Smyrna times., 1881-09-21
Washing a Lover.

Drip, drip, sounded the water in the
barrel under the caves; patter, patter,
trinkled down the rain drops upon the
leaves Of the syringes and lilac bushes
and Lucy Darl, sitting at the window, her
round chin resting in her hands, and her
eyes fixed dreamily on the woods, half
hidden in vapOry mists, began to feel the
least bit in the world bored,
An open letter lay in her lap---a letter
to which she referred every now and then,
with Il pretty, halfpuzzed contraction of
her brows.
Wash and wear!" she repeated to
herself "i Woader what aunt Judith
means? She hopes that which eyer of my
suitOrs select may wash and wear. Upon
my word that is likening the lords of
creation to a pattern of calico, OF gingham
sunbOnnetr
And Lucy laughed a little-a very be-
coming process, which brought out dim
pies around her cherry lips. and the dewy
sparkles under her long auburn lasbpe.
Il am sure they are both models of
amiability and good temper" said she to
heFself-'that is as far as l know
And then all Of q sudden it occurred to
her how little IL woman Could really know
of the actual bona!fde habits and character
of man until she is married to him, past
all escape
All, IL one could peep behind the
scenes" said Lucy. IF one could only
put lover on trial for month, as aunt
Judith takes a servant girl and discharges
her if she don't give satisfaction! And
then the wash and wear question, which
gives Aunt judith 50 much tribulation
could be easily settled. Heigh b0 ! be-
lieve | shall have to draw lots which |
shall marry, Eugene Folliett or George
Haven. But there's no use wrinkling up
my forehead about 1t now; time will de-
eide. In the meantime l shall be Weapied
if sit here staring at the rain. I'll put
on my things and run over to Nell Fol-
liett's. Eugene must have started for the
city long ago.
1t was pretty. shaded road, delicious
in the freshness of morning, but rather
drippy and dragly just at present, that let
to the old Folliett mansion-a sturdy
erection of graystone, with half dozen
honey locusts keeping guard over it like
a band of sentinels.
Lucy Darl, a privileged visitor, did not
ring at the front door bell, but slipped
quietly in at the back door, and ran up to
Miss FOlliett's room.
AT home, Nell?" she cried, tapping
softly on the panels of the door.
OF course I'm at home" said Nell,
brightly opening it. "You dear little
rosebud, you've come just in time to help
me about the pattern for my new polon-
aise. Isn't it wretched day?"
And the two girls were presently deep
in the mysteries of bias folds, knife plait-
ing and side gorge, until, all of a sudden
a surely masculine voice down the hall
cried:
Where's my breakfast Confound all
you women folks, why don't you bring
me my breakfast? i? Am I to starve to
death? Nell! Mother! Come, wide awake
there! Bring my slippers! Fetch the news
paper, somebody! And look sharp, do you
hear?"
And the door was shut again with con-
siderable emphasis.
Nell looked at Lucy with crimson
brow. Lucy opened wide her inquiring
eyes.
Its Eugene" said Nell, in rather an
embarrassed manner. He was out late
last night and he oversight himself this
morning"
"Oh," said Lucy, beginning to be con-
scious that q flaw existed in this patent,
masculine diamond-that this pattern of
goods washed" but indifferently.
At this moment footsteps hurried by,
1t was the patient and much enduring
Mrs. Folliett, bringing up the tray of toast
and tea.
II wouldn't wait on man So" said
Lucy, Indignantly.
Presently poor Mrs. FOlliett returned
with tray scarcely touched, and stopped
in NelPs room to relieve her mind.
He won't touch mouthful, because
it isn't smoking hot" said she, with a
sigh. He's crosser than one would
think possible, and"
But she checked herself abruptly at the
sight of Miss Darl.
Il beg your pardon, my dearl" said
she, :" did not see you."
"Oh, don't mind me-" said Lucy. color
ing. Pm going over again to Mrs.
Haven's few minutes to see about a fern
she promised to get me from the Hartford
weodsn y ~ -
For il had occurred 70 Miss Lucy that
this was an excellent opportunity to test
the ''washing and wearing" qualities Of
the second of her lovers. Folliett had
been weighed In the balance and found
wanting. Now let George Haven take
his chance. The Haven cottage stood
about an eighth of a mile further down
the road "a pretty little honeysuckle
garland affair, and Lucy Darl, feeling
rather like spy, crept up the stairs
! nobody Glanced to be in the halD, and