San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-09-05
HER LITTLE SISTER.

"Lizzie has gone again." said Mrs
Crest. "Lizzie's no sort Of use to me O
late. don't know what's come to til,
child, but she does act to me as II sh,
was bewitched."
Frances Crest set down the blu,
trimmed plate she was wiping with {
coarse homespun towel
"Where Is she, mother2" said she.
"Out in the woods, I suppose. Ii
where she always goes"
"Mother, you must remember tha
Lizzie Is young. Don't be hard upor
her!" pleaded Frances.
Mrs. Crest was Farmer Obed Crest,
second wife, and Frances, the tall, pal.
girl with tho somber brown eyes anG
the oval, colorless face, was the goot
woman's stepdaughter. while pretty
lS-year-old Lizzie was her own ant
only child.
"But for all that" said Mrs. Crest, 81
put deal more dependence ON Frances
than do on Lizzie. Frances is all the
same to me as my own childi
Hard upon herr 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 1t dreadful hard that you should
be going to Albany and she left at homo.
I never knew such nonsense in my lifel'
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 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 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.
"I'm only country girl" she said to
herself, "and he lives In the city, where
he is meeting brilliant women every
day. And 1t 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 a
nome for the winter for what use she
could render in household matters, and
he money she had saved was to be spent
N suitable dress, lessons and other ex-
oenses.
And, best Of all, she would see Stephen
Ellsworth every day.
She finished her household tasks and
vent quietly out to the nook in the woods
where she knew that she should find
lizzie.
And here, with her head leaning list
essly against tree trunk, sat lovely
,irl Of scarcely eighteen, with deep blue
yes, full, cherry red lips, and COM
,lexion like balsam flower. One hand
vas immersed in the cool, running water;
he other held crumpled pocket hand
,erchief, drenched with tears.
"Lizziel" exclaimed Frances, "you
ave been crying!"
The blue eyes sparkled resentfully.
"Crying2 OF course I've been cryingT
etorted Lizzie Crest. "Who wouldn't
~, to be left alone in this dismal hole
II winter long, while you are enjoying
ourself in the city2 But won't stay
ere. I'll run away and go on the stage,
r else I'll drown myself In Packers
oolr'
"Lizzie! Lizziel think what you are
ayingr
81 don't carep pouted Lizzie. "What
, life worth In place like this?"
And she burst into fresh flood of
,ars.
Frances sat down and took the golden
cad tenderly into her lap.
ALI her life long she had been accus-
,med to subordinate her viii TO that Of
lis lovely, tempestuous sprite. What
gnifed one sacrifice more or less?
Don't cry any more, Hzziei" she
"pve made up my mind.
ou shall go to Aunt Josie instead Of
le"
ZIP
"And I'll wait another year." added
RANGES, swallowing a lump In her
lroat. "You shall have the music les
ms and the art lectures; you shall see
hat winter in the city Is like"
Lizzie's eyes sparkled; her cheeks were
d. She flung her arms around Frances
,ck, with a sudden cry Of rapture.
"oh. Frances, you don't really mean
"Yes, do" bravely uttered Frances.
"But mother won't consent"
81 will see TO that"
Once more Lizzie showered soft, warm
sses on her sisters cheek
"Oh, you darlingi you sweet, guar
an angell" she cried "And I am
fish little beast to allow you 20 sacri-
e yourself In this outrageous fashion
It IL you knew how I have longed 10
APE from this dreadful groove Of
and sewing, and butter max
z!-
''YOu shall escape, Uzzie,- said Fran
And no one ever knew the bitterness
the tears she she'd when Lizzie went
Albany.
Mrs. Crest demonstrated stoufly. bui
aDoes held TO ber own uay. and Liz
e entreafies we're not 10 Be uifhstood
Francs don't cars.- ploaded she.
rzDoes always uzs q human icicle ,
q I'm - much younger than siBs u.
I-sufr-