Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-10-27

since Mr.. Rylston was here" :,
\ =" Ah, yes; well, suppose il is" was the
rather absent rejoinder -
e" Lucy never speaks of him, said Mrs
I Bansden at wonder whether she has
4 quite forgotten the liking she used to have
for him ~ ,.f ,t ssfis f+sJ:s 1tst sI'f 80
Forgotten it," said Mr. Lansden e nc
doubt she has. She would have talked
about him fast enough if she had not.
never heard of a girl yet who could keeI
her own counsel in a love affair. g
"I am glad if she has done so," replied
Mrs Lansden; shut Lucy is not fickle.n
i Mo- returned Mr. -Eansden !; :" but
II still it would be better for her to look fol
| a husband a little nearer home. India and
doubtful expectations are a poor ground
! work for housekeeping,I Il am afraid z.
(" Here Lucy thought she had head
enough; SO, stepping through the open
| window she laid her hand on her mothers
arm, and said, with a downcast face, On
which smiles and bushes struggled for the
mastery, < *Mamma, dear you must tell
papa that he iSi quite wrong. ]. have moi
i spoken about George beeauserI fancied
that if did so you might think / was
fretting; but have not forgotten him
and-,and know he has not forgotten
me-" .- ...
| Not so fast, pussy" said her father
you may be fidelity itself, but how can
| you, be sure of George?"
because he has sent me something
this morning, " she replied. i'"1@i } "a
And / gave him to understand that
would have no Ietter5writing, 9said Mr..
Lansden, rather testify.
~ did NOT say q lstters papa- i iGWhx.
Well, then, a present-thats worse.
3! {" Wrong againAbut you can see it if
you like, papa; and Lucy placed her
treasure in her fathers hand the nOmefit
after shuddering lest, puff of wind, or
Mr.. Lansden's unsympathetie touch, should
bring 1T to grief. 5tTacatl. = '9O
Why, what in the world is the mean
ing of this fabbish2o exclaimed Mr. Lans-
den, as he opened the second envelope !;
and what extraordinary event is to take
place at this date Dead leaves and Ithe
day of the InonthAso that's the novel
style of 1ove-letter, is it?" zig E7oai,')
/ 4 oh, no, papa, you don't understand" ;"
:" No, my dear, certainly do not. : Per
haps you will be kind enough to explain"
replied Mr.. "Lansden.
Il Why, when George went away, we
gathered some laburnum together. We
were to remember each other by it /; and so,
now the day of our parting has come
again. andias you said he must not write,
he has sent me this to show me het has
not changed Mamma, you understand,
don't VOL" h vs. 2
Mfs:Tansden patted the iittie hand that
rested on her arm, smiled assent, and then
the trio went to breakfast.
From that time forward, at regular in
tervals, on Lucy's birthday, Christmas day,
and the anniversary, of, their parting, came
similar packets, always enclosing the same
kind of blank envelope, containing spray
of Golden Chain, each one drier and
more withered as the time passed on, and
the date that had mdeffn1y nxed itself on
Lucy's mind grew more a thing of the
past. And so the three years wore away,
and Lucy Lansden, still true to her first
love, began to think the days passed very
slowly, and to grow little impatient for
the happy ending; that. in her simple faith,
she felt sure must, come sooner or later to
the love that had stood so sure Attest. 7trg
Just at the end Of, tbs, third year, when
the ground round the summer house was
yellow with the fallen blossoms of the Ia
burnum trees, Lucy, it must be confessed,
rather unwilGngly accompanied her moth
er to the seaside. Mrs. Eansden was the
victim of certain somewhat imaginary all
mehts, the successful treatment of which
necessitated frequent change of scene and
air; so just at the time. when Lucy had
come to the conclusion that George might
arrive any day, she was hurried out, of
town, consoling herself, however; with the
reflection that should he come from India
for the purpose of seeing her, he would
not not much mind l a journey to the sea
coast.
~ It was too quiet place to be the e5resort
of ordinary summer tourists, and the
towns people seemed utterly ignorant of
the natural charms of which, in the esti-
nation of weary Londoners, their little
seaside town was possessed, so that Lucy's
rambles were very solitary !; but she would
sit contentedly for hours, apparently alb
sorbed in her book or work, or watching
the waves rolling upon the sands, but in
r.nel hI1c low
and her mother would sometimes notice
with smile her anxiety to appear in the
colors and dresses that suited her best, or
her careful arrangement of the fresh flow
ers of which she insisted ON having such
an abundance IN their sitting room = but
the days and weeks. passed by and autumn
was close at hand, yet Lucy's hopes were
vague as ever; at length the girl grew
strangely restless, looking forward to her
birthday with a dim presentiment of
evil, that grew stronger as the lday drew
nearer. ., -
Had Lucy's twenty first birthday been
spent at home, there would have been a
party in honor Of the day but as it was,
it bade fair to resemble every other day,
except that MI. Lansden was to pay them
a visit.
Lucy awaited her fathers appearance
with an impatience that was not entirely
on his account and when the bracelet he
brought her had been admired, her first
question was, Are there any letters for
me, papa?"
Letters, pussy? Why, what con-
science you have! I sent you four yester-
day" replied her father.
"I meant the one from George" said
Lucy.
"No. did not leave home until the
post was in, but there was no letter for.
you; and Lucy, my DEAR" continued her
father, kindly, as he noticed her disap-
pointed look, don't you think it would be
as well to try and forget that affair alto.
gether? You know don't want to pain
you, especially on this day, when wish to
make you so happy but L cannot help
thinking that if George had been good for
much we should have heard something
definite about him before this"
.s,' "Lucy's lip quiVered as her father spoke,
while there was a tinge of sadness in her
tone as she said, " Not to-day, papa. Please
don't speak of it to-day" and SO the sub
ject was allowed to rest = -, -, T. 49, - 81
During one of his frequent visits to-
Brent, Mr.. Lansden renewed an acquaint-
ance which had been commenced years
before, and at the house of this gentleman,
NO s1