The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-10-16

girl; "why, l thought-he said-I-I-'
5"Then you have spoken of iti' aud
there was joyful thrill in Hugh's voice
"oh, Lucy, may I hope that you love
me7' a.ry-, s-fl s-,-..
ell like vou," said she.
"1s that all ?" said her lover. "Alas!
your father was right, he said that yoi
were too young 10 love and that / was
too poor to marry
"Poor!" said Lucy.
n"Yes; did you not know that the
Spanish stocks had gone down 10 moth
ing, and that all my property was invest
ed in it,and did you not know that / was
pennilessi Aud yet dare to love you.
Alas, IN vainf' and Hugh's head went
down on the arm of the sofa in an atti-
tnde of deep despair
Lucy stood still, looking at him for a
moment romance was forgotten, and the
true womah's nature was strong in her
young heart. Poor and despairingl--
Ah, now she knew that she loved him !;
unconfessed before, even to herself, there
stood the strong love in her heart. defy
ing her to tear it out. "Hugh!' she
said; the voice was low, very low, and
the lips close to his ear; "Hugh, look
up." A low grosn was the answer.-
"Hugh!' and a. little soft hand lay
au ong his masses of curls, and there
was almost sob in the sweet voice
|"Hugh, look up. for l." oh how the low
voice sank, II love you"
Dear me, how the relative position of
the parties changed; Hugh erect, manly,
holding her close to his heart, while bis
face glowed with love and pride; and
Lucy, timid and shrinking, her face hid
den on his breast, and clinging close to
him; bss .a5 .4l F4.a
"Say that again, Lucy"
But Lucy, thinking once Was enough,
raised her head suddenly with look OF
laughing defiance, and would have ran
away but be held her fast Then they
talked together; Hugh declared Mr.
Graham 10 be resolute In forbidding their
union, and before the lovers parted they
had planned an elopement.
A few DAYS later Lucy shut herself up
in her room one morning, declaring that
a severe headache would prevent her
joining the family; she refused medicine
and all attendance, pleading only for qui
ct, and at last her mother and cousin
Lizzie left her alone. After they had
gone, Lucy employed her time very Pc
culiarly for an invalid. She packed all
her jewels and money in the smallest
possible compass, and then put some
clothes into carpet-bag she laid her
travelling dress upon the bed, and ar.
ranged new brown ribbon on her trav-
cling bonnet,
Early in the evening Lizzie and her
mother came to bid her an affectionate
good night, and then she was left alone
again. Instead Of retiring she dressed
herself in her travelling dress and taking
lhersbag sat down BY the window, The
night passed slowly. aud early the next
morning there came low tap upon her
window. Looking down into the garden
beneath, she saw Hugh armed with tiny
stones, which he was throwing against
the glass She threw up the sash; a lad
der was placed against the sill, and in a
few minutes Lucy stood beside her lover.
A carriage was waiting at the gate, and
they passed away; having changed hor-
ses some four times they stopped at a
village church in Berkshire, where the
marriage service was performed, and the
happy pair drove to the adjoining sta.
ton to wait for the train for Chelten-
ham. ~@
Two days later, and the young bride
ais sitting by herself in an elegant apart
ment at q hotel in Cheltenham.
Lucy looked weary. Hugh was away,
and il the truth must be told, Lucy was
little ashamed of her escapade. She
remembered her mothers tender care
for her, and her fathers kind indulgence
all her life, and she knew that she had
made them but poor return for their
love, While she was musing Hugh
came in.
"Lucy," said he, ~ have just had a
telegram from home, I have bad news
for you. nv poor darling"
'Father, mother ?" cried she springine
to meet him - ssS q f.l' se 2'l'
|aa"Your mother is Ill, very i'll fear =
We should go home Immediately"
"Oh, Hugh, can 90 home? I have
been so ungratetul and napghty2 Oh
mother. mother ~ ~
"Why, dearest if the truth must be
told" aai s9a u
Father may refuse to let me see her
did not leave them any word where
was going; perhaps it is fretting for m,
that made mother ill.," aud the poor lit
tie thing threw herself sobbing into he
husbands arms.
"Why, Lucy, I--don't cry, darling
they afe not angry; they knew all abou
it, aA af} q ui
"All about what ?" said Lucy.
"Our elopennent," be replied "For
give me for having deceived you, my
bonnie wee wife: but you were so deter
mined not to marry with your father
consent that I told you several dreadful
| ibs to get you to confess that you lovet
me-, ,a pg.s.a.f ~
"Why, haven't you lost all your mon
ley?' zIae 1ss
"Not penny" be replied
| Sand did papa know / was going Il
run away2" IL z F14
! "Yes,' and, here a glow of homes
pride came into Hugh's face 81 am no
q man to steal nay wife. No, but / love-
you, and had your father really refuse,
me / would have crushed out my love-
i "Would your" said Lucy, archly.
/ "At least l would have concealed it.
he replied s.But come. darling, We vii
60 by the next train mods s,
'.And can 60 to mammal Oh, I an
so glad Oh, Hugh, have felt dread
fully guilty, but now / am happy"
i "And you forgive my deception ?"
"Yes, for it proved your love, Tha
lyon could feign to do an act from whic
i. your noble soul revolted,- when yo
found that ! was"
"Bound to elope,", said Hugh fiuist
ing the sentence
The repentant Lucy found her mothe
tgetting better, and received a warm we
leone home, which she humbly ackno W
t lodged she did not deserve Since ther