The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-08-22
SELF DENIAL.
Sometimes 1t Is Bitter In the
Exercise, but 1t Brings
It's Own Reward.

It's Own Reward.
ttLizzie has gone again." said Mrs.
Crest. '.Lizzie's no sort of use to me of
late. don't know what's come to the
child, but she does act to me as if she
was b~ewitched."
Frances Crest set down the blue
trimmed plate she was wiping with a
coarse homespnn towel.
"Where is she, mother?" said she.
"Out in the woods, l suppose. It's
where she always goes"
"Mother, you must remember that
Lizzie is young. Don't be hard upon
herI" pleaded Frances.
Mrs. Crest was Farmer Obed Crest's
second wife, and Frances, the tall, pale
girl with the somber brown eyes and
the oval, colorless face, was the good
woman's stepdaughter, while pretty
1~8-year-old Lizzie was her own and
only child.
'But for all that" said Mrs. Crest, 81
put a deal more dependence on Frances
than l ! do IN Lizzie. Frances is all the
same to me as my own child
Hard upon heri" she repeated queru.
lously. what I'm afraid of is that I'm
too easy with her. She's always had
her. own way in everything. And she
takes it dreadful hard that you should
be going to Albany and she left at home.
| never knew such nonsense in my life!'
A disturbed expression passed over
Frances face.
"It's natural she should feel so,
MOTHER" she urged gently.
Frances Crest had diligently taught
school for three consecutive seasons te
earn the money for this coveted winter
in Albany, during which she had prom
Used herself to take music lessons and
add to her knowledge Of art and litera
ture.
For she was engaged to Stephen Ellis
worth, and she longed with an exceed
ing great desire to make herself worthy
of his love.
'1'm only a country girl" she said tc
herself, ''and he lives in the city, where
he is meeting brilliant women every
day. And it would be dreadful if, after
we were married, he should be ashamed
of mel"
Mrs. Rigney, a distant cousin of the
Crests, had offered to give Frances q
home for the winter for what use she
could render in household matters, and
the money she had saved was to be spent
in suitable dress, lessons and other ex-
penses.
And, best of all, she would see Stephen
Ellsworth every day.
She finished her household tasks and
went quietly out to the nook in the woods
where she knew that she should find
Lizzie.
And here, with her head leaning list
lessly against a tree trunk, sat a lovely
girl of scarcely eightsen, with deep blue
eyes, full, cherry red lips, and a com.
plexion like a balsam flower. One hand
was immersed in the cool, running water;
the other held a crumpled pocket hand
kerchief, drenched with tears.
"Lizziep' exclaimed Frances, "you
have been cryingl'
The blue eyes sparkled resentfully.
Crying? OF course I've been crying!'
retorted Lizzie Crest. "Who wouldn't
cry, to be left alone in this dismal hole
all winter long, while you are enjoying
yourself in the city? But / won't stay
here. I'll run away and go on the stage,
or else I'll drown myself in Packers
pooli"
"Lizziel Lizzie! think what you are
sayingi"
81 don't care!" pouted Lizzie. "What
is life worth in a place like thisw
And she burst into o fresh food of
tears.
Frances sat down and took the golden
head tenderly into her lap.
All her life long she had been ecu
toned to subordinate her will to that of
this lovely, tempestuous sprite. What
signified one sacrifice more OF less?
Don't cry any more, Lizzie!" she
whispered. "I've made up my mind.
You shall go to Aunt Josie instead of
me-"
..I?"
"And I'll wait another year. added
Frances, swallowing a lump in her
throat. "You shall have the music les