Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-03-04

ehina-asters, behind the high black thorn
hedge, heard it all With heart that seemed
turning to ice within her.
SO Herbert Lynn had only been making a
plaything Of her, after ala mere toy to
while away the tedium of those long, dull
summer daysl And she had thought
But no matter Abby would think so no
more-she was efectualy aroused now
from her delicious dream of happiness-and
she crept away into the house with fearless
eyes and cheeks where the innocent roses
were blanched to deadly white.
Il can be reveDged yet-aud | will be -
Abby murmered to herself.
Miss Rebecca Lacy arrived the next day,
according to programme, with perfect
avalanche of trunks, carpet bags, packing
boxes, and valises, an enthusiastic poodle,
two eanaries and a screaming macaw.
She was not pretty-in fact, Mr.. Lynn,
though determined to view her through an
atmosphere Of couleur de rose, could not
disguise from himself the obtrusiye fact
that she was exceedingly plain.
Her Hair was Of that, dull, lustreless
brown, which catches neither depth from
the shadow, nor golden shine from the sun
besm; her complexion was thick and muddy,
he mouth wide and her teeth decaying and
bad, while her nose, instead of stopping
shgt at that piquant curve which is called
et'ousse, looked as if she had fattened its
extreme end against a pine-board
add to this stout figure, with round
shoulders, elephantine ankles, and no
visible waist, and you will have a pretty
correct idea of Miss Rebecea Lacy's tout
ensemble,
Rgen Herbert Lynn was taken somewhat
badk at first.
venus and the Three Graces be NUT
tened to himself, ''the idea of passing one 5
life by the side Of such a Gorgon as that r
But then be remembered his empty purse
and his expensive habits.
Herbert, my dear boy" he apostro-
phized himself, don't make donkey OF
yourself Your age of sentimental softness
is 6ver-the main chance, my boy, is what
you have to look out for Just now It your
business to make love to Miss Rebecca La
cy, and you d better be about it before some
one else cuts in. Abby takes my detection
very we'll What plucky little creature
she is l only wish it were she who had
the hundred thousand dollars tackled to her
apron strings
So our mereenary minded hero set him
self diligently to work, to besiege the fort
ress Of Miss Lacy maiden heart
If one wishes to make love, there IS no
better spot on earth than a cosy old farm
house, overshadowed with apple. trees, and
surrounded with pleasant walks-and Abby
Wallace, considerate little lassie that she
was, seemed to contrive every possible
method Of throwing the lovers together.
Miss Rebecca started; she had never been
courted so diligently before.
And, to tell the truth, it was dull work
for Herbert Lynn.
Intellectual diamonds do sometimes
sparkle beneath rough, uncut surfaces, but
this was not the case with Miss Rebecca
Lacy.
If she had not been an heiress, people
would have pronounced her fooI-and
Lyon was as quick to perceive her mental
deficiencies as if be had not been wooing
her after the most approved fashion.
She is confounded stupid, he said con
fientially, to his friend Emmons, who only
laughed.
Look here, Abby, said Miss Rebecca,
one evening to the farmers daughter,
what is that fellow chasing me around for
ali the time?"
"Wby, Miss Rebecca, he's in love with
you
Miss Lacy started, then giggled.
Dear me-it's very nice to have lover
isn't i'll And do you suppose he'll ask me
to marry him?'
"Of fcourse he viii p
Miss Rebecea giggled again.
Il wonder what my neice viii say? Ml
noice is coming next week
Which fact being duly transmitted to Mr.
Lynn. only made him hasten the campaign
For of course, her relations will object
relations always do, argued Herbert, sage
Iy. The quicker one rushes matter
through, the better it will be-
And that very afternoon he contrived Il
lure Miss Rebecca forth into the tremulou
green shadows of a honey suckle arbor a
the foot Of the garden.
''Sit down here, Rebecca-Miss Lacy,
he murmured, taking her parasol from her
Aren't you afraid Of spiders and cater
pliers? / ami said the fair one, looking
obviously around her.
"Rebecca-'
And think It's damp under foot--an
IN always subject to rheumatism in tn
joints.
Hear me one moment, dearest-tell m
that the frantic, adoring love of my natur
for thee, is returned Rebecca, sweete,
dream Of my life, nv heart is all thine ownl'
Miss Lucy blushed-blushes were not be
coming to her, turning her complexion to
dull mahogany color-and simpered-
''Do you mean that you want to MARI
me?''
Dearest, yes. viii you be mine!
Miss Lacy capitulated at once, with hy.
teric giggle, and threw herself on Herbel
Lynn shoulder, with an impetus that ha
nearly destroyed his balance.
Then you love me, Rebecca2
Il think you're the very incest youn
man ever sawIn murmured the confdin
fair one. But oh what viii my nice
say?''
What care we what she says, Rebece;
Are not our hearts our own2
"Ye-e-s-but then she's always tellir
me what an old fool am, and-and-''
Listen, my love, y said Herbert, with