Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-04-16

/ new bonnet, THIS fall, or even 10 have
an old one trimmed the times are too
hard, they say. We can't sell the brown
! pullet's brood, we must keep them for
mamma; and tie eggs count up dread
fully slow; and mamma must have o
warm double-wrapper, and the money
we get for these viii just do"
She kept her pretty, slim fingers busy,
while she talked, shelling off the cones.
The afternoon sunshine, falling on her
uncovered head, made its waving brown
hair CLEAN like gold. Lutte was
so pretty, so gentle, so lady-like
Yet the shadow of that old, mysteri-
Gus trouble still saddened her soft eyes
1 often wondered what the trouble could
have been.
:" think we can crowd in at least
two more baskets, Bess," she went on
" and I'll tell you what intend to do.
l shall cut up that spotted shawl of
mine, and line them"
"But, oh! Lutte, il will be such pity
to cut it up. 1t is such an odd old fab
ric."
A little quiver stirred her lips.
"No, il won't,n she said, with a GER
tain resolute ring in her voice. "The
baskets will sell better"
OF course said no more, and we
gathered up our cones, and went home.
/ attended the bazar almost every
night, but Lutte stayed at home. She
seldom went out, save on business.
Our baskets, lined with the gay, Curl
ously spotted silk, attracted much atten.
| ton.
When went up to the table, on
which they were arranged, on the last
night, noticed tall, bearded, very
handsome but masterful man, examin-
ing them critically. He looked up as
approached.
" Can you tell me whose baskets these
are?" he inquired.
"There comes the lady who sells
them," replied.
"But who made them, l meanP" He
was almost abrupt, in his commanding
eagerness.
"My sister and l made them," an
swered q little haughtily.
He wheeled round upon me, his fine
eyes blazing, one of the baskets in his
hand.
" Your sister, did you sayP This
lining, this spotted silk, was her shawlp
Her name is Ludlow-Lutie Ludlow"
Yes," l stammered, in amazement.
"I thought so,'' he said, his dark
cheek flushing. "I beg ten thousand
pardons, Miss Ludlow. When | get an
opportunity, will explain all this"
The crowd surged up, and separated
us, and with an intuitive feeling that some
great Joy was in store for Lutte, made
my escape and ran home to tell her
about it.
She listened to me, with whitening
lips.
"Oh, Bess" she faltered out, when 1
had finished, her hand on her heart, al
won't see him. | can't; must go
away"
put my arms about her and drew
her head down on my breast.
"Tell me all about it, DEAR" said.
You can surely trust me with your
trouble, LutieP" .rI.. .r
And then, her face hidden, her heart
throbbing against my shoulder, she told
me her story.
"I Iloved him, Bess," she sobbed.
"He is the son, the only son, of lady
for whom my old employer worked. 1
met him, at first, when took bonnets
to his mother. Then, afterwards, he
got to joining me in the street. / was
foolish, mad, blind, Bess-at least for
awhile. He wooed me and won me
against my will. couldn't help it,
Bess. But very soon saw how wrong
it was to meet him clandestinely-"
swell, DEAR" | said pityingly.
"Ah, Bess, well may you pity mel
For then he offered to marry me at
once. He wanted me to elope, that
very night. But told him would en-
ter no family, against the wish of its
head and his mother would never con-
sent. And then l broke away from
him.
"The very next day, was sent to
his mothers, to fetch a bonnet she
wanted altered. He must have told her
of his offer to me. She sent for me into
the parlor, look of mocking pity upon
her proud face.
"I'll not try to repeat what she said
to me; I'll make it as short as / can,
Bess. 1t was her duty to warn me of
the dangerI was in, she said. Her son
had no right to trifle with me as he had
been doing. He-he already-had
wife of his own.
"There was a good deal more, Bess,
but remember only that another
woman was his wife; for, oh! Bess, ]
loved him, in spite of what have said.
Great heavens, the shame and agony of
that hour! left her house, almost in
sane, and came home with the bonnet
box, as you know, instead of going to
the shop. Up in my room, alone, l
fought It all out. And then we came
here, before the week had gone-and
that is ALL"
"But how can you be sure it is true,
LutieP" l said.
True, BessP Why, his own mother
told me So"
Nevertheless, it may be falsehood.
saw the man, tonight, and his face
isn't the face of william. If he comes,
Lutte, you had better see him"
81 can't" she interrupted. "Oh,
can'tl The shame would kill me.
must go away"
! But she had no time to go. He was
| there, the next day, when we came home
from church. Lutte found him in the
sitting-room, awaiting her. / had
passed on, into the dining room, which
was next TO it, when the sound of his
voice startled me.
"Lutie, Lutte, have l found you at
lastP"
"Leave this house, sir! This intru-
sion is objectionable" cried Lutte.
But his eager tones drowned her in
dignant words. He came up close to
the table, behind which she had en-
trenched herself, and rested his hand on
it.
"I can not-I will not, he answered,
masterfullY; "not till you hear me,
Lutte. You need not explain. l know
what sent you futtering out into the
world, my precious, little dove. See
ing that she had spoiled all my life for
me, my poor mother confessed the
wrong she had done me. For months,
have been trying to trace you. You saw
my mother. Her desire for my worldly
welfare, her anxiety to see me marry a
fortune, caused her to seek to separate