Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-16

MNA ANMnA ANAMkN III NAAu hAWMM NWhANANHNf /
a days journey by rail away. Here We
made our home. Mamma fretted little,
but she had such confidence In Lutie's |
wisdom, that she let her have her way. |
And Lutte never once alluded 10 her |
trouble, nor did dare 10 press for her
confidence.
"It's so lucky we've the baskets and
frames 10 make, Bess," said Lutte, as
we sat down under the pine-ridge, TO
rest, and shell off the pretty, brown
cones, "we're sadly in need Of little
money. Nobody, hardly, seems 10 want
new bonnet, this fan, or even TO 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 the eggs count up dread
fully slow; and mamma must have a
warm double-wrapper, and the money
we get for these win 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 gleam like gold. Lutte was
\ so pretty, SO gentle, so lady-likei
Yot the shadow of that old, mysteri-
GUS trouble still saddened her soft eyes.
1 often wondered what the trouble could
have been.
"I think we can crowd in at least
two more baskets, Bess," she went on (;
4" and III tell you what intend TO do.
1 shall cut up that spotted shawl Of
mine, and line Them"
"But, OH Lutte, it will be such q pity
10 cut it up. 1t is such an odd old fab
ric."
A little quiver stirred her lips.
"No, it WON'T" she said, with a GER
tain resolute ring in her voice. "The
baskets will sell better"
OF course l 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, l noticed tail, bearded, very
handsome but masterful man, examin
: ing them critically. He looked up as
approached.
, "Can you tell me whose baskets these
, areP" he inquired.
"There comes the lady who SELL
them," L replied.
"But who made them, I meanp" HI
} was almost abrupt, in his commanding
eagerness.
"My sister and I made then," I an
, swered a little haughtily.
I He wheeled round upon me, his fin,
eyes blazing, one Of the baskets in hi
= hand.
? "Your sister, did you sayP Thi
} lining, this spotted silk, was her shawl
Her name is Ludlow-LuHe LudlowP'
l eyes" ;" stammered, in amazement
1 "I thought so," he said, his darl
Z cheek flushing. "I beg ten thousant
pardons, Miss Ludlow. When get al
2 opportunity, will explain all this"
9 The crowd surged up, and separates
: us,and with an intuitive feeling that som
l great joy was in store for Lutte, l mad
: my escape and ran home to tell he
: about it.
: She listened to me, with whitening
g lips.
;" Oh, Bess!" she faltered out, when
y had finished, her hand on her heart, I"
n won't see him. 1 can't; must 6
s away"
d L put my arms about her and drev
her head down on my breast.
e "Tell me all about it, DEAR" 1 said
/ You can surely trust me with you
e trouble, Lutiep"
r And then, her face hidden, her heal
|. throbbing against my shoulder, she tol
n me her story.
II aIloved him, Bess,' she sobbe(
10 "He is the son, the only son, of a lad
k for whom my old employer worked.
10 met him, at first, when 1 took bonne
Is to his mother. Then, afterwards,
1t got to joining me in the street. WI
IA foolish, mad, blind, Bess-at least fl
Is awhile. He wooed me and won II
IL against my will. couldn't help
Bess. But very soon saw how wro1
y it was to meet him clandestinely-"
n "WeI, DEAR" 1 said pityingly.
IS "Ah, Bess, well may you pity mt
10 For then he offered to marry me
t, once. He wanted me to elope, tn
of very night. But l told him would @
~ ter no family, against the wish of
T, head and his mother would never co
sent. And then l broke away fro
or him.
he "Thevery next day, 1 was sent
he his mothers, to fetch a bonnet 81
a wanted altered. He must have told b
ist of his offer to me. She sent for me in
the parlor, look of mocking pity upc
or her proud face.
of am not try to repeat what she sa
tn to me; I'll make it as short as l ca
nd Bess. 1t was her duty to warn me
he the danger l was in, she said. Her 81
or had no right TO trihe with me as he hi
u- been doing. He-he already-had
ut wife of his own.
he "There was good deal more, Be'
ad but 1 remember only that anoth
ur woman was his wife; for, obi Bess,
ma loved him, in spite Of what have sal
Great heavens, the shame and agony
a that hourl left her house, almost
as sane, and came home with the bonn
raj box, as you know, instead of going
in the shop. Up in my room, alone,
lie fought it all out. And then we cal
s.. here, before the week had gone-a
ses that is all.''
ho "But how can you be sure it is trr
vas LutieP" l said.
of "True, BessP Why, his own motf
TO told me So"
ie, Nevertheless, it may be falsehoC
nd 1 saw the man, tonight, and his fl
rat isn't the face of a william. If he com
lg, Lutte, you had better see him"
a al can't" she interrupted. "Oh
lp- can'tl The shame would kill me.
must 60 away"
But she had no time to go. He v
he there, the next day, when we came no
not from church. Lutte found him in
st. sitting-room, awaiting her. /
.ps passed on, into the dining room, VIII
was next To IL. when the sound of