, 1889-08-24

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 SO hand
some, so stylish; the ole. Ellsworth man.
sion on State street was SO ~elegant; he
sent her such exquisite cut flowers and
baskets of fruitI
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, ~ should
like to see the child in her new dresses.
l think I'll go up to Albany and surprise
her. Lucy Lampson will take the school
for a week. Dear little Lizziei how as
tonished she will bel"
"Wife." said Farmer Crest hoarsely,
when Frances had gone up to bed, full
of her new plan, Il don't knows we
ought to let 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"
"Obed Crest, you're a~-dreamin'"
81 wish 1 was, wife-I wish l wasI
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? l
can't tell herr sobbed the old lady.
Nor /, neither. There's no help for
it, wife; she's got to find it out for her
self"
And he let his wrinkled forehead fall
into his hands with a groan.
Just hen the door opened.
A tall, slight figure came in like a
gliding shadow.
1--WE 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. I can'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 smile), people al
ways said 1 was cut out for an old maid
And-and-we three can be very happy
here at home all our lives, can't WEI"
And here poor Frances broke down,
and cried bitterly.
Don't mind me" said she. 81 shall
be quite used to it after a while"
1t was a brilliant January afternoon
the ground covered with snow, the sun
ohipfnpr With A rrtin en1aplar aud oil thn
streets musical with the Joyous chime of
sleigh bells-when Frances Crest arrived
at Mrs. Rigney's house in Albany.
"Why- Francie - Crest" calculated
the good lady, sis this your"
81 came to surprise Lizzie, Aunt 10
sic" said the traveller, smiling family.
"Well, it will be a surprise" said Mrs.
Rigney. $50 right up, dear. She's in
the parlor with
with Capt. Ellsworth
"How on earth did you know" cried
the comfortable elderly lady. HAS she
written to your
"No, not a word" Frances answered.
but 1 know it all, nevertheless"
She went on and knocked at the par
lor door.
Come inl" called Lizzie's sweet so
prano voice; and, with a sudden quick
ening of her heart, she obeyed.
Was that little Lizzie standing by the
fire, one dainty, slippered foot OF the
fender, her cleaning silken gown held
up by a slim white hand, while her ex-
quisite profile was outlined against the
ruby velvet of the l~ambrequin?
She looked more like a princess-a
fairy queen. In this atmosphere of
change and happiness she had fairly
blossomed out like a rose in mid June.
And that tall figure in the shadow be-
yond-
"Francesi Dear, dear Francesi"
In a second Lizzie was in her arms.
you got my letter, love-the letter 1
wrote to you yesterday-the letter that
told you all?"
81 nave received no letter, Lizzie. 1
left home early this morning. But
where is Capt. Ellsworth
"Here-right here before your eyes.
Come here, Clarence, and let me intro
duce you to your new sister, for we are
engaged, Frances, Clarence and 1. That
is my mysterious secret"
The tall figure advanced with a mill
tary sort of salute.
1t was not Stephen at all, but a taller,
younger, less impressive looking a
Frances bowed in a bewildered way.
"But Stephen, where is Stephen?" she
asked.
"Gone down to Woodfield, Francie,
after you. Because he says he lean
there shall be a double wedding if there's
to be a single one, and he declares he
won't wait any longer for you to make
uD your mind, And how puzzled he will
be, to be sure, when he finds the bird has
hownl Are you very much surprised,
Frances? But, you see, Clarence is in
the regular army; not a mere militia
captain like Stephen. He is stationed in
Florida, and he was spending his leave
of absence with his cousins here in Al