The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-09-07
HER LITTLE SISTER.


rimmed plate she was wiping with a
coarse homespun towel.
"Where is she, mother?" said she.
"Out in the woods, i suppose. It's |
where she always goes"
"Mother, you must remember that
Lizzie is young. Don't be hard upon
herl" 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
1S-year-old Lizzie was her own and
only child.
''But for all that" said Mrs. Crest, 81
put q deal more dependence on Frances
than do on Lizzie. Frances is all the
same to me as my own child
Hard upon herp 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 lifel'
A disturbed expression passed over
Frances face.
cts natural she should feel so,
mother" she urged gently.
Frances Crest had diligently taught
school for three consecutive seasons to
earn the money for this coveted winter
in Albany, during which she had prom
ised herself to take music lessons and
add to her knowledge of art and literaN
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-
"Tm only country girl" she said to
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, distant cousin of the
Crests, had offered to give Frances a
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 lovely
girl of scarcely eighteen, with deep blue
eyes, full, cherry red lips, and com
plexion like balsam flower. One hand
was immersed in the cool, running water
the other held crumpled pocket hand
kerchief, drenched with tears.
"Iizzier' exclaimed Frances, "you
have been cryingP'
The blue eyes sparkled resentfully.
Crying? Ofcourse I've been cryingp
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, Tllrun away and go on the stage
or else I'll drown myself in Packers
poolw
''Lizziel Lizzie! think what you are
sayingw
! 81 don't care!' pouted Lizzie. "Wha
/: is life worth in place like this?"
And she burst into a fresh flood o.
/, tears.
Frances sat down and took the colder
head tenderly into her lap.
, All her life long she had been accus
toned to subordinate her will to that O
this lovely, tempestuous sprite. Wha
signifed one sacrifice more or less?
1 Don't cry any more, Lizzier' sh'
whispered. "Tve made up my mind
You shall go to Aunt Josie instead o
me-"
ZIP"
'And I'll wait another year." addet
Frances, swallowing a lump in he
I throat. "You shall have the music les
sons and the art lectures; you shall se
D what winter in the city is like"
: Lizzies eyes sparkled; her cheeks wer
: red. She flung her arms around Frances
: neck with a sudden cry of rapture.
"Oh, Frances, you don't really meal
. ity'
"Yes, do" bravely uttered Frances.
"But mother won't .censela
81 will see to that"
Once more Lizzie showered soft, warn
kisses on her sisters cheek.
"Oh, you darling! you sweet, guar
dian angelW she cried. "And am
selfish little beast to allow you to sacri
flee yourself in this outrageous fashion
But if you knew how have longed t.
escape from this dreadful groove o
housework, and sewing, and butter max
ingl"
"You shall escape, Lizzie" said Fran
ces.
An fba
of the tears she shed when Lizzie wen
TO Albany.
Mrs. Crest demonstrated stoutly, bu
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 human icicle
And I'm so much younger than she il
and-and"-
"And SO much prettier," quietly spok
the elder sister. ''Yes, Lizzie dear,
know it,"
Lizzie laughed and tossed her goldel
curls.
"At all events" said she, 81 think
ought to have a fair chance"
Lizzie's letters from Albany were ful
of life and sparkle. She was like bir,
let loose. Everything was couleur d
rose to her. The gay streets were
dream of delight; the opera was an actua
reality. Her new dresses filled her witt
delight; she was improving 30 fast il
music and drawing, and she could no
imagine how she had ever lived all thos
dreary, dragging years in the old farm
house at home.
And hest of all Stanhan Ell sxVortb baf
been SO often to see her. and taken he
out sleighing and to the picture gallerie
and theatres, "all on dear old Frances
account, of course" she added, with
. spice of merry mischief
She could not say enough in praise o
Stephen Ellsworth. He was so hand