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

''Lizzie has gone again, said Mrs.
Crest. "Lizze's no sort of use to me
of late. l don't know what's come to
the child, but she does act 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, mother9' said she.
''Out in the woods, suppose. It's
where she always goes"
'0Iother, you must remember that
Lizzie is young. Don't be hard upon
her" plea led 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 stepdaughter, while pretty 49,
year old Lizzie was her own and only
child.
''But for all that" said AIrs. Crest,
al put great deal more dependence
on Frances than do on Lizzie. Fran
ces is all the same to me as my own
child"
Hard upon herP' she repeated
querulously. "What I'm afraid of is
that I'm too easy with her. She's al
ways had her own way in everything.
And she takes it dreadful hard that you
should be going to Albany and she left
at home. Inever knew such nonsense
in my life"
A disturbed expression passed over
Frances's face.
'Its 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
literature.
For she was engaged to Stephen
Ellsworth, and she longed, with an ex-
ceedingly great desire, to make herself
worthy of his love.
81 m 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 dread full,
if, after we were married, he should be
ashamed of me!'
Mrs. Rigney, distant cousin of the
Crests, had offered to give Frances
home for the winter for what use she
could render in hous chold matters, and
the money she had saved was to be
spent in suitable dress, lessons and
other expenses.
And, best of all, she would see
Stephen Ellsworth every day. She
had looked forward to this for a long
time; now it was very near, and her
heart was full of happiness.
She finished her household tasks and
went quietly out to the nook in the
woods where she knew that she should
find Lizzie.
1t was a sheltered glade, where
twisted grapevine overhung the brown
waters of a babbling brook and tall
plumes of golden rod nodded along
the narrow path.
And here, with her head leaning g
listlessly against a tree-trunk, sat a
lovely girl of scarcely IS, with deep
blue eyes, full, cherry-red lips, and a
complexion like balsam- flower. One
hand was immersed in the cool, run
ming water; the other held crumpled
pocket handkerchief, drenchcd with
tears.
''Lizziel" exclaimed Frances, ssyou
have been cryingp
The blue eyes sparkled resentfully.
"Cryinga OF course I've been cry
ingP retorted Lizzie Crest. 'eWho
wouldn't cry, to be left alone in this
dismal hole all winter long, while you
are enjoying yourself in the citya But
won't stay here. I'll run away and
60 on the stage, or else drown m yself
in Packers pool"
'Lizzie! Liz2is! think what you are
say1ng'
II don't careI' pou.ed Lizzie.
"What is life worth in a place like
thisa"
And she burst into fresh flood OF
tears.
Frances sat down and took the gold
en- head tenderly into her lap,s
All her life long she had been ac-