Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-09-25
LUCY'S LOVERS.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
/ rainy day in the country ]


A rainy day in the country! ~
Drip. Drip! sounded the water in
the barrel under the caves; patter,
patter tinkled down the raindrops
upon the leaves of the seringias and
lilac bushes; and Lucy Darl, sitting
at the window, her round chin resting
in her hands, and her eyes fixed dream
lily on the woods, half hidden in vapory
mists, began to feel just the lea bit in
the world bored.
An open letter lay in her lap-a let
ter to which she referred, every now
and then, with a pretty, half puzzled
contraction of her brows.
Wash and wear!" She repeated to
herself. II wonder what aunt Judith
means? She hopes that which ever
of my suitors | may elect to prefer will
wash and wearp Upon my word, that
is likening the lords Of creation to a
pattern of calico, or gingham sun
bonnet :" ts ea e. -,
Aud Lucy laughed little-a very
becoming process, which brought out
the dimples around her cherry lips, and
the dewy sparkles under her long au-
burn lashes.
I'm sure they are both models of
amiability and good temper, said she
to herself-"th that is, as far as | know"
And then, all of sudden, it occur
red to her how little a woman could
really know of the actual bona tfde
habits and character of a man until
she is married to him, past all escape.
All, if one could only take a peep
behind the scenes" said Lucy. IF
one could put lover on trial for a
month, as aunt Judith takes servant
girl, and discharge him if he don give
satisfaction And then The yash-and-
wear question, which gives aunt judith
so much tribulation, could be easily
settled Heigho | believe | shall
have to draw lots which | will marry
Eugene Folliott or George Haven.
But there's no use wrinkling up my
forehead with it now; time will decide
In the meantime, [ shall be hopelessly
wearied if | sit here staring at the rain
any longer. I'll put on my things and
run over to Nell FolliOtt's. Eugene
will have started for the city longago.'
1t was pretty, shaded road, deiici-
clOus in the freshness of a summer
morning, but rather drippy aud drag
gy, just at present. that led to the old
FolliOtt mansion sturdy erection of
gray stone, with half a dozen honey
lOcusts keeping guard over it like a
band of sentinels. ~ .. ~
Lucy Darl, privileged visitor, did
not ring at the front door bell. but
slipped quietly in at back door, and
ran up to Miss Folliott's room. III
At home, Nell?" she cried, tap
ping softly on the pannels of the door
"Of course m at home, said Nell,
brightly, opening it. You dear little
rosebud, you've come just in time TO
help me about the pattern of my new
cashmere polonaise. Ism tia wretch
ed dayY' ii't'' -
And the two girls were presently
deep in the mysteries of bias folds,
knife pleatings F" and side cores,
until. all of a sudden, surly, mascu-
line voice roared down the hall:
Where my breakfast, | say? |
want my breakfast Confound all you
women-lolks, why don't you bring me
my breakfast Am [ to starve to
dcath?' Nell Motheri Come,
wide awake there Bring my slippers
Fetch the newspapers, somebody !
And look sharp do you hear?"
And the door was banged, and shut
again with considerable emphasis.
Nell looked at Lucy with crimson
ing brow. Lucy opened wide her in-
quiring eyes.
Its Eugene" said Nell, in rather
an embarrassed manner He was out
late last night, and he over slept him
self this morning .
"0h T. said Lucy, beginning to be
conscious that flaw existed in this
patent masculine diamond-that this
pattern of goods washed but indif-
terently
At this moment footsteps hurried BY.
1t was the patient and much enduring
Mrs. Folliott, bringing up the tray Of
toast and tea.
Il wouldn't wait on a man So"
said Lucy. Indignantly
Presently poor Mrs. Folliott return
ed, with the tray scarcely touched. and
stopped in Nell's room, to relieve her
mind #
"Hewon'ttouch mouthful, because
it ism t smoking hot, said she, with
sigh He's crosSer than one would
think it possible, and"
But here she checked herself alb
ruptly at the sight of Miss Darl.
Il beg your pardon, my dearl" said
she Il did not see you"
"Oh. don't mind me-" said Lucy.
coloring. Tn going over to Mrs.
Haven few minutes, to see about a
root OF fern she promised TO get me
from the Hartford woods"
For it had occurred to Miss Lucy
that this was an excellent opportunity
to test the washing and wearing
qualities of the second of the lovers.
Folliott had been weighed in the bal
ance, and found wanting. Now let
George Haven take his chance.
The Haven cottage stood about an
eighth of a mile further down the road
"a pretty little honey-suckleg garland
ed affair-and Lucy Darl. feeling rath-
er like spy crept up the stairs (no-
body CHANGED to be in the hall), and
took refuge in Mrs. Ravens own neat
little boudoir.
Mrs. Haven had three or four unru-
Is. ill-disciplined children staying with
her that summer-the children of an
invalid sister-and Mrs. Haven was
not rich in this worlds goods, like the
Fnliiotts.
A. Lucy sat there, wandering