Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-11-25
Her Little Sister.

come to the child, but she does &C
to me as if she was bewitched."
Frances Crest set down the blue
trimmed plate she was wiping with
coarse homespun towel.
''Where is she, mother:" said she
''Out in the woods, suppose. IL
where she always goes !"
'Mother, you must remember tina
Lizzie is young. Don't be hard upor
herl' pleaded Frances.
Mrs. Crest was Farmer Obed
Crest's second wife, and Frances,
the tall, pale girl, with the sombre
brown eyes and the oval, colorless
face, was the good woman's step
daughter, while pretty 18-year-old
Lizzie was her own and only child.
''But for all that" said Mrs.
Crest, 81 put a deal more Deepen
dencee on Frances than / do on Liz
zie. Frances is all the same to me
as my own child %
"Hard upon heri" she repeated
querelously, s'What I'm afraid of is
that I'm too easy with her. She's
always had her way in everything.
And she takes it dreadful hard that
you should be going to Albany and
she left at home. l never knew such
nonsense in my life 20
A disturbed expression passed
over Frances's 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, dnring
which she had promised herself to
take music lessons, and add to her
knowledge of art and literature.
For she was engaged to Stephen
Ellsworth and she longed with an ex-
ceeding great desire to make herself
worthy of his love.
"I'm only a country GIRL she
said to herself, "and he lives in the
city, where he sees brilliant women
every day, and it would be dreadful
if, after we were married, he should
be ashamed of me %
Mrs. Rigney, a distant cousin of
the Crests, had offered to give Fran
ces a home for the winter for what
use she rendered in household matters,
and the money she had saved was to
be spent in suitable dress, lessons
and other expenses.
And the 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
would find Lizzie.
And here, with her head leaning
listlessly against a tree trunk, sat a
lovely girl of scarcely eighteen, with
deep blue eyes, full cherry-red lips,
and a complexion like balsam flow
er. One hand was immersed in the
cool running water; the other held
a crumpled pocket-handkerchief,
drenched with tears.
'sLizzie !" exclaimed Frances, "you
have been cryingr"
"Crying? OF course I've been cry
ing" retorted Lizzie. s'Who would
mt cry, to be left alone in this dismal
hole all winter long, while you are
enjoying yourself in the city? but l
won't stay here. I'll run away and
go on the stage, or else I'll drown
myself in Packers pool"
''Lizzie Lizzie think what you
are saying"
81 don't care" pouted Lizzie.
"What is life worth in a place like
this?"
And she burst into fresh flood of
tears.
Frances sat down and took the
golden head tenderly into her lap.
All her life long she had been ac-
customed to subordinate her will to
that of this lovely, tempestuous
sprite. What signifed one sacrifc
more or 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." add
ed Frances, swallowing a lump in
her throat. ''You shall have the
music lessons and the art lectures :;
you shall see what a winter in the
city is like
Lizzie's eyes sparkled, her cheeks
were red She hung her arms around
Frances's neck, with sudden cry of
rapture.
sob, Frances, you really don't
mean it?
eyes, L do" bravely 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
guardian angel - she cried. "And l
am a selfish little beast to allow you
to sacrifice yourself in this outra-
geous fashion. But if you knew how
have longed to escape from this
dreadful groove of homework, and
sewing, and butter making 20
gsVau shall ocoano Tizzio cai6