrissy's eye.
lasllcs at tho prospect of driving old
jerks to the station all by herself.
She made haste to pull Il white wor.
stcd cap over her rcbellious hair, and
to scramble into the rather dilapidatcd
trap that was waiting ut the door.
Gee up. Jcnks!' She cried, brand
isbing tho whip with glceful ccun.
tenancc. "Pcter, I'm going to drive
to the station"
"All right MISS" said Peter, who,
fresh from the depths of tho newly.
empticd cistern. was holding old
jerks. as if there was any danger OF
that ancient stecd running away.
"Drive careful past Bowcry-lanc-
he al'ays wants to turn in thcrc-and
mind you keep a tight grip q the reins
if you meet IL load u barrels or one ot
them janglin' t%in-pcdlar's wagons"
Away clattered tho venerable trap,
old jerks falling into Il stiff trot. like
an automatic horse, II Chrissy fairly
radiant with delight.
But Kate oughtn't to have boxed
my cars" she pondcrcd, as tic first
citation subsidized. "Tlerc was nothing
wrong in driving the load of cabbages
home: 1 came by the back road. and
nobody saw me. I don't love Kate
nor Georgia, neither. They're always
laughing ut me and making fun of me.
just becauscI grow so fast and my
dresses r SO short. They won't let
me come into tho room when they've
got company. because I'm onlya child;
and they scold me for running races
with the dog, because I'm 81 woman.
wonder if they call that consistency?
Never mind; Ill pay 'cm off yct--sec
if / don't"
BY dint of extraordinary efforts on
the part of old jerks. and 4 liberal APP
mistress, they contrivcd to reach one
side of tho station building just as tho
train steamed away from tho other.
Christine looked up and down the
platform. Most of the passengers had
already started forth in different iii.
rections; but IL man stood there,
glancing up and down the road, with
u valisc in his hand, q folded ncwspa.
per protruding from his coat-pockct.
Chrissy hesitated what to do; then
she rose to tho emergency.
"Hallo!" she cried. in a sweet, high
pitched soprano voice. care you the
gentleman from the city-the new
boardcrp"
He advanced with rather a puzzled
countenance.
"Yes," said he. IL"
1--WE come to drive you to the cot
tage," said Christine Blcssington.
Jump in pleased! Where's your box!
There's room for it behind"
"My portmantcau is to DO sent by
the carrier. But -"
"Oh, very WELT" said Chrissy. "De
quick, plcase.-tlc horse won't stand!'
The stranger cast an amusing glance
towards old jerks. who certainly
looked as little like a runaway stee.
as could be imagined, as he stool
there, mcekly balanced on three legs
with his head hanging down.
.And who are youP" said he, pleas
antly. "One of the family?"
"Oh. I'm Chrissy- tho youngeo,
girl, you know! explained she.
Tho youngest. CLIP Arc thcr,
many Of youP"
Clirissy eyed him with a sidelon;
glance.