The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-12-03
! NV Sister ElizabGth'S Chance.
BY Eben E. Rexford.


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 a fortune?"
Iasked.
"Oh-better than that" was the re-
NV. I'm going to have a beaul
Listen" and she proceeded to read me
her letter:
Dear Elizabeth: 1 write to tell you that
friend of mine has fallen in love with
your photograph. He Is widower, and on
The lookout for another wife. He hap
nened to see your picture, and 1t won his
susceptible heart at once. He asked all
kinds of questions about you, and when he
found out that you were fancy free he
said he had a good mind to come an see
you. Mebbe there was the chance he'd
been lookin for 1 advised him to come.
you can tell by trying, l said And-he's
coming! He has got some business to trans
act in the city Thursday, and he will stop
off at Holmesville 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. l 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
vidower to see mel"
"She didn't exactly send him." re-
N sponded. But / think she rather en-
Outraged 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
motion to go away somewhere and stay
till he's gone"
But he'd COME again if he's so des-
lperately 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.'" l said: "No-stay and face
the music, Elizabeth"
81 know what III dol" cried my sister,
the mischief-loving trait common to her
land Aunt Maria coming to the surface
s"Ill pretend I'm deaf, and I'll have some
fun out of it, as well as Aunt Maria"
You can't carry out such a decep-
ton without getting caught at it," l
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
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! | hear the train. We can ex-
pect him at any moment now. Oh.
= dear! | know [ shall want to laugh,
but shan't do it-you see if do! I'll
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 a man coming
down the road from the station, and
knew as soon as l set my eyes on him
that it was Elizabeth's admirer. He was
at least as years old, with a very solemn
looking face, and an air of having his
Sunday clothes on But perhaps his
errand made him look soberer than
usual and feel i'll at ease. met him at
the door.
Does Miss 'Lizabeth Jones live hereP"
he asked.
Yes, sir" answered. Il think she's
expecting you. You are the gentleman
our Aunt Maria Thorpe wrote us about,
I suppose?"
Yes, l be-" was the reply. MY
names Peters-Joshua Peters But
mebbe she told your"
mo, she did not tell us your name
she simply said you were coming to
see Elizabeth. She's in the sitting
room. I'll take you in and introduce
you. You'll have to speak rather loud,
for Elizabeth's just trife hard of hear
ing"
That's bad" said Mr. Peters, pulling
out big red handkerchief and wiping
his perspiring face. awful warm. amt
it?"
Quite warm" l responded. By that
time we were at the sitting-room door.
Elizabeth sat by the window with her
back toward us.
Elizabeth" said, raising my voice
No reply.
Elizabeth" this time in a louder
tone. Still no reply.
She must be dretful def to not hear
that" said Mr.. Peters. "How longs
p She been SOP"
did not dare trust myself to reply.
went up to Elizabeth and put my hand
on her shoulder. She turned and saw us.
Why didn't you speak when you
came IMP" she asked, rising.
She did-she hollered," said Mr..
Feters in sort of stage aside.
Elizabeth, this is Mr.. Peters-the
gentleman Aunt Maria wrote about"
SAID close to her ear.
"Oh-yes, | understand" said Eliza
beth, her face showing great delight
ana interest. I'm happy to meet you,
Mr. Peasley. Sit down, please, and let's
talk to each other. l want to get ac-
quainted right away. I hope you're
We'll Mr.. Peasley?"