Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-03-13
A WHITNEY GIRL.
BY KATHERINE RATES.

nat.
mo, she doesn't. Mans needs little
more loose hair around her face; as
long as hers won't curl, she had better
wear Pegs broad one that sets we'll
down on her head"
The girl who stood before the glass
trying on her sisters hats turned i'm
patiently. Good gracious!" she said.
what earthly difference docs it make
just how 1 do look? If only you girls
could make up your minds that alu
real down homely, life would be coed
deal simpler forus all. Every time am
asked anywhere we go through all this,
and no one cares two pins how one cs
the Whitney girls lools!"
The four older sisters locked very UNI
comfortable. Don't talk like thar,
Jennie" Peg, the Oldest, said, at last.
''Well, 1t is true" Jennie answered.
"fou never had the sort of times other
girls have, did you? know Nan and
I never had any attention shown us
from the time we We're chosen last to
play games ut school up to now, when
we are only asked to moonlight pic.
mics and surprise parties by the boy
who makes up his mind to go too late
TO get any other girl. suppose it was
the same way with you, and Liza and
Sue"
The five women stood and looked
at each other. They were all tall and
painfully thin, with prominent check
bones and sunlien eyes. Their mother
had died Of consumption. and it was
confidently expected in the neighbor.
hood that the girls would eventually
"go off, us she had gone. Jennie was
less pale and thin than the others; her
eyes, though deepset, were blue, not
gray, and her hair had slightly red
dish shade to it, which made her lock
more positively alive than her sisters.
They had thought her pretty, had rev.
eled in the belief that she was popular.
had rejoiccd that she seemed gay and
happy. Liza had once called Pegs al.
tention to the merriment of her laugh.
II declare" she had said, "she laughs
right out just the way 1 have always
wanted to all my life, only there never
was any reason big enough to justify
it. nm glad she and Nan don't have
to scrimp quite as we did," Jennie had
never before spoken as to-day, and now
was heartily ashamed Of herself.
II don't know what made me saw
all that" she said, alphabetically, look
ing at the PINNED faces. "Of course
am glad to be a Whitney, and we have
plenty of good times If we are poor and
plain"
YES" said Liza, land the Whitne,s
have always been respected in tho
church here. Grandpa and pa were
both respected highly, and each was
superintendent of Sunday school five
years, you know"
Yes, of course they wcre," said Jen-
ME. Tremendously respected-so it
does not much matter that we girls
nren't-well, what the Springer girls
are"
"Thank heavens!" said Liza, 1--WE
aren't as foolish In our talk as they
are"
Jennie wore her own hat when she
went that afternoon with Jim Russell
to tho basket picnic over by the river.
She put on the frcshly-ironed linen
lawn that had been Mans the summer
before, pinning it at the neck with
feg's pin which had Grandma Whit
ney's hair in it.
Clothes look just like me-" she NUT
tered to herself, "and like Peg and Sue
and Nan and Liza"
1t was Il long drive to the bluffs.
Usually when Jennie went to picnics
with one of the boys she made an eff
fort to be "sprightly;" to-day the un-
wonted bitter streak had mastery of
her and she sat in almost utter science,
even when other buggies passed them
with gayly laughing Springer or Brown
girls i'll them.
He might have asked one of them
it he'd wanted a lively time" she
thought; and then remembered that
lie probably had, and had then asked
her to show some one was glad to 90
with him.
Jim. too, was very quiet. He drove
carefully over the deep ruts in the road,
his whole attention apparently CEN
tered on doing as little injury as posi-
BILE to the springs of his buggy. AS
they came near the end of the six-mile
drive he suddenly turned to her.
Jennie" he said, IL have always
liked you first rate, as you know. Do
YOU suppose you could ever love me
enough to marry me?"
She stared ut him, dumfounded.
Was one Of the Whitney girls having y
proposal! Another feeling succeeded
the surprise and she looked away
quickly, while the color rushed to her
pale cheeks. Before she had time TO
speak they turned corner and found
themselves surrounded by the pic
nickers.
Come along" called Bess Springer.
"You are the very last. Hurry up and
tie your horse and let's climb the bluffs
before supper-time."
The sisters We're waiting to talk it
I'LL oyerwith Jenniewhen she got home.
After her speeches Of the morning
they hesitated about questioning her.
but she sat down by the kitchen table
NHss Peg wa daishiag tAs ironing.