Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-16
HOW LUT1E's LOVER FOUND HER.

N. o. Ptcdyitle.
HOW LUTIE'S LOVER FOUND HER.
THAT afternoon we had both been pick
ing up pine-cones, Lutte and l, to finish
out our picture-frames, and fancy bas-
kets. There was to be a Bazaar in the
village, the following week, for the ben
lift Of the poor; and the good ladies,
who had the charge of the preparations,
were in need Of all sorts of pretty
triiles.
Lutte and 1, hearing of this, set to
work making frames and baskets. All
the girls, in the neighborhood, were en-
gagged at some sort of fancy work; and
the greater part of them intended their
articles as gratuitous contributions. But
Lutte and were too poor for that. We
were too proud to ask, or to receive, the
value of one farthing as charity, and
mot one of the committee would have
dared to offer it; but we were obliged
to demand pay for whatever work we
did, and it was very willingly given.
Lutte, who was an exceedingly busi-
ness-ike little person, went down to see
Mrs. Fitzhugh, who was at the head of
the charitable committee, and arranged
the matter to the satisfaction of all con-
cerned. We were to make as many
frames and baskets as we liked, and to
receive reasonable price for them.
Such chance to get money was seldom
offered to us, and we went to work in
earnest, and were busy from morning
until far into the night.
"Alrs Fitzhugh will pay us a shilling
apiece for the frames, and twenty-five
cents for the baskets, and we can COM
plete at least dozen of them. That'u
be twelve shillings and twelve quar-
ters," said Lutte, counting on her pret-
ty, slender fingers, her brown eyes shin
ing with animation, "why, Bess, we
shall get rich"
eyes, dear, we shall do famously," :"
1 said, but a sigh stifed the laughter on
my lips, as 1 thought how many needs
there were for every shilling we could
make.
But we set about our work with brave
hearts and willing hands: We were al
ways thankful for employment, Lutte
and l; but there was mot much in our
line to be had in the neighborhood.
People, for the most part, did their own
plain sewing, and fancy sewing, too, for
that matter; but occasionally Lutte
made bonnet for a neighbor, a work
for which she had particular aptitude
and some experience. There was
drudgery TO be done, to be sure, but
, even if we had been willing, mamma
would not have allowed us to go out as
housemaids. No." she said, ''we will
never stoop to that"
Poor mamma, sitting in her easy
chair, in the corner of the little brown
cottage, her white, handsome, helpless
hands crossed upon her lap; unable t.
make one step; with no employment
no amusement, but her dreams o
brighter days gone by, and the sunny
glimpse of green hill, and winding river
beyond the window!
1t was dreadfully dull for her; fo
there had been time when she was tn,
happy wife of an adoring husband, tn
pretty, stylishly-robed mistress of
home, which lacked none of Hfe's bes
luxuries.
But all that was past and gone. Poo
papa was in his grave, hundreds 0
miles away; and the pretty home, wit
all its luxuries and attractions, hal
passed into other hands. How tn
change came about, matters little, TO
tumn day, when Lutte and l went ou
TO gather pine-cones, we had only tn
latticed window shut in from the roa
by its rude stone wall, and what ou
hands could earn; and poor mamm
was helpless invalid.
We had not lived in the cottage
great while. Immediately after papa
death, we had moved to a pretty, ruri
town; and mamma and had rooms
the dwelling of a widow lady, Will
Lutte sought situation as governesi
But, alas, there were more governessC
than situations, and finally, Lutte, VIII
had always had great taste in dress, wa
employed by the fashionable milliner {
the place. 1t was a descent, so
speak; "but we must live," said Luti'
brayely. Her wages kept mamma an
me quite comfortably, and with VIII;
little could do in the way of sewing
we were getting on so nicely, when
sudden and mysterious trouble fell ~
ON us.
One day, Lutte came home, in
drenching rain, with a bonnet that 81
had been sent out with, but had nj
delivered. She had face like ghos
was sure she was ill--dying, perhaI
she looked so CHASTITY.
flew to her side.
Hush, hush," she whispered, in
stihed voice, putting her hand to HI
heart, ''if you love me, Bess, don't as
me question; and on your life don
give mamma hint of this. 1 shall
myself again in very little while,
you'n leave me. Go out and make Il
tea, dear"
1 always obeyed Lutte. While / vi
making the tea, boy came with lie
ter. It was for Lutte, and / took Y
70 her. Her soft eyes seemed to blai
as she looked at the address.
"Take It back, Bess,'' she said, wi
the voice and air of q queen, and h
the bearer never to bring another
Then she went up to her room.
/ did as was bidden. An hour late
Lutte came down, with her old face al
smile.