The evening world., 1916-06-19

that they are b1rthrtght members or
the sect. They knew Whittier, the
Quaker poet, we'll. and they were
friends OF William Cullen Bryant and
lived for many years in cottage on
his estate at Roslyn. Miss Elisabeth
once saw Lincoln.
TT was at the Capitol" she told
me- HE appeared but did not speak.
Andy johnson made speech in
stead. was enraptured with him.
but later he disappointed me. I could
not follow him. And l remember one
day when our colored man drove the
buggy back from Mneola with the
mail. lie had a newspaper In his
hand.
Abraham Lincoln is shot," he said.
And didn't believe him. f,ared up
at him. It's no such o thing I said.
Give me the paperf And he gave II
to me. There's nobody In the world
mean enough to kill Abraham Lin
coln.'"
She paused. Her bright blue eyes
looked back-far back. II was quite
evident they saw again the simplest,
wisest, tenderest American.
"I drove to Mineola once" Mrs.
Banks Interrupted at this point-her
high, plaintive voice registering an
octave higher than Miss Elizabeth's.
1T was In 1855. when my intended.
Mr.. Banks came up from Virginia TO
claim me. l drove the buggy to Nine
ola to meet him"
But" interrupted Miss Elisabeth
beaming benevolently on her little
broly-poly sister, "she was too shy to
get out OF the buggy to greet him or
even to call to him that she was there
| SO he passed right by without seeing
her and took the stage. He beat her
home, and when I went to open the
door for her he was already here sit
ting in the parlor.
| "'Where's your Intended. NariaT I
asked her as / opened the door. He
didn't come she said. an thought
she was going TO cry. And then the
young man laughed a great laugh and
| came out of the parlor and took her
In his arms and said: when J have
an intended. Maria. and drive all tho
way to Mineola to meet him. I'll GET
him!'"
But tall. rugged. smiling. Miss
Elizabeth never took that drive to
Mineola.
Are you sorry you never marriedr"
asked her. and then turning to
My question quite frankly bewll-
dered Mrs. Banks. You see. had for
gotten that women married in 1856
accepted matrimony az they did sun
light or religion, wars or epidemics
purely and simply as the will Of God.
I'm glad" said the very old lady.
my husband was a good man-al-
ways kind to me. He was a year
younger than I. and I don't see why
he had to be taken" Her voice
dwindled to a little painful whimper
Of grief.
And you?" ] said to Miss Euza-
beth, facing me with her quiet, cour-
ageous smile.
II never got a chance to find
out" she answered. But" she add
ed proudly. "rve brought UP two fam.
lilies Of children and Maria has only
brought up one. You see. we went tC
Virginia because my brother lived
there. We were both teachers. Ny
sister met her intended. Mr.. Banks
there, and married him the next sum
mer. kept on teaching and then my
brothers wife died. leaving q Ittl'
girl just a few weeks old. l had t.
give up teaching and take care o.
his family. There were seven chill
dren.
After a while my brother married
again and was not needed an,
more, but kept the baby. Lizzie Ella
and brought her UP. took care o
her always. And then she married
and had four children Of her own anC
died when they were very little, ant
did my best to take care OF them
They are all married now and quit
happily situated. At times their cir
cumstances were not all that I coult
have wished But they are all righ
now, married and with homes Of thel
own. And of course l am not needed
any more. That" remarked Mis-
Elizabeth brightly. judicially. 'ls tn
, great trouble OF being aged. You ar
not needed any more"
"Oh. but you are." protested
laundering. "You spend the summer
here. What a lovely place 1t is ant
how much your sister must enjo,
having you! And l believe you spen,
the winters in Brooklyn. do you not p
IL spend the win'"rs In the HON
for the Aged In Grcenpoint." reptile