New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-14
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY, JANUARY, L. 1872

| as she was wandering listlessly through the
forest, very much wishing John was at
home, she met young man, not dressed in
| fustian, but in brOadclOth. Lucy stared at
him, and he at her. Directly she reached
home she described him to Mrs. Carlton.
ut was not Mr.. Sankey or Mr.. Mead. but
quite young man, so good looking. and
such a swell, said Lucy.
| II wonder whether it's Lionel Mead: but
they'd surely never have him home again.
said Mrs. Carlton, shaking her head:
| Lucy did not see the stranger again until
Sunday, and then there he was in church,
and in the Meads' pew. Lucy kept her eyes
down on her prayer book, but every now
ard then she could not help raising them
the young man was SO very handsome
much better looking than John, and thou
sand times more good looking than Mr.. Nor
gan, the pale and putty faced curate, whom
all the girls had been in love with for sheer
want of any other object.
The Rev. Josiah Morgan preached to a
very inattentive audience that day. The
Young ladies did not say, as they usually
did, - How very eloquent he is. 1t is quite
| a treat to hear him." But on coming out of
church they said: " He is not very much
altered; little browner, perhaps, but that
makes him look handsOmer than ever" and
this sentence did not apply to Mr. Morgan.
| Lucy who had been looking forward all
|
yard, was disappointed; for Mr.. and Mrs.
Carlton hurried into their carriage, and the
last thing Lucy saw as they drove away was
Miss Sankey, in " gorgeous array standing
| at the church door and talking to the hand
| some stranger
cit is Lionel Mead" were Mrs Carlton $
| first words.
Yes, the young puppy, He's always
| coming back. like bad shilling. It's not
| IN
India
"Do you know what he's come back fOr!''
| ooh! had some little thing the matter,
| and has two years sick leave replied Mr..
| Carlton.
The rest of the drive passed in silence.
Lucy did not like to ask questions, though
| she had caught the country habit of wish
| ing to know all about her neighbors: be-
sides, there was delightful mystery about
| this young man that. coupled with his good
| looks and pretty name. quite charmed her.
| She lOnged, and hoped. and wished he
would call, but the whole week passed and
he never came. However, she felt sure
| that he would be at church. and so she was
| rather more particular in the arrangement
| of her hair and bonnet. He was at church,
and Lucy met his eyes fixed on hers with
| such look of admiration that it caIsed
her much embarrassment.
| In the middle Of the week Mrs. Mead
| called to ask her to help her in the church
decoration. She brought her son with her,
| and SO Lucy was introduced to Captain
Lionel Mead Mr.. and Mrs Carlton were
very polite, but they were not cordial nor
| did they ask him to come and see them.
However, Lucy met him at the RobinsOns'
| and the Sankey's, and she had not been in
his company more than half dozen times
before she thought him the most agreeable
and charming man she had ever met.
Il can't think what he can have done to
make Mr. and Mrs. Carlton so dislike him. "
said Lucy. talking him over with her friend
Miss Robinson, as they wandered through
the lanes.
Everybody was inclined to turn their
back upon him before lie went to India, =
said Miss Robinson.
but what for ;" asked Lucy.
His father and mother wanted him to
| take orders, hut he would 90 into the
| army" said Miss Robinson, coolly.
You don't mean to say that every one
turned against him because he'd sooner be
soldier than parson. Why, if l We're a
man, I'd sooner be a soldier" said Lucy.
vehemently. Miss Robinson looked at her
lazily, but did not speak; she was young
lady who never said much, and never APP
peared surprised. If you had told her her
mother was burned to death, or remarked
that it was raining. she would in all prob
ability have said quietly, Indeed
"Did you hear what | said, Lizzy!" cried
Lucy, sharply.
"Yes, you said you'd rather be a soldier.
Well, don't know that ! would drawled
Miss Robinson, softly.
II said. was it because he was Il soldier
| the people didn't like him. said Lucy. i'm
patiently.
well, not exactly. 1 was young at the
| time and don't remember very much about
hnt I haIi ha b1nl.
he's such a dreadful tiirt." This was very
long sentence for Miss Robinson, and so
Lucy left her in peace for a little while, and
walked thoughtfully along, plucklng AT the
twigs in the hedge.
WELL" she said at last turnin. to her.
lis that all!'
Lizzy nodded. 1t was too much trouble
to speak.
1T wasn't so very bad after all. and like
soldiers said Lucy.
Il am very glad You do, Miss Jennings ::
it makes me hope | am not intruding." said
| a voice, and through a gap in the hedge
came Captain Mead. Lucy turned scarlet,
and could not look in his face as she shook
hands; but Miss Robinson held out her hand
and appeared quite unmoved.
After that day Lucy was always meeting
him. No matter where OF when she walked.
he met her; and SO the winter turned into
spring, and spring into summer, and Lucy 5
letters grew perceptibly cooler to John: so
much so that he, noticing it, wrote playfully.
~ am afraid you are falling in love with
somebody. Who have you found in those
wilds! Is it Mr.. Morgan, the curate p
Lucy knew he could have no suspicion. and
yet this letter so troubled her that she
avoided Captain Mead for fortnight.
Down in Sussex Lucy was known us Mr..
and Mrs. Cartons adopted niece, and every
body wondered who she was.
cit don't much matter who she is. or
where she cane FROM said Lionel Mead
"All know is she is awfully pretty
"IDdeed. Well can't see it, said Miss
Sankey stiffly. She felt Jealous of Lucy 5
beauty. She had known the captain when
he was in socks and pinafores and had
loved him from the time he first appeared
in trousers. Lionel was quite aware he was
beloved. He meant to marry Mary Sankey
some day; for, if she was plain and scraggy.
she had plenty of money, and after all, that
was OF the most consequence. In the mean
time, he dearly loved to tease her. So Tow
he said, "Ah, Mary, wOmens eyes are pre-
JUDGED against each others charms
"Well, dare say its bad taste, but don {
admire coal-black hair and washed-out
eyes," said Miss Sankey.
My dear Mary. they are the most divine
shade of grey
"I'm not your dear snapped Mary
unfortunately no one will be my dear, =
said the captain, looking at her sentiment
ally; but he might have saved that look, for
she obstinately kept her head turned away
"NOw, if | were to ask that young lady
with the washed-out eyes, you know there
might be a dearer one still and nearer one
vet than all Others" said Lionel, not be-
lieving what he said, for he felt sure no
one could refuse him; but he liked to ''pang
Mary" as he expressed it. He was slightly