The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-11-21
1Hisrrllanp.
TEN YEARS.
BY 4. WHEELER.

The long kitchen was swept till not q spsck o!
dirt was visible anywhere; the potatoes, washed
and pee led for the morning meal, lay white and
spotless in the pan, and Lucy Tabor, with . lit
tie sigh of relief that her work was done at last
drew on a light shawl over her shoulders, and
tripped down path to the garden gate, where
she was wont to goto dream her leisure moments
away.
She was not tho happiest girl in the world,
this Lucy Tabor. She thought her life very
hard and dreary, with its dull routine of duties,
and such duties, too. Washing dishes, hopping
floors, churning and ironing, and her mother was
something of . scold, and the troupe OF little
brothers and sisters were noisy and unmanage'
able.
She thought it all over as she leaned against
the garden gate, watching the bank OF sunset
clouds in the west.
The more she thought of it the harder it SEEM
cd, and she began to wonder why God had placed
her in this werld at all, or if she must be here,
why he had not cast her lot in more pleasant
places. She thought she was made for some
thing nobler and higher than that rustic life.
Sue did not know that there is nothing nobler
and higher than those same duties, if they be
done in right good will and the knowledge that
God placed them before you with some purpose.
The crimson light in the west grew fainter.
The gray clouds dropped lower and lower, and
at last shut out all the lingering sunbeams
Gust like my life," thought Lucy, as she
watched them die away. "All that might be
bright or beautiful is baried under the black
clouds. Oh, am weary Of this dull life When
will it end ?"
The hot tears filled her eyes she stood there
in the dusk listening TO the distrnt mutterings
of the thunder Lucys feelings were very much
in unison with the weather just then Two rain
drops fell upon her face, but she aid not stir;
she was feeling very wretched, and it would be
better to stay out there in the storm than go
back to the dingy little rooms and dirty-faced
little brothers. She never thought that she could
make those rooms more attractive, and those
rooms more attractive, and those little boys more
loveable.
The sound of horses heofs dashing down the
road broke up her revery, and she could dimly
see the outline of the horse and rider as they
halted outside of the gate.
The man spoke, and the voice confirmed her
what she had already decided, that this was
stranger and not one Of the neighbors.
Can l get lodgings here for the night? The
storm is going to be severe, and don't care to
be out in it,"
"Lucy, come in out of the Storm" called Mrs.
Tabor.
Lucy answered him as she turned sowsrds the
door
"Ride in, sir, and will speak to my father"
And her father having gone out to put up the
strangers horse, she forgot all about it, and the
old thoughts were tugging at her heart again,
and her forehead had assumed the frown it 80
often wore NOWADAYS.
Her father soon came in with the stranger,
tall, stylish young man, with not-to-be mis-
taken city.bred air, and the finest of clothes and
the blacklist of eyes.
Such man Lucy had never seen, but had
often read Of and her heart gave great bound
when her father introduced him as Mr.. Bradleigh,
from the city.
He bowed, and later in the evening he sat
down by her side and chatted with her as she
sswed SEINE coarse Fabric.
Lucy Tabor looked from her bedroom window
the next morning, and as her eye roamed over
the rolling prairss and patches Of woodland, and
the neighboring houses and the winding stream,
the frown settled heavier than ever on the white
forehead, she turned away impatiently.
"Oh, l am 30 tired of seeing the same old
things" she almost walled
81 am sick of this unehanging life, and wish
could get away from it all"
1t was very foolish wish for any one to make
when God has placed them as He sees fit. fit
be ever 80 dreary work that He has given them
to do, go to work and bsautify it and snoble it.
But Lucy did not think of this, and she went
about preparing the breakfast with q heavy
heart.
1t rained all that day, and the handsome
stranger did not 90 away. He talked with Lucy
good deal, and told her about the delightful
city life, and wondered how she could i've i.
such dull place. And of course Lucy told him
how sick and weary she was of it.
MIR. Bradleigh did not go back to the city for
week; business detained him in the neighbor-
hood, and of course every evening found him at
Lucy's home.
After he returned he used to drop down into
the country often. Lucy's eyes grew brighter,
and the trown did not come at all to her fore.
head, and her father and mother had given their
consent, and she was John Bradleighs promised
wife.
Now her hopes would be realized now shs
could taste the sweets of life, and all the old
unrest would be forgotten dream.
To be sure she loved this man. How could
she help it! He WAS SO good, and handsome,
and different from all other men she had ever
seen But then this wild delight at the thought
OF leaving the hated old life overrulsd the love
in her heart. She forgot how hard it would be
for the poor old parents when she was gone
how dark the house would SEEM She only re.
membered that she was going to the realization
OF her dreams.
Lucy Bradleigh stood in the brilliantly lighted
saloon waiting tas arrival of her guests.
len years had changed the blooming girl Of
eighteen into pale, haughty-lookiny woman Of
twsaty.eight.
As she stood there alone, all the brilliancy and
glow that charmed the fashionable world in
which she moved faded away. and the old f.owns
seated on her brow, and her eyes dropped
YEARLY.
"Ruin and shame" she murmured almost un.
consciously, as she paced The room Tonight
must play the hypocrite to those five hundred
trends OF mine. Tomorrow they will know all