The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19

Lutte bounded away, wearing
queer expression ON her beautiful
face, and Mrs. Bentley hustled away to
watch the progress of the prepara,
tions for dinner.
In few minutes q stylish turnout
drove up to the door, and Leon Lam
caster looking strikingly handsome,
In elegant attire, sprang out, and az
ter being cordially greeted by Mrs.
Bentley, entered the house, where
Mrs. Bentley met him, escorted him
into the parlor and introduced him to
the guests already there assembled.
"Where Is Lutte ?" he asked, show
ing the least particle of annoyance
that she had not been there to greet
him on his arrival.
"She is In her room putting on an
extra finish to her toilet, / suppose.
She will be here in q mOment,0 re-
piled Mrs. Bentley.
AS she left the parlor and passed
through the hall, Lutte came tripping
down the stairs. Mrs. Bentley gave
one glance at her attire and cx-
claimed:
"Why, Lutte Haines, are you
"Never more sane in my life, aunt
ie. Will you present me to your
guests now?"
"What do you mean, Lutie?"
"Never mind I'll explain all to
your satisfaction by-and-by," laughed
Lutte.
She wore the same costume in
which she had gone to market two
days before. Upon one hand she
wore one of the mittens which Mrs.
Bentley had urged her to wear upon
the occasion referred to.
Mrs. Bentley offered no further op-
position and led the way to the par
IOr, followed by Lutte, whom she in
trOduced to the party there assembled.
"A portion Of them looked with sur
prise upon the costume of Lutte, and
others noticed only the rare beauty of
her face.
She greeted them with a queenly,
graceful bow, and adancing to Leon
Lancaster, she said:
"Mr. Lancaster, / think j prom
ised at our last meeting, that when
next we should meet / would ex-
change this ring for the mate of this
gemmed circlet from her finger.
He started to his feet.
"Great Heavens Z" he cried, turn
ing pale, "what does this mean?"
at means, sir, that / am the per-
son whom you met in low restau-
rant on - street, and whom you so
grossly insulted, mistaking me for a
poor market girl. 1t was freak of
fancy which prompted me to assume
this dress and take some things to
market for auntie, as uncle was away
and her hired man was i'll. shall
always thank my lucky star that 1
was led to do so, for thereby l learned
your true character, she replied, her
beautiful eyes flashing looks of with
erlng scOrn and contempt upon him.
"Lutie, there is some mistake about
this. III
''Say no more, sir; am not mis-
taken; / saw you there in a state of
intoxication and you grossly insulted
me; aye, you even dared to lay vio-
lent hands on me. Hereis your ring;
take 1t, / never wish to meet you
again ~ and she flung the bauble at
his feet and swept from the room.
When she returned in q short time
after, dressed in her own becoming
attire, and looking regally beautiful,
the seat which Leon Lancaster had
occupied was vacant.
She entered with zest into the fes-
tivities of the occasion, and If there
was one heart amid that party which
throbbed with joy and thanksgiving,
1t was the heart of Lutte Haines, for
by mere chance she had been saved
from marrying man wholly unwor-
thy to bear the name of husband.