Litchfield enquirer., 1880-01-01
WHOLE NO. 2795

to have light to read by. But slept very we'll after the candle went out, thank you" l "There are. none but French books in the
 room, though" she said quickly ''perhaps you read French ?"
 'I read Le ROi Sanause, or part of it, "said 1. | ''Oh, what dreadful play to read on Christ mas Eve!" cried Lucretia, with little depre-
 dating gesture. 'But you must come and
 have your breakfast"
 followed her into the dining room, a pret- ty little bright-looking room behind the bar. | Frightened as was during the night, 1 could | not fail to notice how tastefully the bedroom was furnished; but this little salle G-mdnger was far prettier. The paper the carpet, the l furniture, were all models of what cheap and simple cottage decorations ought to be. They | breathed ot Lucretia. The Montreal nuns had evidently taught her what tart at home"
 meant The table was laid, and the white table-cloth, with It's bright silver and sprays of evergreens in the vase, looked delightfully."- | appetizing. began to think might manage breakfast after all
 "How pretty all your things are !" said to Lucretia.
 Do you think P" she answered, '.I chose them, and laid the table" looked surprised; but in a moment more 1 was farely overwhelmed when Lucretia left the room for a moment, and then returned carrying trap covered with dishes. These she rapidly and dexteriously placed, upon the table, and then asked me to take my seat.
 ssBut," said hesitating, ''am to under stand. ..youdon't mean to say............ Are you ......going...... to wat upon mer'
 Lucretia's face was one smile of innocent
 
 her chiseled litsle chin. ssWhy, yes" she an- swered. laughing, s'of course 1 an, I always wait upon our guests when I'm at home. And l cooked these salmon outlets, which Pm sure you'll find nice if you only try them while they're hot" With which recommendation she uncovered all the dishes, and displayed a breakfast that might have tempted St. An- thony. Not being St. Anthony, can do Lu- cretia's breakfast the justice to say that ate 1t with unfeigned heartiness
 So my princess was, after all, the domestic manager and assistant cook of small country inn Not countess, not even a murderess (which is at least romantic), but only prosaic house-keeperl Yet she was 6 princess for all that. Did she not read Victor Hugo, and play ''Lucrezia Borgia," and spread her own refinement over the village tavern? In no other country could you find such strange mixture of culture and simplicity ; but it was new, it was interesting and it was piquant Lueretia in her morning dress officiously insist ing upoh offering me the buckwEeat paacakes with her own white hands was Lucretia still, and fell deeper in love than ever.
 After breakfast came serious difficulty. 1 must goto the Pritchard's but before I went I must pay Yet, how was to ask for my bill couldn't demand it of Lucretia. So 1 sat while ruminating, and at last 1 said, 'I wonder how people do when they want to leave this house."
 "Why," said. Lucretia promptly, 'they or der the sleigh. ,"
 ssYes," answered sheepshly, ''no doubt But how do they manage about paYings"
 Lucretia smiled. She was 80 absolutely transparent, and so accustomed to her simple way of doing business, that I suppose she did not comprehend my difficulty. "They ask me, of course, and 1 tell them what they owe. You owe us half-a-dollar."
 Half-a-doliar shillings sterling flor night of romance and terror, a bed and bed room, regal breakfast, and-Lucretia to wait upon one! It was too ridiculous. And these were the good, simple Canadian villagers whom had suspected of wishing to rob and murder me! never felt so ashamed of my own stupidity Tn the whole course of my life.
 must pay it somehow, supposed, but could not bear to hand over two shilling pieces into Lucretia's outstretched palm. It was des- ecration, it was sheer sacrilege. But Lucretia took the half-dollar with the utmost calmness, and went out to order the sleigh.
 drove to the rector's, after saying goodbye to Lucretia. with a clear determination that be- fore left Richmond she should have consent ed to become my wife. Of course there were social differences, but those would be forgot ten in Sonth Kensington, and nobody need ever know what Lucretia had been in Canada. Beside, she was fit to shine in the society of duchesses-a society into which 1 cannot hon. estly pretend that habitually penetrate.
 The rector and his wife gave me a hearty welcome, and found Mrs. Prtchard good, mothery sort of body-just the right woman for helping on a romantic love match. So, in the course of the morning, as we walked back from church, managed to mention to her casually that very nlce young woman had come down in the train with me from Quebec.
 ''You don't mean Lucretia ?" cried good Mrs. Pritchard.
 ''Lncretia. I anwered in cold sort of way, Il think that was her name. In fact, l re- member she told me so."
 ''Oh yes, everybody calls her Lucretia-in- deed, she's hardly got any other name. She's the dearest creature in the world, as simple as a child, yet the most engaging and kind-heart- ed girl you ever met. She was brought up by some nuns at Montreal, and being very clev- CT girl with a great deal of taste, she was their favorite pupil, and has turned out a most cultivated person"
 'Does she paint ?" asked. thinking of the Beatrice.
 "Oh, beautifully. Her ivory miniatures al- ways take prizes at the Toronto Exhibition. And she plays and sings charmingly."
 'Are they we'll off ?"
 A1r of her own, and they have good farm beside the hotel" s.-.-.-
 'she said she knew you very well," ven- tured to suggest.
 "Oh yes in fact she's coming herethis even- ing. We have an early dinner--you know our simple Canadian habits-and few friends will dropinto high tea after evening service. She and Tom will be among them-you met Tom, of course?"
 ''I had the pleasure of making Toms &C., quaintance at 1 o'clock this morning." ah- swered. "But, excuse my asking it, isn't it little odd for you to mix with people in their position ?"
 The rector smiled and put in his word ''This is democratic country" he said, "a mere farmer community, after all. We have little. society in Richmond and are very glad to know such pleasant, intelligent people as Tom and Lncretia."
 But then, the cOnUenances," urged, secret ly desiring to have my own position strength ened. ''When got to the hotel last night or rather this morning, there was a lot of rough looking hulking fellows drinking whiskey and playing cards"
 ''Ah. dare say, old Picard and young Le Patourel from Melbourne, and the Postoffice people sitting over quiet game of eeGrte while they waited for the last train. The English mail was in last night. As for the whiskey, that's the custom of the country. We Cana dians do nothing without whiskey. A single glass of Morton's. proof does nobody any harm"
 And these were my robbers and gamblers A party of peaceable farmers and sleepy Post officials, sitting up with a sober glass of toddy