Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-03-16
A FOOLISH MISTAKE.
CHAPTER ].

Mark Beauclere or me? 1t must be
one of us, dear, and the sooner you de-
eide the better"
The speaker tall, 1.-the, brown
haired, brown skinned young fellow OF
three. and-tWenty, with an honest face
and pair of earnest blue eyes, placed
himself very deliberately in Lucy Arm
strOng's way, as she was strOlling under
the trees in the shady old garden, with
her hat pulled over her eyes, and a
pocket volume of some poet in her
hands. It was a scorching July after
noon, and Lucy had quietly slipped
away from the half-dozen ladies who
were sitting round her Aunt Hester s
tea-table, discussing all the latest news
Of the parish.
Mark Beauclere, an aesthetic young
gentleman Of thirty, with a very fine
voice, rather weak sight, and a large
income, was there too, but as he gene
rally was to be found at Miss Hester
Armstrong; tea-table, he counted al
most as one of the ladies and Lucy
was a little tired of them all, and want
ed to be alone. She looked as if she
were having some very pleasant
thoughts, as she sauntered 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 go in and have some
teal"
Because | wanted to talk to you,
Lucy. I've been trying to get an OPP
portunity Of talking to you for the last
week, and / couldn't. I want to know
which of us are you going to give up
Marx or me?'
Seeing that | never possessed either
of you, it would be rather premature OF
nae to say" and she glanced up at him
from under the shelter Of her hat
"Why, George, what's the matter ?" she
asked, laying her hand lightly upon his
arm. "Are you ill-or angry?'
"No, only heart sick and sorry anC
disappointed" and the young fellow
looked quite haggard. ~ suppose ]
ought to congratulate you, and then eff
face myself as speedily as possible; but
when fellow has cared about some
body all his life, as l have cared about
you, it's not 50 easy, Lucy"
whats not so easy, George? [ really
have not the slightest idea of wha
you're talking about" Lucy cried, grow
ing very red and confused. 'Do tel
me exactly what you mean, like a gooG
boy"
George WINGED, and turned aside with
rather savage expression. To be called
"a good boy" by Lucy nnder certain
circumstances would be all very well
but III that tolerant, almost patronizing
tone, it was too much.
cam | not to congratulate you or
your engagement to Mr.. Beuclare ?" he
said, grimly.
Certainly not" was the very grave
reply:
"Then you've refused him, Lucy p
with humiliating eagerness. Il guessed
you would"
''Mr. Beauclere has not done me the
honor of asking me-"
"Oh p and Georges face fell per
ceptibly. "But you will refuse him
Loo, won't your" he confined. "He
told me he was going to propose this
very day." in savage whisper.
"Then perhaps he will inform you o
my reply in due course" and she
looked up with droll twinkle In hel
bright hazel eyes. Now, George, i
you're not coming in to have some tea
let me pass, please"
But you don't care about him, Loo
do you?' he whispered, with q very
penitent glance.
Pardon me, | like Mr.. Beauclere
very much, indeed. Why, shouldn't
? and | thought, George, you and he
were friends"
George turned away with an exclama
ton that sounded like "confound him, ,
and Lucy returned to the house serenely
smiling under her broad-brimmed hat
The drawing-room was empty, but III
little snuggery beyond which her aunt
called her own boudoir, there was 9
muffied hum of voices, and Lucy
smiled more comically than ever as she
went upstairs to change her dress fol
dinner. Both George Leslie and Mr.
Mark Beauclere were to dine at ''The
Nest" and Lucy, brimfull of mischief
resolved to tease George thoroughly
before she put him out of his misery
So she donned fresh muslin gown
and fastened 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
garden, and with . very demure smile
awaited the course of events.
Presently she was joined by her aunt
looking gravely important, and bristline
ali over with a secret. Miss Hester
was q tall, slender, keen-eyed, thin.
Tipped lady of as nearly forty as posi-.
bic, with smooth, dark hair, regular
features, and a stately, not to say com
manding presence; she had very beau
tiful white hands, and she used them a
good deal in majestic way. When
dinner was announced it was by a wave
of them she signifed 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 face. She guessed
pretty accurately what her aunt's secret
was, though, till Miss Hester opened the
secret she would not even breathe a
hint of it. As the dinner progressed in
impressive silence, she found herself
wondering why George did not come.
Later on, as she sat at the piano in the