The Republican journal., 1876-02-17
Bound to Elope.

Bound to Elope.
"This is dreadful matter -of-fact world"
said Lucy Graham, as she looked up into
her cousin Lizzie's face, "all romance has
departed. Don't you think so, cop"
"Well, l never gave the subject much
consideration, said her cousin; 'but |
thought that heard you yesterday saying
that Susan Grants marriage was very ro-
mantle"
mo, no, not her marriage. that was
very stupid and matter of fact" said Lucy
1T was her meeting with George that was
romantic. She fell overheard near the Five
Bells at Putney last summer, and George,
who was of the party, but had never seen
her, sprang from the bank and rescued
her. 70 be sure, she was only wet and
frightened, and the water was shallow,
but still the incident was delightfully."- TO-
mantle. | wanted her to elope, but she
wouldn't and they were married in the old
hum drum style. If ever marry | am de-
termined to elope. The present style Of
courting, proposing, and wedding, is Just
as flat as ditch-water. | want little spice
OF romance in my matrimonial schemes"
Yet Lucy was no empty headed, roman
tic simpleton. Far from it She was very
pretty, very fascinating, and very intelli-
gent, highly accomplished, and in most
things very sensible; but unfortunately
Miss Lucy had got her head full of senti-
mental poetry and over wrought novels.
and had taken quite dislike to matter-ot-
fact incidents. AS her father was rich and
her mother loved society, Lucy, of course
did not lack admirers. Among these there
was one that cared nothing tor Lucy's
money, but loved her with a deep earnest
love for her own bright self, He was hand
some, talented, well-connected and rich
and in every way a suitable match for the
coquettish beauty. But Lucy treated him
with the utmost Indifference. Did he bring
her flowers? She tossed them aside, while
he was present, with an air of profound
contempt, and yet, if he could have peep
ed into Lucy's most cherished books, he
would have found that between the leaves
were pressed many of these same flowers.
Did he ask her to dance She was invari-
ably engaged, and yet her eyes would ,jeal :
ously follow all his movements if he took
another partner. If he asked her to sing
she was always hoarse, yet if she heard
him mention any air as 4 tavorite. Lucy
invariably purchased and studied it. In
short, disguise or deny it as she would,
Lucy was in love with Hugh Murray.
Lucy" said Cousin Lizzie to her, as
they sat sewing together. ''don't you think
you are treating Mr.. Murray shamefully !?
''Shamefully Lizzie? Shamefully Why
positively accepted an offer to havea gal
lop with him across the common this very
afternoon"
Eyes, know that, but you firt with
him outrageously. Are you going to mar
ry him, Lucy?"
Lucy shook down shower of golden
curls to hide her burning face, and re-
piled:
ale never asked me, Lizzie"
but he will He loves you, Lucy. He
told me so, and-and, Lucy he thinks you
-you-perhaps that is, you will not refuse
him"
docs he? He will find out his mis-
take"
"Why, Lucy, surely you do not intend
to refuse him?"
"But do! !" said Lucy
"Why? He is everything desirable
Your father will be delighted with the
match"
There now you have Just hit the very
reason. He would ask me, and then ask
papa, and there would be nothing roman
tic about it; no opposition; real stupid
wedding; trip to Cheltenham, and then
Just settle down like all the rest of the
world Bah! the very idea is tiresome
No! am determined when | do marry, |
will elope."
One week later, Lizzie and Hugh Muir
ray parted at the door with these words
"You are sure" said Hugh, ''that this
is Lucy's only objection I"
Sure" replied Lizzie
"Well, i am glad it is no worse. Good
by"
And, leaving her with warm shake of
the hand, young Murray took his way to
MIR Graham's counting house in the city.
He was coseted with Mr.. Graham for a
long time, and then came out with BEAM
ing face and light step. The same evening
found him alone with Lucy in the draw
ing room of Barnes Villa. He was very
silent, apparently very sad, while Lucy
was remarkably cheerful and chatty.
"Positively. Mr.. Murray, you are very
tiresome," said Lucy; .'you are as silent
y y
on your conscience ?"
Lucy, said he, looking up into her
laughing eyes. Lucy, l love you"
.'Really. Well, so you have said before
If you have nothing more original'to say,
you had better relapse into silence"
Eyes; but Lucy" said he, with lugu-
brious sigh. 81 have loved you long, but ]
never felt how dear you were to me SO
torcbly as l do toni ght Before have
loved with hope; now, now that | must
lose you-"
''Lose me? II mean-that is"
"Yes, Lucy, tonight we must part
Your father torbids our thinking of each
| other"
my father!" cried the astonished girl
"why thought-he said-I-I-"
''Then you have spoken OF it? and
there was joyful thrill in Hugh's voice
'Oh. Lucy, may hope that you love me ?'
I'll like you," said she.
SIS that all ?" said her lover. "Alas
your father was right. He said that you
were too young to love, and that | was
tCo poor to marry"
"Poorn' said Lucy.
eyes; did you not know that the Span.
ish stock had gone down to nothing. and
that all my property was invested in it
Did you not know that was penniless
And yet | dare to love you. Alas! in
vain!'' and Hugh's head bent down or
the arm of the sofa in an attitude OF deer
despair.
Lucy stood still, looking at him. Fol