Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-01-30

of waists of my own 10 fix over for
yourself. and some of them were real
good ones"
Il know it, said Lizzie gently. but
| meant a shirt waist, you know, and
| could make forty cents do very WELL
That would buy three yards of ging-
ham. And I'm sure l could borrow
Jennie Aliens pattern
Suddenly the elder woman's brow
cleared and she said, quite hopeful
ly, We'll, Wen see, Liz e.
The next morning, after the early
washing. Lizzie was sitting on the
back piazza stoning raisins, when
Mrs Loring tripped up to her with a
| beaming face and a small article
spread out with cheerful air. Look
Lizzie" she said.
| Lizzie glanced down at the lavender
silk waist, deliberately trimmed with
black lace and passementrie.
81 had that made" said Mrs. Loring,
beamingly, five years ago. and have
never worn it once, | did not feel
comfortable in it, some way. l amt
any hand at dressing up, anyhow. But
it will be just the thing for you, Lizzie.
and much more dressy than shirt
waist. And you can have it for dol
lar, That will leave me owing you
only two dollars, after taking out that
last pair of shoes and the green wrap
per. And it won't be hard to fit down,
the waist won't"
/ Lizzie took the waist with a tremb-
ling hand and burning face.
and now must be off" said Mrs.
Loring hastily. George is waiting for
me. Ida is going, too. You won't
have to get dinner for anyone but
yourself and father. 1t ought to be a
real easy day for you
Lizzie watched the team drive down
the road in sort of stupor. Then she
buried her face in her hands and sob.
bed convulsively. After little she
lay down her work, and with the waist
on her arm walked out into the field.
She moved quickly and at random.
the inner tumult could only be quoted
by outward movement She heard
nothing, saw nothing. Suddenly she
came face to face with--Zephas Glad
den.
They stood and looked at each other
for a moment, then Zephas said,
why, Lizzie, what is the matter with
you? | saw you acting so sort of
strange like, as I was fixing the brook.
and came over, but you didn't see me-
Lizzie stood very quietly before him
ground.
''Ah, Lizzie" said Zephas, when you
act like that it always means you
amt going to say anything. But Pm
going to know" He looked at the
lavender waist and attempted to draw
it away, but shei frightened her hold
He gently pried open her fingers. 'T'm
going to know, Lizzie" he said, land
you won't tell me-" He spread open
the flimsy thing and held it up. observ-
ing it with a puzzled, studious air.
Then he said with mock admiration,
"And did she give you this beautiful
thing for wages, Lizzie?"
Lizzie's eyes flashed and she cried
Indignantly, "Zephas, you shall not
mock the best and kindest friend I
ever had. Give me back my waist"
81 will-some day." ne said, as with
one quick movement he tore the waist
in two. right down the back, then put
the pieces in his overalls pocket.
Best and kindest friend?" he went
on. well, then, it's high time a
better and kinder friend came and
took you away! Lizzie, marry me at
once, today, We couldn't either of us
be worse off. Say, Lizzie, listen: You
remember the old Northrup rookery
on the Nixon road? Well, can have
it thrown in if I'll buy the five acres
in four years, five per cent. interest.
no payment at all the first year. That
city fellow that camped out there this
spring has left a stove and a few
things. and good garden that could
feed us for half the winter. and I can
get jobs at logging and farming. And
I'll get you melodeon, too, or some.
thing, after bit, and you shall take
music lessons.
Il can't" cried Lizzie "She has
been better to me than anyone else. /
can't act mean to her"
81 don't want you to. You can
write her nice letter and leave it for
her. And you can forfeit two weeks
notice. 'Tain't as if she or any of the
others was sick and relied on you
Mis- Loring can get along real well till
| she finds someone else. Besides. Liz
zie, you'd have to tell her about that
! waist"
Zephas and Lizzie secretly borrowed
an unused team of the Lorings and
went to the village and were married
! When they returned, Zephas packed
his valise and left Deacon Gorham's.
and Lizzie packed an old market
basket with her belongings, and to-
! gether they went across the fields. It
was some time before Lizzie was free
Of the idea that Mrs. Loring was call.
ing her, or was just behind her. Grad.
ually, however, as the quiet, happy