The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-01-28
Isabel Lucas-A Heroine of Humble


About fifteen years ago, woman the
name of Isabel Lucas KEEP, a small lodging
house in the southern suburbs of Edinburgh.
She was the daughter of respectable teach
er in the city who, "A, his death had bcqucaih
ed to her, rs his sole surviving relation,
about three hundred pounds, together with
tho furniture of house. The latter part
of the Legacy suggested TO her the proprle>
ty of endeavcring 10 support herself by
keeping lodgings, while the part which con-
sisted in money promised to stand cffoctu-
ally between her and all the mischances
that could be expected to befall her in such
walk Of life. She accordingly, for several
other persons, and thus contrived 10 live ve-
ry deeently without .renching upon her
little capital ill at lergh, she had attained
the discreet age of two and forty years.
Isabel had at NJ period of life been a
beauty. She had an iron gray complexion,
and cast of features bespeaking rather
strength of character than feminine glace.
She was now less beauty than ever, and
for years had taciIly acknowledged her
sense of the fact by abandoning all those
modes and materials of dress which women
wear, so lorg as they have any thoughts of
mairimony. Where, however, is the wo-
man at that, or any more juvenile period Of
life. in whose bosom the spark Of love lies
dead beyond recall ? lfany such there be,
Isabel was not of the number,
Among her dodgers was an individual of
the name of F'ordyne, who kept grocer's
shop of an interior order in the neighbor-
hood This person gave himself out for II
native Of the Isle of Man, and stated that
he had made little money as mess-man 10
a militia regiment, by which he had been
enabled 10 Sc, up business. lie was large,
dark, coarse man, Of about five and thirty
with a somewhat unpromising cast Of face,
| and a slight twist in his left eye. Fordyne
seemed to be man of great industry and
| application, and used 10 speak of his cir
cumsIances as agreeable in every respect,
except that he wanted a Wifi. This, he said,
was a great want. There were many things
about his shop which no one but female
could properly attend to. Without such a
helpmate, things were continually going
wrong; but with her, AL would 20 right.
| One point, however, he must be clear about;
she VINO should be his wife would require 10
bring something with her, 10 add 10 his stock,
and buy the necessary house>furniture. He
cared liule about good looks, if there was
good sense; and, indeed, woman Of some
experience in the world would answer his
purpose best.
Honest Isabel began in little while to
iurn all these things IN her mind. She one
lay took a steady look at Fordyne. and dis
covered thal he had good upright carriage
Of body, and thai, though his mouth WINS Of
the largest. yet his teeth were among the
best she had ever seen. Next time she ,is-
ted his shop, she took glance al the room
behind, and found that it had nice out.
look upon Salisbury Crsgs. Fordyne, obs
serving that she glanced into his back shop,
invited her TO come in and see what fine
house he had-tor such in reality il was,
though unfinished Isabel very quickly
saw that there was one capital bed room, II
parlor, kitchen, and vast variety of clos
cts, where things could hc put of ouc's
hand" One press, Mr.. Fordyme showed,
WAS already furnished, being ienancd by a
huge dram bottle, and a server full of short
bread, which be said, had been lately reauir>
ed 10 treat his customers, on the account of
the new year. OF this he made Isabel a
partaker, drinking in his turn to her good
health, aud good man 10 her before the
change Of compliments did moi take place
without some effect. Isabel ascended the
stair in a kind of reverie, and found herself
entering the next door above, instead of her
own, before she was aware, In month
thereafter the two were married.
Three days after the nupiials. Mrs. For.
dyne was sitting in her little parlor, wait
ing supper for her husband, aud rejecting
on The step she was about 10 take next day,
namely, the iransferrence of hor household
furniture 10 the apartment behind Fordyno's