Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-08-04
Select Story.
HUGH KENRICK'S WILL,
or,
THE STORY OF A POSY RING.
BY MARGARET HUNT.
CHAPTER I.

'After all, Lucy, it is not such very
difficult journey. It is only hundred
miles or so, and there is no change; and
if you only sit still and take care not to
get your fingers jammed in the doorway.
really cannot see what harm can happen
TO you"
"Hush, Auntie! Do please; am not
quite baby" And as she said this, the
speaker, pretty, ,'shy-looking girl of IS,
glanced anxiously at an old gentleman
who was sitting in the far corner Of the
carriage, to see if he had heard her aunt's
counsels and fears, and if he thought
them two silly women not fit to travel, and
not very we'll able to take care of them
selves. The old gentleman had his Times,
his SATURDAY Repie,c, and Spectator on his
knee and looked placidly benignant. 1t
was doubtful if he had heard Aunt Es-
theirs hints-if he had, they did not ap-
pear to stir any emotions of contempt
Lucy turned back to the window and
Aunt Esther, who was now gazing earn
estly and anxiously in her face.
"Dear child" said she, II am feel
ing very uncomfortable, do so wish 1
had just left everything and gone with
you. l shall not know a happy moment
till hear the train has got safely to Litch-
field. And, Lucy, have you gothic stamp
ed envelope gave you?-the one l adj
dressed for you, you know?" recommenc-
ed Aunt Esther, and then she sighed her
relief as Lucy produced it. "Ah, yes you
have it; but Lucy, darling-here-give a
porter this shilling to put the envelope in
the post for you. There is sure to be a
letter-box in the station, but mind you
watch him do it; stand and watch him,
dear, and see the letter drop in"
ayes, yes, Aunt" whispered Lucy. "But
how can you be so anxious? Everyone
will think"
II am anxious, l can't help it; and, Lu-
cy, you promise me faithfully you will
write every"
"The train is going" cried Lucy. "Oh,
do take care! Goodbye! Yes, will
write" And in a minute more it started,
and all that Aunt Esther could do was to
ster as it shrieked and tore away with her
treasure.
Lucy looked down, and for some time
she thought of no one but "poor, dear
Aunt Esther;" then she enjoyed the pros
pect of the happy days and weeks which
lay before her; and then, before settling
down to her railway novel, she glanced at
her companion, but to her horror and
amazement his eyes were fixed on her
face and they were full of kindness and
interest. Lucy blushed. She felt as if
she had been detected in trying to espy
some secret of his. He did not turn away
he looked encouraging.
"You have not made many journeys
alone, lady?" said he.
"No, not even one until to-day"
"If I can be of any service to you, you
must command me- he continued. Lucy
looked at his white hair, and thought it
would not be quite fair if she in her bright
youth were to impose many tasks on his
seventy and odd years.
81 am even older than you perhaps
Think" said he, "but still am not too old
to do anything you may ask me-"
"But how do you know what l was
thinkingl" inquired Lucy, very simply.
"You were thinking poor, old man, he
is seventy, at least;' but, lady, I am sew
enty-eight; and the reason that I know
what you are thinking is because you are
the kind of person whose thor rhtS / do
understand little-I mean better than