Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-04-04

a
Stephen or Lizzie. lit was only
natural. He has grown tired of wait
ing for me. And Lizzie is very lovely.
can't blame any man for wanting to
make her his wife. / shall go to Al
bany, all the same, and tell them not
to mind me. You KNOW" with rather a
forced smile, ''people always said was
cut out for an old mad. And-and-
we three can be very happy here at
home all our lives long, can't we9'
And here poor Frances broke down,
and cried bitterly.
Don't mind me-" said she. 81 shall
be quite used to 1t after awhile"
1t was q brilliant January afternoon
the ground covered with snow, the
sun sh ming with arctic splendor, and
all the streets musical with the joyous
chime of sleighbells-when Frances
Cres. arrived at Mrs. Rigney's house in
Albany.
"Why--Frances-- CALCULATED
the good lady, ''is this youa"
Il came to surprise Lizzie, Aunt
JOSIE" said the traveller, smiling
family.
"Well, it will be SURPRISE" said
Mrs. Rigney. "Go right up, dear.
She's in the parlor with"
"With Capt. Ellsworth
"How on earth did you know2"
cried the comfortable elderly lady.
"Has she written to you2"
''No, not word" Frances an
swered. ''But know it all, neverthe-
less.''
She went ON, and knocked at the
parlor door.
Come in!' called Llzzie's sweet So
prano voice; and. with a sudden quick
ening of the heart. she obeyed.
Was that little Lizzie standing by the
fire, one dainty, slippered foot on the
fender, her cleaning silken gown held
by a slim, white hand, while her ex-
quisite profile was outlined against the
ruby velvet of the lambrequin'
She looked more like a princess-a
fairy queen. In this atmosphere of
change and happiness she had fairly
blossomed out like rose In mid June.
And that tall figure in the shadow
beyond
Frances! Dear, dear Frances
In second Lizzie was in her arms.
"You got my letter, love-the letter
wrote to you yesterday-the letter
that told you all?'
81 have received no letter, Lizzie.
l left home early this morning, but
where is Capt. Ellsworth
"Here-right before your eyes. Come
here, Clarence, and let me introduce
you to your new sister; for we are en-
gagged, Frances, Clarence and l. That
is my mysterious secret"
The tall figure advanced with mil
tary sort of salute.
1t was not Stephen at all, but taller,
younger, less impress i've looking man.
Frances bowed in a bewildered way.
'Bus Stephen-where is Stephena
she asked.
"Gone down to Woodfeld, Frances,
after you. Because he says he means
there shall be double wedding if
there's to be single one, and he de-
CARES he won't wait any longer for you
to make up your mind. And how puzzled
he will be, to be sure, when he finds
the bird has flown! Are you very
much surprised, Francesl But you see,
Clarence is in the regular army-not
mere militia captain like Stephen. He
is stationed in Florida, and he will spend
his leave of absence with his cousins
here in Albany; and so, of course, I
couldn't help getting acquainted with
him, because Stephen came here every
day to talk about you, and Clarence
always came with HIN. And-Yes,
Clarence; go away now and get the
flowers for the evenings reception at
Miss Birds, for I've got so much to say
to my sister,"
She dismissed her handsome lover
with the nonchalance of queen, and
then showered caresses anew on Frances.
''Isn't he splendid, darling2" she
cried. "And only think, owe it all
to you; for if it hadn't been for you
sending me here, l never should have
met him at all. And we'll telegraph
to Stephen at once, and you will con-
sent to be married at the same time
with me-won't you, deara"
Eyes" said Frances, her eyes brim-