Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-12-05
A SECOND THOUGHT.
AY A. o. H.

second or two of hesitation.
He looked peadingly at her.
"But why nol?'
81 don't love you," replied the 10
year-old girl with extreme frankness.
Amy, you are cruel"
Little Amy Henderson began to cry.
81 don't want to love you," she sob
bed. Il don't know why should get
married. l am very happy as am.
Mamma says it is time enough for a
girl to talk OF mstrimony when she Is
twenty years old, and I'm only six
teen"
There interrupted Carl, bitterly,
''that will do. | looked for an ocean OF
deep. solemn sweetness in your heart;
/ find but shallow pool, TT fl citing baeS
but the shadow OF transient events, and
that is ali. Goodbye, Amy; forget that
| have made fool of mysell-if you
can"
And he strobe away, biting his lips
and tearing at his long black moustache
MS he went Amy looked after him
with tears in her blue eyes.
81 don't know what he means" said
this little half-hlossomed bud of woman
hood to herself. I'm sorry I've offend
ed him; but couldn't help it"
She went back to the house for her
hour of guitar practising, feeling little
bewildered and little regrettul, Just as
she did when her pet greyhound ran
away from her. Just at the entrance
of the laurel walk, wild, sylvan spot,
that overlooked the bue CLEAN of
lake, Lucia Powell met Mr.. Levere.
Lucia had come to Edgerton to get
rich husband. Lucia liked the ardent
young Carl, and she Gid not like that
insignificant little mite of an Amy
Henderson," and Lucia, very snugly
shielded behind the trees and bushes,
had heard every word of the decara-
ton OF love, and its refusal.
strike willis the iron is hot" said
she to herself. "There's many heart
caught IN the rebound, and why not
Carl Leveres?"
SO She giided forward with upturned
eyes showing softly beneath their long
lashes.
"Mr. Levere, you are sad, and you
look troubled" she murmered sympa.
thetically.
Troubled ne echoed, modify;
there's not much i'll the world but
trouble'
"And you say that?' cried Lucia.
"Youl Now |, who ara woman, might
utter it with reason"
Carl look d into her dark face
Strange that he never before knew how
beautiful she was.
will you take my arm down this
steep hill" said he, land tell me what
you mean by those last words?" Lucia
knew how to avail herself of the gold
en- tide of opportunity. Carl Levere
was Just i'll the mood when a man wants
relief from himself. The upshot of it
was that he invited her to go out on the
lake after sunset.
Don't ask me, if there is anyone
else you prefer" sighed Lucia. 81 am
accustomed to put myself in second
airy position"
"There's no one | would prefer to
you," said Carl slowly; "no one; at least
nowln
mot engaged cried Amy Hender-
son, dropping her croqnet mallet.
Carl Levere engaged! ! don't Lelieye
word of III"
81 saw the ring myself on Lucia
Powels finger" said Mrs. Shandie
She's told me; she's proud Of it, and
well she may be, for Mr.. Levere is, hy
all odds, the finest young fellow at
Edgerton this season."
Amy gave her ball thump with the
mallet, not in the least knowing what
looked into the mirror.
"Yes," she said to herself, 81 thought
so! Pm only little insignificant crea-
ture, with pale cheeks senseless blue
eyes, and hair like flax. Miss Lucia
Powell has eyes like black stars. and
the height OF a queen. She is worth low
ing, but didn't think Carl would have
forgotten me so soon."
And then Amy began to cry-she did
not quite know why, OF course the
contemplated nuptiais of the wealthy
Carl and the beauty Of the season
made plenty ofgo'sip and sensation. II
found its way into the papers, no one
knew how-except, perhaps, Miss
Lucia. Carl was indignant enough, but
Lucia only laughed.
"Neyer mind, dear Carl" she said.
"People will talk, and, after all, they
don't mean any harm"
But one beautiful September morn
ing Miss Powells seat at the breakfast
table WAS vacant; and scarcely had that
fact been observed when some one cried
out
"Why, Maj. Dace is gone too"
Incidentally. it was awkward for the
bridegroom-elect. Sill more so when
noie-sent from the nearest Post
Ofiice-gave him to understand that the
lovely Lucia had given back her heart
to the Major, an ancient sutton of hers,
who had recently fallen heir to large
fortune. TIE note was prettily worded;
it conveyed sentimental regrets to MIR.
Levere that the future they had con-
templated so sangunely could never he
realized, and prayers for pardon in the
name Of love. Carl set his teeth to-
gether, but made no comment. He
took his fate as it was dealt out to him.
Nav. nerhaps in mis- Utmost heart he