Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-09-07

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spirit. Fathers old musket could DO
frstratc execution yet, I guess" with a
glance at the weapon hanging over tie
front window.
"You wouldn't dare to-" said John,
smiling at her show of bravery.
~ wouldn't, I'd like to know why
wouldn't?" exclaimed Lucy Indignantly.
"Just give me chance to prove it, and
I'd show you that I am not so much of a
coward as some women are. Let anybody
come skulking about tonight, and I'll let
them know that I've got some spunk, if
am q woman"
Lucy's eyes flashed, and her cheeks
glowed with determination.
"You havn't any idea how pretty you
look," said John admiringly. 81 wish
you'd say yes to that question 1 asked you
tho other day. Seems to me it takes you
long time to get your mind made up"
81 knew you'd get around to that" said
Lucy, with toss of her brown head. "I
haven't made up my mind yet, but 1 have
come pretty near it."
"Aud you are going to say yes, amt
you?" pleaded John.
"No, don't think I shall" answered
Lucy soberly. "Pve about come to the
conclusion that don't want tn get married
at ALL"
"And live and die an old maid I" said
John, laughing at the Idea; "you don't
mean any such thing. Lucy"
"But l do, though" said Lucy; you
see if don't"
81 shan't allow any such thing" said
John. "I'm going to have you housckeep.
ing for me in less than year. What do
you think of that ?"
{" 1t takes two to make bargain, I al
ways supposed" said Lucy, with height
encd color
81 know it does," answered John, and
am going to have you consent to it inside
of six months"
"You talk just as if I was going to do
just as you say about it" cried Lucy,
stung by his easy, careless, bantering tone.
81 'cont marry you, SO there"
With which feminine conclusion of her
rejection of his suit, Lucy fell to dusting
up tho kitchen furniture vigorously.
John did not stay long after that. Lucy
didn't seem inclined to say much, and so
he took his departure, and left her alone
again.
Gas if I was going to do as he said,
whether I want to or notw exclaimed
Lucy, with toss Of her head, and scorn.
ful curl of her lip, when he was gone. "I
shan't marry him till I get ready, that s
certain, and l ANT obliged to tell him that
will till see fit to, as l know Of"
The forenoon passed quite rapidly, but
the afternoon dragged fearfully, because
there was not so much to do Toward
night Lucy MIXED aud shut the cows up
in the pasture that they might be there
for milking in the morning Then. she
strained the milk and put it away in the
dairy, and washed up the milk k-pails.
BY the time that was done it was dark.
She secured the blinds on the windows,
fastening them from the inside. Then she
locked all the doors in the house, and after
that operation was performed, she lighted
lamp and sat down and tried to read, but
couldn't get interested in her story. Some.
how she couldn't help feeling nervous, and
fdgety, and very lonesome. The silence
was oppressive. The clock licked away
droningly in tho corner. She began to
think of all the stories she had ever read
of thieves and houscbreakers and burglars,
and by-and-by she caught herself fidsetiug
over the peddler who had stopped that
morning. He knew she was alone. It's
likely as not he would try to take advan-
| taSe OF the unSuardcd state OF the house,
to secure whatever booty came in his way.
Lucy shuddered at the bare idea, aud then
glanced at the old musket, feeling all the
while half ashamed of herself for her
nervous timidity.
The clock struck nino and ten. She
conld not sleep she knew if she went to
bed, SO she set there, wakeful, anxious and
vigilant
By-and-by she heard something that
sounded like the tread of a person in front
of the house. She got up and tiptoed. to
the window, and pecrcd' out through an
opening in the blinds.
Good heavens could she belive her
eyes? There was surely man standing
under the old elm, half hidden in its