The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-08-22

oO4Ao AANA SAN OA ~
what a winter in the city is like"
Lizzie's eyes sparkled; her cheeks were
red. She flung her arms around Frances
neck, with a sudden cry of rapture.
"Oh, Frances, you don't really mean
ito
"Yes, / do" b~ravely uttered Frances.
"But mother won't consent"
81 will see to that"
Once more Lizzie showered soft, warm
kisses on her sisters cheek.
"Oh, you darling! you sweet, guar.
dian ANGEL" she cried. Sand 1 am a
selfish little beast to allow you to sacri-
fee yourself in this outrageous fashion.
But if you knew how 1 have longed to
escape from this dreadful groove of
homework, and sewing, and butter max
ing!"
"You shall escape, Lizzie" said Fran
ces.
And no n ever knew the bitterness
of the tears she shed when Lizzie went
to Albany.
Mrs. Crest demonstrated stoutly, but
Frances held to her own way, and Liz
zie's entreaties were not to be withstood.
Frances don't care" pleaded she.
Frances always was a human icicle.
And I'm so much younger than she is,
and-and'-
"And SC much prettier," quietly spoke
the elder sister. Eyes, Lizzie dear, l
know it."
Lizzie laughed and tossed her golden
curls.
Eat all events" said she, 81 think I
ought to have a fair chance"
Lizzie's letters from Albany were full
Of life and sparkle. She vas like a bird
let loose. Everything was couleur de
rose to her. The gay streets were a
dream of delight; the opera was an actual
reality. Her new dresses filled her with
delight; she was improving SO fast in
music and drawing, and she could not
imagine how she had ever lived all those
dreary, dragging years in the old farm
house at home.
And best Of all, Stephen Ellsworth had
been SO often to see her, and taken her
out sleighing aud to the picture galleries
and theatres, .all on dear old Frances
account, of course" she added, with a
spice of merry mischief.
She could not say enough in praise of
Stephen Ellsworth. He was 30 hand
some, SO stylish; the old Ellsworth a
sion on State street was SO elegant; he
sent her such exquisite cut flowers and
baskets of fruit!
And Frances, reading those letters at
home after her days work of school
teaching was over, tried to rejoice in her
young sisters happiness.
"Mother," she said one day, 81 should
like to see the child in her new dresses.
/ think I'll go up to Albany and surprise
her. Lucy Lampson will take the school
for a week. Dear little Lizziel how as
tonished she will be!'
"Wife." said Farmer Crest hoarsely,
when Frances had gone up to bed, full
of her new plan, Il don't knows we
ought to lot her 60"
"Why not, Obed?"
81 saw DR.. Jones' son this morning.
He is Just home from the Albany Medi-
cal college, and he says every one is talk
ing of our Lizzie's engagement to Cap'n
Ellsworth"
"ODed crest, you're
81 wish 1 was, wife-I wish / wasl
But it's only what we'd ought to have
expected. Lizzie is as pretty as a picter
and as frothy as a bowl o. soapsuds, and
brimful O. mischief into the bargain.
And Ellsworth's only a mortal man,
after all. Frances ought to have mar
ried him a year ago, when he wanted
her to do SO, only she wouldn't leave us
until we'd paid the mortgage on the
farm and got even with the world"
"But, Obed, what are we to do? ]
can't tell her!' sobbed the old lady.
'Nor /, neither. There's no help for
it, wife; she's got to find 1t out for her
self"
And he let his wrinkled forehead fall
into his hands with a groan.
just then the door opened.
A tall, slight figure came in like a
gliding shadow.
"T've heard it all, father said Frances,
''and you mustn't blame either Stephen
or Lizzie. lit was only natural. He
has grown tired of waiting for me. And
Lizzie is very lovely. Ican't blame any
man for wanting to make her his wife.
1 shall go to Albany, all the same, and
tell them not to mind me. You know
with rather a forced SMILEY. people al