New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-14


poor relation of old Cartoons. Mary told
me this out of spite, because she sees ad
mire her." he argued with himself. Lucy
was away, or he would have gone to her
and asked if it were true; as it was, he
asked his mother, but she knew nothing,
not even where Lucy was stopping. At last
he heard from Miss Robinson that she was
with her father and mother at Bargate.
Down to Bargate he went, in spite of its
being in his opinion horribly vulgar place,
infested with shopkeepers and Jews. After
a fortnight wasted he found the old sailor,
and heard the whole story, with the fresh
information that Lucy had gone back, for
John had come home.
When Lionel reached home, he found
nothing talked of but Johns return, how
much better he looked and his engagement
to Lucy. John was anxious to be married,
that he might spend the winter abroad; but
Lucy was in no hurry; she disliked talking
of the old days, and grew pale and spirit
less. She avoided ngOing out, for fear OF
meeting Lionel, and yet she was perpetually
thinking of him. it was no wonder John
found her thoughts preoccupied. Lionel
was in a greatly perturbed state of mind:
he loved Lucy as much as it was in his
nature to love any one but himself, but he
could not make up his mind to marry her.
Then Mary's behavior puzzled him; she was
not exactly cold. but her manner had
changed toward him. He wandered about
in the forest, went to all their favOrite
baunts, but never saw Lucy. At last. one
moonlight night in October, he caught her
Sitting on a rustic seat in field that over
loOsed the road. Lucy had come up there
light shining on the lake. She was neither
astonished nor frightened when Captain
Mead seated himself by her side; they had
often sat there before.
Lucy, why have you avoided me Z said
he.
Because have no tight to see you. Oh .
pray 60 away, am sure John will come"
said Lucy, waking up. to the fact that she
had no right to be sitting there with him
when she was Johns promised wife. Tell
me you love me p whispered Lionel. Lucy
did not answer or move.
IF you won't speak to me, Lucy, shall
CO." said Lionel Still she was silent. SO
he walked toward the hedge, but she never
stirred. He was determined to make her
answer him, SO, finding she sat still, he went
back.
Lucy, why won't you speak to me !
know you love me. Don't think any more
of that poor fool John; come with me
and
Il will not said Lucy, starting up in
rage. "HOw dare you call John a fool :.
He's good and noble, a much better man
than you," and then she sank down on the
seat and began to cry.
Captain Mead was sorely puzzled; he had
made mistake il speaking of John, that
was evident; he tried to rectify it,
Come, Lucy, don't be SO angry: l know
John is good and kind, and all that sort of
thing; but you love me, don't you, dear !"
The captain spoke cOntemptuously, in spite
of himself. Lucy noticed his tone, and it
made her shudder. This was the man she
I, y, !. VnI, ~
creature who tirted with every woman he
came near, and whose boast it was that he
could make a woman love him. Lucy thought
of all this, and scarcely heard all the sweet
speeches he was trying to pour into her ear.
She was so quiet that he thought he had pre-
vailed, but she was thinking of John. How
wicked and stupid she had been to be SO fat
tered by this man's admiration Lucy woke
ont of her reverie by hearing the captain
say. ..Will YOU not answer me! | shall 90
if you don't"
She did not answer. and the captain.
hearing footstep. went toward the hedge
Then Lucy started up She might as well
tell him that she never wished to see him
again.
Don't 90 .just yet she said Lionel
turned.
Lucy. come with me-" said John. coming
between them. Captain Mead, meet me
here tomorrow morning" Lionel Mead did
not answer but sprang over the hedge as II
he were shot. Lucy tremblingly followed
John across the field, through the little
kitchen garden. and down the billy avenue
When they came in front of the house she
stopped, and. grasping Johns arm, looked
into his face with frightened eyes. saving:
"Oh, John, don't shoot him, promise me
you won't He looked at her in astonish-
ment, but, seeing she was really frightened,
said:
Il will not hurt him. Oh, Lucy, how
could you be so cruel Did you not be
lieve | loved you enough to make you
happy at any sacrifice ;.
Il don't want you to make a sacrifice
l will be your wife if you will forg 1--WE
me-
John did not answer she was trying him
too much. He shook her hands of his
arm and turned away his head.
john do you forg i've me and believe
me. it is you that l love- cried She clasp
ing her arms around him.
John lOOsened her arms and said sternly !:
You should have thought of this before.
and have watched you in Captain Mead :
company. 1t seemed TO me you loved him:
so. after some trouble ! wrote and offered
to give you up. He will get the letter
when he reaches home. But, Lucy. you
might have written to NE and told Inc in
Italy; it would have saved two months
misery"
Lucy said nothing, but crept into the
house, and up to her loom, where she
sobbed herself to sleep.
Next morning John went up to the field,
but Lionel did not come, nor was there any
answer from him till the evening, and then.
in reply to Johns kind letter. there came a
short note, saying that Captain Mead
feared Mr.. Carlton had made some mistake:
he never intended to ask the lady he men
toned to be his wife. for he was about TO
propose to Miss Sankey. and he hoped to be
accepted
John puzzled over this for some time and
then worked himself into a rage, and raved
till his aunt thought he had caught some OF
his uncle's bad temper. But John took her
into his confidence, and showed her the
letter. Mrs. Carlton laughed at him.
"Of course he had made the mistake in
thinking harmless Irritation so serious.
Lucy had no business to flint, but then she
was young, fond OF admiration, and this.
perhaps. was good thing and would settle
her." Such was Mrs. Cartons reasoning.
and John was very glad to believe it; still
he could not quite forgive that moonlight
meeting; but Lucy had told him all that
had passed, and behaved SO well in future
that a year afterward they were married.
and neither Of them have had cause to re-
pent it.
Captain Lionel Mead has gone back to
India without a wife. for, unfortunately for
him, when he asked Miss Sankey to be his
she quietly replied: II have just accepted
Mr.. Morgan, who has loved me faithfully
for some years. LAURA LEIGH.
There is a curious case at the Military
Asvlum Maine, which exctes considerable
interest among members of the medical
cc;o nff ho boJ