Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-02-09
MY SISTERS "CaANCE. I"
BY EBEN L. REXFoRD.

You cau't gress what's going to
happen" cried my sister Elizabeth one
morning as she came running ~ the
path from the gatr, where she had been
met the po>tman. She had an
CD Let er in her hand.
HAS some one left you fortune?
I asked.
"Oh-better than that" was the re-
ply. Pm going to have beau! Lis
ten, and she proceeded to read me
err letter:
DEAR ELIZABETH: write to tell you tina
friend of mine has fallen In love with your
photograph He Is widower. and on the
lookout for another wife. He happened to
see your picture, and 1t won his susceptible
heart at once. He asked all kinds OF ques-
tons about you, and when he found out
that you were fancy free" he said he had
a good mind to come an see you. Mebhe
there was the chance he'd been lookin' for. "
| advised him to come. you can tell by
trying. u said And-he's comingl He has
got some business to transact in the city
Thursday, and he will stop off at Holmes
vile 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't
it?" ciied Elizabeth, half amused and
half Indignant. "She's bound to have
fun at somebody's expense. I can
imagine her laughing every time she
thinks of the joke she considers She
has played on me. The idea of her
sending IN cid widower to see mel
"She didn't exactly send Inn" l re-
sponded. "But I think she rather
encouraged him to come. What's that
she says about Wednesday? Today's
Wednesday, Elizabeth, and you can
look for your admirer by the next
tIain. The letter ought to have got
here yesterday, you see by its date.
Go aud gel ready to entertain him
there's no time to lose"
"I'm thoroughly out of patience with
Aunt Maria" said Elizabeth. G've a
notion to go away somewhere and stay
till he's gone"
l'But he'd come again if he's so des-
p rately smitten with your photo
graph, or he'd stay till you came home,
or he'd fall in love with me and you'd
lose your chance" I said. "No-
S ay and face the music, Elizabeth"
81 know what I'll do!' cried my Sis
ter, the mischief-loving trait common
10 her and Aunt Maria coming to the
surface. "I'll pretend I'm deaf, and
I'll have some fun out Of it, as well q
Aunt Maria.
"You can't carry out such a decep-
sion without getting caught at it," l
taid
Trust me for that" cried Elizabeth
with sparkling eyes. I think she be-
gan to be glad that Aunt Maria had en-
couraged the wid,wer to come. "Now,
remember, I'm totally unable to hear q
word OF ordinary conversation. 1t
will be necessary for you to almost
shout at me if you want me to under
stand what you're saying. And be sure
to keep from laughing. TIE lun al
depends upon keeping up the decep-
ton. We must not let him discover
it, for th.t would make us ridiculous
YOU see. Therel l hear the train: We
can expect him at any moment now
Oh, dear! I know I shall want tc
laugh, but I shan't do it-you see if ]
dol I'll go and get ready to receive
him. When he comes you must NEE
him, snd bring him in and INTRODUCED
him." and away ran my fun-loving Bis
ter to get ready for her visitor.
Ten minutes later / saw a man com
ing down the road from the station
and knew as soon as I set my eyes OF
him that it was Elizabeth's admirer
He was at least forty-five years old
with a very solem-lookiug face, and a.
air of having his Sunday clothes on
But perhaps his errand made him lool
soberer .han usual and feel i'll at case
l met him at the door.
"Does Miss 'Lizabeth Jones liv'
here?" he asked.
eyes, sir" 1 answered. ri thinl
she's expecting you You are the GIN
tleman our aunt Mara Thorpe wro'
us about, l SUPPOSED"
Yes, 1 be-" was the reply. an,
| names Peters Joshua Peters. Blu
mebbe she told you?"
"No, she did MOI tell us your nam
she simply said you were coming t
see Elizabeth. She's in the sitting
room, III take you in and introduce
you. You'll have to speak rather loud
for Elizabtt tbs just trife hard Q
hearing"
chats bad" said Mr.. Peters, pull
ing out a big red handkerchief an
wiping his perspiring face. "Awfu
| ,ror,, o;p,t ifov