The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-10-24
An. Idle Word.

every well, believe what you choose,
shall never tell you love you again, if
you go down Oh your knees and beg
for It'll"
A pale, rn.faced, somewhat elderly
man, with threads of silver cleaning in
his brown curls, doubtful, hcsitant,
half.sarcastic mouth, beneath the nut
brown mustache, sad eyes, listlcss and
wholly weary in their expression; and
the world-worn attitude of one who nc
cepts all that comes, never surprised.
Andrew Carleton raised his eyes to the
stormy flushed face opposite. They
softencd in that look as no other mortal
woman could cause them to, but Lucic
was too angry to notice it.
A round faced apple checked morsel of
womanhood, with brown silkcn hair,
tender, earnest eyes, and ripe, glowing
mouth, like n strawberry. For six
months she had worn this misanthropi-
cal, gloomy mans bethrothal ring, and
given to his life brighter tint than it
had ever worn.
As directly opposite as the antipodcs,
these two in character and disposition,
and yet together they were very happy.
There was something so vivacious and
hopeful, so sunny and nflectionatcly
frank about his fancee, that Andrew
Uarleton's saddcned, suspicious heart, so
deeply wounded years before, by M un-
worthy woman that he had truly loved,
beat high with IN ardor and Joy that
surprised him.
He was trying; he reasoned with him.
self despairingly as he went out, with n
detected crushed air that cut Lucie to
the inncrmost depths of her loving
heart. First, only for moment, he
came and stood beside her.
"Bear with me-" he said slowly, 81
told you what 1 was in the beginning"
and then he wont out and closed the door.
Poor Lucio. Her tears fell fast. T.,
have tried" she sobbed, Gam I Ia
blame?" Her thoughts went fast ovel
the past few weeks. True, she had grown
up here where she was petted and be-
loved of many. Her merry chatter, hel
social outspoken courtesy to her ole
playmates was as natural MS the breatf
she drew. For her life she could no
help dimpling and smiling for MI
There was Arnold Holmes. betrothcd
it was true, to her dearest friend, who
was lounging in a low chair, and chat
ting over paper of caramels, whei
Andrew came in, with all the freedom
of an old friend. There was brown
eyed Nick Hazelton, who had drawn he
to school on his sled years since, an'
shared his apples and sleigh ride
with her MI her life. There was hos
of college boys who always bowed, ant
laughed, and familiarly shouted from
immediate hooks when she walked dow
to the dusty little postoffice in theil
diminutive village. There was hand
some young Doctor Courtright, whit
never failed to smile and say, "How ar
YOU, Lu ?" when they met.
In vain Lucic hal explained to Andrey
lust how it was. His brow would groy
stormy and dark, his heart would sink
md he would repeat the doubtful, hall
suspicious, wholly unjust words, ~ don
believe, Lucie, that you love me.
, Hot words rarely sprang to Lucie'
lips at this; at least, they found no ut
terance, though quick, stormy, impet
uous temper, prone to flash out and ven
t itself in passionate sayings, was, as
: common, the almost invariable accom-
Q panying trait of rarely sweet and ter
der, loving and faithful heart, and
ol;np;ng sensitive spirit.
y How patient she was, had been, hel
c of late since she had grown to pity th
n dark spirit that held possession OF !, lr n.
l. promised husbandl AT first she had i,''I TO-
IL turej him with llcr merry caprlc;lo'isnoss =
'e ii ! when at last she saw how ne reall an
n suffered tender womanhood ,;1. trlu%phe, m he,