Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-03-10
A FOOLISH MISTAKE.
CHATTER /

CHATTER i.
Lucy, vino are you going to give up,
ark Beauclere or me? 1t must be
~ Of us, dear, and the sooner you de-
tlie the better
The speaker tall, 1.-THE, brown
barred, brown skinned young fellow OF
enree and-twenty, with an honest face
md pair of earnest blue eyes, placed
himself very deliberately in Lucy Arm
s'rang's way, as she was strolling under
the trees in the shady old garden, with
her hat pulled over her eyes, and a
packet volume Of some poet in her
hands. II was scorching July after
noon, and Lucy had quietly slipped
away from the halfdozen ladies who
we're sitting round her Aunt Hester
tea-table, discussing all the latest news
oi the parish.
Mark Beauclere, an aesthetic young
gentleman Of thirty, with very fine
voice, rather weak sight, and large
income, was there too, but as he gene
rally was ID be found at Miss Hester
Armstrong; tea table, he counted al
most as one Of the ladies and Lucy
was little tired Of them all, and want
"a to 10 alone. She looked as if she
were having some very pleasant
thoughts, IA she sauntereI under the
trees, and seemed in no way prepared
for the sudden interruption.
why, George, You quite startled
me-" she said. standing still, for George
Leslie had placed himself in her way.
why didn't you 30 in and have some
tea?d
Because | wanted to talk to you,
Lucy. I've been trying To get IN OPP
portunity Of talking % You for the last
week, and couldn't want 10 know
which of us are sou going TO give up,
Marx or me"
Seeing that never possessed either
81 you, il would be rather premature Of
me To say" and she glanced up at him
from under the shelter Of her hat.
Why, George, what's the NATTER" she
asked, laying her hand lightly upon his
arm Are you i'll -or-angry ?''
No, only heart sick and sorry and
disappointed" and the young fellow
looked quite haggard Il suppose
ought To congratulate you, and then eff
face myself as speedily rs possible; but
when fellow has cared about some
body MI his life IL have cared about
you, it's not So easy, Lucy"
What's not SO easy, George | really
have not the slightest idea Of what
you're talking about, Lucy cried, grow
ing very red and confused. DO tell
me exactly what YOU mean, like good
boy"
George WINGED, and turned aside with
rather il savage expression To be called
IA good boy" by Lucy nnder certain
circumstances would he all very we'll
but iii that tolerant, almost patronizing
tone, il WINS too much.
Am | not 10 congratulate you on
your engagement to Mr.. Beuclare ?" he
said, grimly.
Certainly not was the very grave
reply; -,
with humlliating cagerness II guessed
you would"
"Mr. Beauclere has not done me the
honor If asking me
'.Oh Il and Georges face fell per
cepubly. but you will refuse him,
Loo, won't Won - ne confined. "He
told me he was going TO propose this
very day, ina savage whisper.
Then perhaps he will inform You Of
my reply III due course" and she
leaked up with droll twinkle i'll her
hsi.ht hazel eyes. Now, George, if
are not coming i'll to have some tea,
IL me pass, please"
But y0u don't care about him, Loo,
onf' M whispered. with very
! tent glance.
arden me, ! like MIR. Beauelere
much, indeed Why, shouldn't
u md Thought, George, you and he
acre friends"
George turned away with an exelama-
tim that sounded like "confound him"
and Lucy returned 70 the house serenely
smiling under her broad hrimmed hat.
The drawing was empty, but in
i little snuggcry beyond which her auAt
called her own houdoir, there was a
mltiiad hum III voices, and Lucy
smiled more comieally than ever rs she
went upstairs To change her dress for
dinner. Both George Leslie and Mr..
Mark Beauclere were To dine III The
Nest and Lucy, hrimfull of mischief.
resolved to tease George thoroughly
before she put him out If his misery.
80 she donned fresh muslin gown,
and fastened Il crimson rose in her hair,
and then went down and took her seat
near the drawing, room window, which
commanded the entrance to the front
Earden, and with :; very demure smile
awaited the course of events.
Presently she was joined by her aunt,
looking gravelv important, and bristling
AL over with secret. Miss Hester
VS. a tall, slender, keen-eyed, thin
Tipped lady Of u nearly forty AS posi-
BILE, with smooth, dark hair, regular
features. and n stately, not to say COM
manding presence; she had very beau
tiful white hands, and she used them
good deal iii i majestic way When
dinner was announced il was by wave
of them she Signitied to her niece that
she meant to proceed at once to the
dining room. Lucy followed her with
suppressed amusement beaming from
every feature OF her lace. She guessed
pretty accurately what her aunt's secret
was, though, till Miss Hester opened the
secret she would not even breathe u
hint of it. As the dinner progressed in
impressive silence. she found herself
wondering why George did not come.
Later on, rs she sat at the piano in the
twilight. and played over her fayorite
songs, singing snatches of them, wan
dering aimlessly from .'Auld Lang
Syne' to the Lass Of Richmond Hill, I"
and then to Home, Sweet Home, size
little thought who was listening to her
on the other side Of the ilac-tree that
H. u