The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26
| My Sister EliZabeth'S Chance.
BY Eben &. Rexford.

~ on can't guess what's going to
happen" cried my sister Eliza
beth one morning as she came run
ming up the path from the gate, where
she had been to meet the postman.
She had an open letter In her hand.
HAS some one left you fortune?
asked.
"Oh-better than that" was the re-
ply. I'm going to have beau!
Listen" and she proceeded to read me
her letter:
Dear Elizabeth: write to tell you that
n friend of mine has fallen In love with
your photograph. He is widower, and on
the lookout for another wife. He hap
pened to see your picture. and 1t won his
susceptible heart at once. He asked all
kinds of questions about you, and when ne
found out that you were fancy free ne
said he had a good mind to come an see
you Mebbe there was the chance he'd
been lookin for l advised him to come.
you can tell by trying said And-he's
coming! He has got some business to trans
act in the city Thursday. and he will stop
off at Holmesvile on Wednesday and visit
YOU. Be kind to the poor man. and-send
me an invitation to the wedding Hastily'
AUNT MARIA"
That's just like Aunt Maria, isn'tit?"
cried Elizabeth, half amused and half
indignant. "She's bound to have fun
at somebody's expense. can imagine
her laughing every time she thinks OF
the Joke she considers she has played
on me. The idea of her sending an old
widower to see mel"
"She didn't exactly send him., l re-
sponded. But think she rather en-
couraged him to come. What's that she
says about Wednesday? To-day's
Wednesday, Elizabeth, and you can look
for your admirer by the next train.
The letter ought to have got here yes
terday. you see by its date. Go and
get ready to entertain him-there's no
time to lose"
I'm thoroughly out of patience with
Aunt Maria," said Elizabeth. I've
notion to go away somewhere and stay
till he's gone"
But he'd come again if he's so des-
perately smitten with your photograph.
or he'd stay till you came home. or he'd
fall in love with me and you'd lose your
chance" said: "No-stay and face
the music, Elizabeth"
81 know what I'll dol" cried my sister,
the mschief-loving trait common to her
and Aunt Maria coming to the surface.
"rll pretend I'm deaf, and I'll have some
fun out of it, as well as Aunt Maria"
you can't carry out such decep-
ton without getting caught at it." |
said.
Trust me for that!" cried Elizabeth,
with sparkling eyes. Think she began
to be glad that Aunt Maria had en-
couraged the widower to come. Now,
remember! I'm totally unable to hear a
word of ordinary conversation. 1t will
be necessary for you to almost shout
at me if you want me to understand
what you're saying. And be sure to
keep from laughing. The fun all de-
ponds on keeping up the deception
We must not let him discover it, for that
would make us ridiculous, you see.
, There! l hear the train. We can ex'
i. pect him at any moment now. Oh
dear! / know l shall want to laugh
. but shan't do it-you see if do! III
go and get ready to receive him. When
he comes you must meet him, and bring
him in and introduce him." and away
. ran my fun-loving sister to get ready
for her visitor.
! Ten minutes later saw man coming
[ av-,u-.i.- 4i-----4.-..--------l- 4
| knew as soon as | set my eyes on him
| that it was Elizabeth's admirer. He was
/ at least As years old, with very solemn
: looking face, and an air of having hi:
Sunday clothes on. But perhaps hi
errand made him look soberer tina,
usual and feel i'll at ease. l met him
the door.
Does Miss 'Lizabeth Jones live here :?
he asked. -
"Yes. sir" answered. 81 think She
expecting you. You are the gentlema
our Aunt Maria Thorpe wrote us about
suppose?"
Yes. I be-" was the reply. IN
names Peters-Joshua Peters. Blu
mebbe she told your"
mo, she did not tell us your name
she simply said you were coming t
see Elizabeth. She's in the sitting
room. I'll take you in and ntrodue
you. You'll have to speak rather lou
for izabeth's just a trife hard of hea
ing"
That's bad" said Mr.. Peters, pullin
: put big red handkerchief and wipin
IT his perspring face. awful warm. ain
ia |it?"
T racronIad Rx,f b.
R. time we were at the sitting-room doc
T, Elizabeth sat by the window with h.
- back toward us.
ST. Elizabeth" said, raising my voic
H. No reply.
II. elizabeth" this time In loud
= tone. Still no reply.
"She must be dretful deef to not he
that" said Mr.. Peters. "How lonl
she been so?"
did not dare trust myself to rep
went up to Elizabeth and put my ha
on her shoulder. She turned and saw
"Why didn't you speak when y
came in?" she asked, rising.
"She did-she hollered," said
Peters in sort of stage aside.
elizabeth, this Is Mr.. Peters,
gentleman Aunt Maria wrote about,
said close to her ear.
"Oh--yes. understand" said Eli
beth. her face showing great delif
and interest. I'm happy to meet y
~ Mr.. Peasley. Sit down. please, and Il
III talk to each other. ] want to get
~. quainted right away. I hope yor
20 well, Mr.. Peasley?"
~ "Peters. not Peasley," corrected
visitors.
IA little louder. please-1 didn't 81
Clutch what you said" and Elijah
bent her head to listen.
IS, 81 said my name want Pcaslt
shouted the other. Its Peters,
ili "Oh yes. understand now, rrspc
an cd Elizabeth. Excuse me. but II
all Sister James fault. she speak
such a low tone. I'm not so very
'icS still one has to talk rather loud fo
to understand ell they say"