Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-04-03
LIZZIE'S LOVER,
LOVE FINDS A WAY.

There was only one disagreeable thing
about going to the picnic, Phoebe thought
with frown on her pretty face. Her cous-
IN Lizzie was going. too, and was Just as
likely as she to win Burt Williams's heart.
Phoebe had msdeup her mind long ago that
she wanted to be the mistress of the Viii.
liams Mansion herself Suddenly thought
came over her how she might prevent her
rival from going
Lizzie had only one pair of shoes beeides
her slippers aud the latter she was wearing
just then, so it was easy for Phoebe to slip
up into her cousins room and take the
shoes away and hide them in her own trunk.
In the dining. room Lizzie was laughing
and talking over the prospects of the pic
mic. She hoped to have the young heir by
her side all day, but sometimes she thought
he preferred her cousin. 1t was not for his
money that she loved him; it would have
bean the same had he been only a mechan-
lO.
"He would show his preference today"
she said; and as he behaved on this occasion
she would judge of his heart. "If he likes
Phoebe best, will stop thinking of him."
she said to herself.
"Cone, girls,'' said her mother, "dress
yourselves, and pa can drive you over; and
take wraps, for it is sure to be chilly after
dark; and don't sit down by the river-l
misdoubt it's dangerous. And don't stand
in the sum-"
But the girls were off before abe had done
speaking, and in few roments Lizzie
was heard to cry in a melancholy way from
the head of the stairs:
"Oh, ma! can't find my shoes"
Ph0be heard, and laughed. The mother
ran upstairs. As Lizzie pinned the black
lace scarf about her throat with her most
hoo Ax,-- -. II Aharx
decide that the shoes had been stolen by .
| tramp.
"The idea Of putting them on the sill"
said The mother.
81 thought they seemed damp" said
Lizzie.
"Oh, dear, how foolish was! Now 1 must
stay at home" And she began to cry
little.
They came and told Phobe, who was all
astonishment aud commiseration, and who
asked if she should stay at home also.
''Of what use would that be?" asked
Lizzie. ooh, no; go. declare, am the
unluckiest girl. | wanted to go so much"
"Of course you did, said Phoebe to her
self.
| Her uncle drove her over to the pic mic
grounds, talking all the way about Lizzie's
shoes, and Phoebe felt vary mean and con-
tempsible. Somehow she could not enjoy
herself, and as the time wore on aud Burt
iliians did not present himself, she be-
came utterly wrerched.
"Where is Burt?' asked everybody. But
Burt came not.
Evening drew on. People began to go
home. 1t had bsen the stupidest, most
wretched day for Ph0oe.
/ Meanwhile LIZZIE, sitting with her
crochet work on the piazza, hsard v1ios
at the gate, saying:
s'Good morning, Miss Millerp'
She looked up. There stood Burt VIII
liams.
81 met your father in the road, he said,
"and he told me you were not goirg to the
pic nic."
"Yes; think OF the funny reason | have
no Shoes" said Llzzie. Nothing but these
slippers; q tramp has stolen mine.''
Aff-the world looked brisht to her now,
and she c9nid laugh.
swell, I'm not going if you're not" said
Burt. "May come up and sit DOWN."
"Of course" said LizEie.
Ths mother was busy up stairs nobody
was near. Burt sat dowu very close by
Lizzie, and played with the ball of blue
worstsd shs was knitting into match re-
ceiver.
She felt her cheeks glow, aud she was
glad that she had not gone to the picnic.
The bsss hummed in the garden; the
scent of the 'new-m0Wn hay came mp from
the pasture.
They sat silent for many moments.
In all her life, Lizzie would not forget
that happy time.
"Llzzie," said Burt, after awhile, ''I
suppose you kaow love you. l haven't
told you SD out and out, but am sure you
nluss have saen il"
mo, didr't know; was not sure"
said Lizzie.
"And am not st all sure yet about yous
Lizzie" said Burt. Do you care little
about me2 Will you net marry me, dar-
ling l shall be very wretched if yon will
not.'
What Lizzie said did not make Bart
wretched.
When Phsbs cana home that night she
; looked cross and dispirited.
"Had nice time" asked her aunt.
"No, it vas stupid. Lizzie didn't miss
much" said Phoebe.
"Why, there now, rather think she
didn't" said Mrs. Miller. ~ can't keep it
to myself, Phoebe. Pa met Burt Williams,
aud told him she wasn't going, and ha
called and they are engaged, Phoebe. Why
its like story, isn't it ?''
eyes" said Ph95s; she could not say
i any more, her anger was too great; and
0 Mrs. Miller suspected why.
The next morning L;2zie's shoes we're
found under the window.
. "Not bit damp with dew or anything, "
said Mrs. Miller to herself; but though she
had jumpsd at pretty correct conclusion
as to their disappearance, all had turued
out SO well for Lizzie that she was gener-
GUS enough to say nothing to any one.
s---