Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-08
A Strange Story,

ness came to US, that at first it wa;
hard to believe in.
| had known Lucy from child, ant
though saw her rarely, l believe
always liked her better than any one
else but once we happened to be stay
ing in the same house for a fortnight
and during that time we found out
somehow, that we were necessary t.
each others happiness.
| was not Lucy'S first suitor, tho
am proud of being the first man she
ever loved. | see you laugh at this
You say, "Poor fellow he's not Ions
been married, and what can sailors
know about women, living apart from
them as they do?' But l only say il
return, you don't know Lucy-she';
as true as a sun dial.
She lived with her father and moth
er in a country parsonage not fa
from Bristol. She was the eldest 0
seven sisters, and her father was 9
poor man; therefore | don't think h,
ought to he blamed for encouraging
Mr. Pembridge.
Ralph Pembridge was the head 0
a great iron firm in Bristol-a middl
aged, fine looking fellow-so ricl
that it was a wonder he rename,
single.
am obliged to tell you all this
but as it Is not the story for which
specially claim your attention, vii
be as brief as | can. Mr.. PembridgC
and | met often at the parsonage, an(
Lucy never changed her manner tow
ards me in his presence. He used t,
have a very lofty way with him. bu
| took no notice of it. | was wait
ing to get ship before l spoke t.
Lucy father, but we understood eacl
other thoroughly.
One evening found Lucy in the al
Dor at the end Of the garden, crying
l have never said how pretty Luc,
was. Pretty Is hardly the word
when she smiled you might have call
cd her beantifuI Sbo Vas - graco
fqI and she had GREAT bIack ewes fnJ
Of softness and fire. These eyes wer
full Of tears tonight.
What is # do1lioc2. ! said
.Ob Tom Mr. Pembridra has nro
posed to mana far me ord what c6nI, n
! saw p,
or course Won conI5 only say vba
was rigbt and I know Won said il dar
linz.
But though ! held Irrv clos
against NV breast She vent an sol
biDg
.PaDa is 50 anol.y, and he navc
was ahorv before
Poor darIinr, I had hard work f.
Dacify her; but at last She conld II.
ten to me more tranopiIrv
NV darling | said. we mustn'
blame your father. Mr.. Pembridg
is a tirst-ra,e match. and az nobod
beside him. But your father is a goo
man. Lucy. aud if | yet q shin | don
think he will refuse YOU to me. spit
Of his disappointment.
called at the parsonage next da,
and was refused admittaDce. | kpey
that Lucys mother favored Mr. Pen
bridge, and went home feeling MI.
erable.
| called several times after that
but Mrs. Paget was a clever manager
and | could not even get admitted {
her husbands study.
I wrote to the vicar: / told hin
how dearly | loved Lucy. and no,
soon | hoDed to be able to make he
my wife.
He answered me courteouslv. br
very coldlv. He said his danghte
must not enter into long engagements
he considered ! had been prematur
j. in addressing myself to her. and the
d ended bv asking me not to seek be
d in any way without his permission.
; Well we went through some month
o of misery. At last nv apnointmen
i came. / managed to see the vica
II and. after much talk, he gave a sa,
J. reluctant consent to our meeting agail
r But he said, there must be no del
e mite engagement; you may bot
IS change your minds before your r
]. turn
d | was away two years and a hal
a During that tedious time | cot for
s letters from Lucy: we were off Il
4 African coast. and yellow fever an
d ague were rife-we scarcely eve
e landed.
n In one letter Lucy told me Of he
Y fathers death; but she said nothir
e about changed circumstances. so | il
e agined there must have been son
e provision made for :he family,
which | was ignorant. The last le
ter l got was still more sad-Lac
= = lmplored me to come to her as 500
" as ever 1 returned from my voyage
u l smiled as L read this request
\ y ,Poor little darling docs she TIM
= - ID less impatient than she Is
- Inc letter was dated from CIll to
: - and II seemed TO me, from one OF t
p best parts OF the watering place. b
~ ~ l was too much wrapped up IN thin
~ H ing oi Lucy 10 need this, or TO spec
" late ior more than an instant on MI
n II PagetS improved fortunes
= =. L got back TO England at last, al
ts was soon IN a train bound to Cllito
anu dILef IOuFubG Vi several nOu