Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-11-11

VINO asked nlm TO accompany uHn W Aoul-
ton, where he was going to 6 sec the sodgers,"
a regiment being about to pass through the
town on its way to form part Of Plymouth
garrison. To beguile the care which tor
mented him he gladly consented, and having
gone home to put on his Sunday clothes was
soon equipped for the evenings expedition
The two friends had to pass Modbury's parlor
window, and it was tea time. Luke cast an
inquistive glance toward it and trembled
when he saw the blind being slowly pulled
up. Presently it revealed the figure OF Lucy,
very nicely dressed with q new, handsome
cap. Something having prevented the blind
| from being drawn quite to the top, Lucy
mounted on the window-sea to adjust it, and
| when about to descend, Luke plainly saw his
master come forward, give her one hand,
while with the other he assisted her down by
| the waist! Damerel graspcd the tree he was
| resting against for support; film came over
his eyes; but few rough jokes from Larkn
recovered him, and, hearing the military band
in the distance, he endeavored to forget his
cares, and trudged gu toward Honiton.
Meanwhile, the moment that Lucy had fin
ished her duties at the tea table, she fastened
to Damerel's cottage, in the hope, not OF see
ing her lover, but his mother alone. The old
dame, perceivng her pale and in low spirits,
thought she OWNED the cause by supposing
the girl was sorrowing at the imprudence OF
the step Luke had proposed to her.
"Well, WE'LL" said the kind old woman,
"things may not be so bad after all, Lucy.
And since Luke has set his heart so much
upon it, and you, am sure, are nothing
lotn, we must try and manage 1t. III tell
YOU what I've been thinking, girl: You see
the great mischief win be your being obliged
to give up your place at the farm; now,
know plan by which that loss may be
mended. You are aquick, handy maid; and
suppose--suppose-" and here the good old
woman took Lucy's hand in hers" suppose
/ teach you lace makingY
These words poured light into Lucy's
heart which seemed to Danish all her grief
The means OF rendering herself independent
OF her present situation was all she wished
for. She loved Luke tenderly, dearly, and
with fervent, yirtuous desire, wished to be-
come his wife. This wish had grown much
| stronger since her painful interview with
him, not only because she wished to prove
she was ready to sacrifice everything for his
sake, but for another and more perpleMng
reason. Her master had paid her attentions
that evening which left no doubt on her
mind that he desired her for his wife.
When Mrs. Damerel heard the news she
was much distressed. "Oh, 1t is too bad"
she exclaimed "to think that my Luke
should be the means Of preventing you from
marrying 80 well-you who are worthy OF any
man."
"Do not think OF that. could not be hap
py with one ! do not love. So now, dear
mother-for | will always call you so--let me
hear what plan you propose"
"Well, instead Of talking idly, as we al
ways do when you come to see us, you shall
let me teach you the lace making. Come
every night and In a month or two | shall be
able to put you in way to earn quite IA
much az you do now at Farmer Modbury's
When this is the case we must see about
getting yourself and Luke asked in church,
for surely both your earnings put together
will be enough to keep you comfortably"
But will not the farmer bear some enmity
TO poor Lukeg"
" | will answer for him, girl | have known
him longer than he has known himself. |
nursed him and | can say with truth that a
better hearted man does not live. Should he
again offer you any civilities tell him the
whole truth and I'll warrant he will not re-
peat them"
That evening Lucy tripped home with a
light heart. When she retired to rest she
bnit many an air-castle Of future happiness
The next morning, AS the home servants Of
Modbury's farm were going to their daily
toll, they found a crowd round DamerePs
cottage door. On inquiring into the cause
they were told that Luke had in tit Of de-
spair enlisted as soldier and that the news
had wrought SO violently on the feelings of
hls iuoillCi budt ~ WuS IuouHul sHC Souiu
never recover!
The scene inside of the cottage was pain
fully distressing. The old dame was lying on
| u bed with her clothes still about her, show.
ing that she had not gone to rest the whole
night. The village doctor was by her side,
having just bled her, whilst everything
strewed about the room indicated that the al
ways-revoltng operation had but recently
been performed. The neighbors, as they
crowded round the door, denounced Luke's
conduct AS rash and heartless In the midst
of their denunciatlons they were joined by
another, to whom every word they uttered
was AS death wound. 1t was Lucy.
Whoever has had the misfortune OF often
| seeing women placed in sudden difficulties,
| or overtaken by an unforeseen misfortune,
must have remarked that they occasionally
act with unexpected tirmness. They frequent
| ly show calmness of manner and direct
| ness of purpose forming quite an exception
| To their every day demeanor. 1t is after the
| danger is over, or the first crisis past, that
| they break down, as 1t were, and show them
selves Ia belong to the weaker sex. Thus II
Was with Lucy. When she entered tie cot
| tage she had a full knowledge Of the death
| blow which had been inflicted on her hopes
of future happiness. Still, she seemed calm
! and collected, When she took the basin from
| the surgeon to battle Mrs Damerefs temples
| herself her hand shook not and she per.
| formed the kindly office rs neatly AS If no mis-
| fortune had befallen her. When she went 10
the door to eutreat the neighbors to stand
| away from it, that sufficient air might be ad.
United into the room, her voice, though
rather deeper in tone than usual, was calm
and firm, Had she not occasionally pressed
her hand tightly against her brow, as If 10
| cool its burning agony, you would have
| thought that she suffered no further anxiety
than that which is usually felt whilst attend
ing the sick.
II was, however, when she WAS left alone
with the exhausted, almost senseless, moth.
| er that the tide of grief took lis full course
Lucy wept like one distraught. Through the
deep, black future which LAY before her she
could see no CLEAN Of hope or sunlight She
| unjustly upbraided herself for having, how
| ever innocently, given Luke cause of suspi-