Year: 1872

You@see might have done better, as
marry Joe. We were not rich at home,
but we managed to live comfortably, and
Sue and | contrived to get a pretty, new
suit in the prevailing new style, often
enough to keep up appearances | earn
ed mine by teaching in one of the public
schools, for had fair education, and
was fond of children; while Sue got hers
well, hardly know how.


Sue staid at home to help mother about
tho house fancy Sue keeping school!
ButS always got what she wanted, by
hook or by crook; coaxed it out of the
boys, generally. For we had couple of
older brothers, and when Sue declared
she would have thing they used to laugh
and defy her to get it, but she always did.
She was little younger than I, but con-
siderable talier-for | was little thing,
and she used to take the lead in every
thing at home. If only one could have a
new dress, Sue had it; if the two new
dresses differed at all, she took the one
she liked best; and if they were alike,
hers was always made first. If only one
could 60, SIZE always went-helping her
self TO what she wanted from my small
stock of finery, unless she took fancy to
drag me after her.


She Was married more than two years
before was. Her pretty face, with its
brown eyes and braids, pink cheeks an
dimples, brought her lover soon enough,
and she was married at eighteen.


| never could see what Sue fancied in
Will Lindley. In the first place, he was
short-hardly as tall as Sue herself-and
! always did despise short men. Then
he was not very intellectual. She did not
mind that, but l used to fancy that if l
ever had a lover, I should want him %
be wise and learned maker Of books
or professor in college.


There was not much danger that a
lover would come to such a plain little
body as was. Sue told me dozen times
a day that I was predestined for an old
maid; with my dumpy stature, gray eyes,
could lay nothing against my hair-it
reached to my Knees, was straight and
fine, and stayed wherever / placed it.
Sues own brown Draids could not surpass
that; Il was my one glory.


She married Will Lindley at last.
will give the man credit for one thing; he
loved her honestly and fairly, and her
whims and caprices made no difference
with his devotion,


! How hard we worked to get her suit
able Outfit-or one that she considered
suitable. Will made her beautiful pres
ents, and would have bought her every
thing she needed, if mother would have al
lowed him. The boys-who were married
and prospering now, gave her some
things; but the brunt of the expense, and
all the labor, fell to mother and I.


Sue would have everything of the dain
tiest and incest; So out of school hOurs,
Istitched and embroid defied, ruffied and
tucked for heF, as l would never have
done For myself, while she walked, rode
or sang with Will. But she was so pret-
ty and radiant when she stood up to be
married that I forgave and forgot it all;
and mother declared to WIN, between her
sobs, that heghad taken the flower Of the
family.


After while, Will moved away to one
| of those little towns depending upon it's
water privileges, where they make chairs
and pals, and baskets, and all of those
things. She cried and stormed and de-
clared she would never go-but she did.
Will brought her to his way of thinking,
somehow; we always wondered how, for
we really thought at first she would make
him give up his plans.


But he was we'll established in business
now, and Sue queened it royalty in the
| little country village She was secretary
of the sewing circle, and chief orator Of
the levees and fairs rife in such places.
They had no children. Will was indul-
gent: kept her beautifully dressed, and
so Sue was happy in her way.
| Then Joe came. He was not at all my
ideal of lover. He was neither learned
nor handsome; he was only Joe. | think
| liked him first because they all laughed
at me about my bashful lover. Bashful
he was to be sure, and rather disposed to
be awkward-especially If he CHANGED to
call when my brothers were there; i be-
lieve he felt they were inclined to laugh
at him.


They were rather displeased sat me just
then, because I had rejected very good
offer-that is, the man had money
enough, and it would have taken me out
of the school-room, where was just los
ING the small modicum of decent looks I
had ever possessed Bot l thought I
would rather teach Teddy Flynn and
Bobby Jones their primers all the days
of my life than to marry 6isagreeable,
stingy Ned Morrison, even if he Threw
wedge of gold in my lap every day.
So began to favor Joe, principally to
show nay independence; for when Sue
was not by to put me down, l had
spicy little temper of my own.


We were married at home in the little
parlor, and they all came to the wedding.
had none of the floating white drape-
ries that had enveloped Sue and eclipsed
Will on their bridal day; I only had a
plain brown silk-the first silk dress
| ever possessed-my own earning and max
ing. / had white rose off mothers
bush in my hair, and as I could easily
stand under Joe's outstretched arm, there
was no danger that he would look
dwarfed beside me.


1t was not much of a place where we
commenced housekeeping the rooms
were small, and not great many OF
them. did all my own work, washing
included and we ate in the kitchen so
you see we were very humble folk in
deed. Sue used to rather scorn my fur
niture and surroundings when she sailed
in upon us, as she did at least once year,
for good long visit. 1always pretended
| wanted nothing better, but in my heart
of hearts knew did.


possessed one treasure Sue did not
my fair-haired boy, whom strangers stop
ped to admire for his pearly skin and
blue eyes" Too lovely for boy" as
every one said But tonight I think /
was hardly glad even for Eddie for Sue
had come again for one her lengthy visits.
dashing in upon me that morning Wien |
was in the midst of my baking
+ She rehearsed all the new things Will
had bought her lately, ending with his
promise, if his venture proved success
full, to buy her a diamond ring, and BRING I'll
it down when he came tomorrow nlght.
4 I owned just one ring that Joe had
given me but it was only an onyx with