Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-08-09
LUCAS FOLLY.

''There goes the most provoking man il
the whole county," said Lucia Dare, az
she stood in the wimdow and watched
Professor Lee go down the path really
he's in love with me, and going to tell mt
so, and then, again, I'm sure Pm mista
ken, and that it's Laura he's in love with,
if he's in love with anybody. He's SO
bashful when he's with woman that he
doesn't dare say his souls his own any
way. I'm sure don't see why he should
be afraid Of me! l like him and if he
could see two inches ahead of his nose he
could see it.
| Lucia heaved little sigh, and sat down
at the piano, where half an hour before she
| had been singing ''Annie Laurie'' for the
professor.
81 wonder what he wanted to see Dora
for?n she thought, as she thrummed the
keys in low accompaniment to her
| thoughts. sit can't be that he is in love
with Dora, for he must know she's en-
gagged. And yet, he's such an odd crea-
ture that it wouldn't be at all strange if
| he was. If he ever heard she was engaged,
he's probably forgotten it. wonder what
| he wrote to her about. 1t must be some
tLing that he considers quite important,
| for he wanted me to be sure and give her
the letter as soon as she got home. and it
took him half an hour to write it,
She got up, went to the table, and took
up the letter Professor Lee had written to
her sister.
II wish 1 knew what was init,'' she
said, holding it up to the light. s'He look
ed as if he might propose marriage. If I
thought it was a proposal"
Lucia's face colored a little at the
thought which came into her mind She
laid the letter down and walked to the
window, and stood there for some time.
By-and-by she turned, came back to the
table, and took up the letter-a guilty
look on her face as she did it-and dropped
it behind an old carved cabinet which
stood in one corner of the parlor.
cts mean thing to do,'' she said to
herself, as she went back to the piano,
ssbut I've done it. If it was proposal,
it's just as well as it is, for Dora would
never marry him; if it wasn't proposal
! it won't matter very much, probably
Two weeks after that Dora came home
from visit to friend, with the news
that Professor Lee had resigned his posi-
ton as teacher of languages in the acad-
envy at Wilbraham, and accepted an offer
from new college at the West.
''Are you sure it's SOP" asked Lucia,
with an effort to hide all traces of agi-
| tation.
'Quite sure," answered Dora. 'Helen
Templeton told me, and she had the news
| from Professor Lee himself"
"When is he going?'' Lucia tried to ask
unconcernedly, but her voice sounded un-
steady.
every soon," answered Dora. 'sThis
week, l Think
And it was only two or three days after
that, that Dora came home with the an
nouncement that the professor had gone.
''Gone' Lucia's face was pale as she
repeated the word. At that moment
tender hope died in her heart.
"Yes,'' answered Dora, che went this
morning. [ think he might have come to
tell US goodbye"
Lucia got up without another word and
went to her room.
"Poor Lucia!'' Dora said. ssShe did care
for him, after all.'
upstairs Lucia knelt down by her win
dow and had a real woman's cry. She did
not know till then how much she had
cared for Professor Lee. She had always
liked him, and had hoped that some day
she might call him by dearer name than
that of professor. Now she knew that she
loved him.
s'But it was all on one side,'' she sobbed.
sit must have been, or he never would
have left me in this way, without so much
as word. But | think he cared for me
little.''
< K x x x
1t was two years after that when Lucia
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had written that summer afternoon for
Dora-that letter which he had left with
her to give her sister, but which she had
taken care her sister should not get.
She was moving the oak cabinet. and
found it lying where it had fallen when it
dropped from her fingers. A hot flush of
shame dyed her face at sight of it. II
wonder what is in it, she said, picking it
up ''Dora's married and gone away, so
there's no harm in my readingit now. It
was just as honorable in my reading 1t
then as to do what did with it.''
She opened it and read it through with
face that was very pale before she finish
ed it,
miss Dora-I called to see you this af-
ternoon. but your sister said that you
were away. and would not be home for a
day or two. wanted to ask you some
thing, and perhaps it is better for me TO
ask it in this way than any other. | think
you must have seen that love your sister.
But have never told any one so before. |
| Il 10 Lo,,