The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-12-31
Taken in by Appearances.

Taken in by Appearances.
By Judge Clark, in New York Ledger.
Everything but the wedding day
was settled between Ambrose Thorpe
and Lucy Denyse, and that was only
waiting till Lucy should get out Of
mourning tor a misery old uncle,
who had died lately, leaving her his
fortune, not for any love he bore her.
but to spite the rest of his relations.
Lucy was the prettiest and richest
girl in Glendell; and it had not been
without a struggle that Ambrose
Thorpe had won her. Such prizes
are not carried off without competi-
ton. Nor do worsted rivals always
accept defeat at once. Several OF
those who had entered the list with
Ambrose still kept up sort of de-
sultory skirmish which served to keep
him on the alert, and render his posi-
ton insecure. Lucy, too, we may be
sure, was not averse to having her
lover just little jealous, for no wo-
man quite likes to see man sit down
too secure of being master Of her
heart.
Ambrose devoutly wished the nup.
tial knot was tied. His was mind
that intensified anxiety by brooding
over it. Every hour his fancy pict-
! urcd some new peril, till, at last, he
saw nothing but snares and perils on
everJ side.
On the evening of a certain day on
which Lucy's conduct had been more
than usually capricious, Ambrose set
out on a solitary walk, seeking to
indulge in the luxury of misery by
moonlight without interruption.
He chose a somber path, overhung
J by willows, on the border OF a brook
which murmured sadly in its course.
His thoughts Joined in the sadness
till the dismal harmony was broken
by the sound of voices proceeding
from deeply shaded nook on the
bank of the stream. .t..
Could he believe his ears One of
the voices was Lucy's; the other was
that of man. Amusement held him
motionless but how was that amaze
ment redoubled at the words he over
heard: ..l..
$50 it's all arranged" said clear,
manly voice, thrilling with pleasure.
"Quite," answered Lucy.
"You're the dearest girl in the
world" returned the otker.
81 only trust I shall never have
reason to regret the STEP" she sighed.
"Traitress," growled Ambrose,
from his lower depths.
But worse was coming.
"Remember-in the same dress l
year now" said Lucy.
"Yes," in the male voice.
with the veil down." in Lucy's.
"Precisely." ...s.
Sat this hour, tomorrow evening""
Il comprehend" - a..
"You to be here with carriage"
''Never tear,-then HE for the par.
son'sP' cried the deeper voice glee.
fully, as the two stepped out into the
moonlight, evidently bent on de-
parting.
1nstinctively Ambrose shrank from
sight. Lucy's companion was a
stranger. His face cleaned with
happiness, whilst hers was as placid
as though no guile was hidden in her
heart.
For more than an hour Ambrose
Thorpe stood rooted to the spot that
had witnessed his betrayal. On his
sleepless pillow he thought out d
plan for retribution. lie would pur-
sue, unseen, the steps of the guilty
pair, confront them in the presence
of the minister, proclaim his wrongs,
and forbid the unholy rite to proceed.
Ambrose Thorpe, before the APP
pointed hour, with a swift-footed
steed, lay IN concealment near the
place of rendezvous.
1t was not long till a carriage drove
up, from which alighted the man he
had seen on the previous evening
Then from the shadow came female
form. The face was closely yelled,
but the dress was the same as Lucy
had worn the night before. The two