The daily gazette., 1878-06-17
WASHING A LOVER.
A rainy day in the country !
nrip dtip enupda1 fl,a u,o

Lucy Darl, sitting at the window, her
round chin resting in her hands, and her
eyes fixed dreamily on the woods, half
niddenin vapory mists, began to feel the |
least bit in the world bored.
An open letter lay in her lap-a letter
to which she referred every now and then,
with a pretty, halfpuzzled contraction of
her brows.
"Wash and wear!" she repeated to her. |
self. 81 wonder what Aunt Judith meanso
She hopes that whichever of my suitors |
may select may wash and wear. Upon
my word that is likening the lords of crea-
ton to a pattern of calico, or a gingham
sun bonnetm
And Lucy laughed little-a very be- !
coming process, which brought out
the dimples around her cherry lips, and
the dewy sparkles under her long auburn
lashcs.
'I'm sure they are both models of
amability and good temper" said she to
herself-''that is as fer as know"
And then all of a sudden 1t occurred to
her how little woman could really know
of the actual bona .tide habits and charac-
ter of man until she is married to him,
passed all escape.
"Ah, if one could peep behind the
SCENES" said Lucy. 'slf one could only
put lover on trial for month, as Aunt
Judith takes servant girl and discharge
him If he don't give satisfaction! And
then the wash and wear question, which
gives Aunt Judith so much tribulation,
could be easily settled. Heigh-ho . be-
lieve | shall have to draw lots which l
shall marry, Eugene Folliett or George
Haven. But there's no use wrinkling up
my forehead about it now time will de-
eide. In the meantime | shall be hope
lcssly wearied if L sit here staring at the
rain. III put on my things and run over
to Nell Folliett's. Eugene must have
started for the city long ago."
1t was pretty, shaded road delicious
in the freshness of morning, but rather
drippy and dragly just at present, that led
to the old Folliett mansion-a sturdy erec-
ton of gray stone, with half dozen
honey locusts keeping guard over it like a
band Of sentinels.
Lucy Darl, a privileged visitor, did not
| ring at the front door bell, but slipped
quietly in at the back door and ran up to
Miss Folliett's room.
"At home, Nell?" she cried, tapping
< softly on the panels of the door.
"Of course Pm at home," said Nell
| brightly opening 1t. "You dear little
rosebud, you've come justin time to help
me about the pattern for my new polo
naise. Isn't it wretched day ?"
| And the two girls were presently deer
in the mysteries Of bias folds, knife plat
ing and side cores, until, all of q sudden
\ a surly masculine voice down the hal
/ cried:
"where's my breakfast, say ? wan
my breakfast Confound all you womer
folks, why don't you bring me my break
fast? Am l to starve to death? Nell
Motherl Come, wide awake, there
Bring my slippers Fetch the news
papers, somebody! And look sharp, d.
you hear ?"
| And the door was shut again with con
siderable emphasis.
Nell looked at Lucy with a crimsonin
brow. Lucy opened wide her inquirin
eyes.
"lts Eugene" said Nell, in rather al
embarrassed manner. "He was out lat
last night, and he oversight himself thi
morning"
scious that flaw existed in this paten
masculine diamond-that this pattern q
lgood ''washed" but indlfferently.
| At this moment footsteps hurried b.,
1t was the patient and much endurin
Mrs. Follitet, bringing up the tray Q
toast and tea.
az wouldn't wait on a man so," sal,
Lucy, Indignantly.
| Presently poor Mrs. Folliett returned
with the tray scarcely touched, and stoI
| ped in Nell's room to relieve her mind.
"He won't touch a mouthful, becaus
it isn't smoking hot" said she with
sigh. "He's crosser than one woul
think possible, and"
But she checked herself abruptly a
the sight of Miss Darl.
~ beg your pardon, my dear !" sal
she, 81 did not see you"
"Oh, don't mind me" said Lucy, color
ing. "I'm going over to Mrs. Haven's
few minutes to see about a fern sh
promised to get me from the Hartfor
woods"
For it had occurred to Miss Lucy tina
this was an excellent opportunity to ties
the "washing and wearing" qualities G
the second of her lovers. Folliett ha
been weighed in the balance and foun
wanting. Now let George Haven tax
, his chance. The Haven cottage stoo
about an eighth of a mile further dow
r the ROAD pretty little honey-suckl
| garland affair-and Lucy Darl, feelin
rather like spy, crept up the stars, Inc
body CHANGED to be in the hall,) and too
: refugein Mrs. Haven's own little boudoi
] Mrs. Haven had three or four unruly
!, illdisciphned children staying with he
!, that summer-the children of an invali
sister and Mrs. Haven was not rich i
I this worlds goods like the Follietts.
4 As Lucy sat there wondering whethe
n lucky chance was about to befriend he
, | as it had befriended her before, "a cheer
e voice sounded below. George had jul
i come in, dripping bnt cheerful from tn
d post office.
"Hslo, mother! what's the matter
T Crying and discouraged! Why this wi
q never do in the world Come, little on,
run to the barn, every one of you to pla
The fires smoke, does it? Well, nev,
r mind ; I'll have things straight in a mil
e ute, with a few kindlings. The fact i
. mother, you sit at home too much. Yc
. get nervous. / must contrive some wa
= Of taking you out to drive every day
A sly, dimpled smile came into LuC
, Darps face as she heard the strange, c.
/, ressing voice of her lover, bringing hoT
N and courage with it, and rejecting til;
n he was certainly of different STAN
from Eugene Folliett, whose dashin
, manners and city airs and graces had s
nearly captivated her
y 1t was quite evident that he wou
"wash and wear" according to Aul
Judith's theory.
| I Hftla