Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-10-18

BY CLYDE RAYMOND

The mischief was done. Lucia Bar
rett came home from Saratoga an en-
gagged young lady and, now that
Was done and she had time to think i
lover, she hardly knew how 1t had al
Icome about.
A few fashionable hops at which al,
nau waltzed and fiirted with Clarenc,
Rhodes, the reigning masculine attrac
uon, q lew horseback rides and drive
IN which be was her favored escort, 3
rev moon light tete-a-tetas, and she wa,
his promised wife.
She had been fiattered and dazzle by
MS attentions- 80 much Gov
e1ed oy other belles-hnd, in the gla.
mour OF that triumph, had said " YES. u
when he had knels down, hero fashion.
In the starlight, and offered her bls
heart and hand. but she had left love
out Of the account.
| That was something Lucia scarcely
thought OF until she returned, trium
phant, and listened to Robsrt Derrick
low'voiced greeting, and met the glance
OF his handsome eyes, which seemed.
somehow, no full OF unspoken reproach
AZ he bowed over her gloved hand and
said:
Permit me to Offer my oongratula.
tions Miss Lucia
For her engagement had been
heralded In the society papers, and was
ust now the absorbing topic of gossip
In their particular set.
Lucia averted her own eyes ~ abe
mnrmured some conventional reply.
for she remem bered how nearly he had
approached declaration OF love two
months ago, the last evening they had
hat
from the city. She remembered the
thrill Of Joy which she had experienced
then, and keen thrill shot through
her heart again, but this time not 10
much OF rapture a. Of pain.
She turned away from those reproach-
tui eyeo and tried to imagine herself
happy and contented in listening to the
haif.envious congratulations of her
feminine friends, and in answering all
manner OF eager queetions relating TO
her brilliant conquest.
Yes, 1t was clear that she had achieved
great success vet when Lucia laid
her pretty head upon her pillow that
night 1t was aching with n sense of
loneliness and trouble that was entire
~ new to her.
Poo. Rob-" she thought, with n
pang Of remOrse. "How he looked at
me tonight never realized before
how much I-pshaw what am think
ing OF? I'm engaged to Clarence
k-.odes. and I've no right TO be sigh.
ing for any one else. Besides, aren Z
half the girls just dying of envy at my
GOOD fortune? I've nothing to regret,
I'm sure"
Nevertheless, IL WAS Rob Derrick.
and not her betrothed husband. who
haunted her dreams that night, and In
the morning she Awoke with the feeling
that her brilliant engagement was but
barren honor, after all, aud that she
must henceforth set strict guard over
ayes and lips, lest the world-above all, |
Rob Derrick-should fad 1t out.
How very attentive MIR. Derrick is |
to Fannie Rolfe," said gossiping girl |
friend one night, at fashionable recep- /
ton. II used to think, Lucia-but /
never mind what 1 thought" with a
light, teasing laugh, and roguish
laugh into NY heroine's averted face.
" or course you've done a far rnorel
sensible thing than that would have
BEEN"
. l should say so," laughed Lucia,
q uiie car-lessly But her pretty facet
changed color Enthusiastically, and her
glance enviously followed Rob and his
iair partner as they swept past her and
glided away down the long, brilliant
room, Rob's handsome head bent down
in the lover like, devoted way that she
remem bered no we'll.
lt was late, the ball was nearly over,
when Lucia felt light touch upon her
shoulder, AMI, turning; saw her affian-
,ed lover standing beside her. She
greeted him nmilingly, but, though il
Has their II rst meeting since Lucia'sl
'eturn TO town, she Was not conscious
u any particular delight at seeing
him.
You did not expect me-" he said,
holding her hand in a very lover-like
'lasp. Fact liz, dearest, i arrived
'nly an hour ago, and FASTENED here on
he wings OF love TO meet"
But just at this juncture two young
bloods" happened TO he passing, and
me of them remarked, in a tone doubt.
less meant Ia he ipaudible, but which
he engaged couple caught distinctly:
That's the rich fellah she caught at
'aratoga. Splendid catch, too, by
IawdRe. for girl as poor A. she is.'
1-l-beg pardon, stammered Mr..
less AZ the young swells" passed on,
but what do You suppose that fellow
could have meant ?"
Luoia's face had already orimsoned
painfully at the rude speech, though
Ter lady like self. possession did not
hange in the least.
He meant just " hat he said, l sup
lose" she answered, quietly, though
10 might have expressed his opinion
II language SOM What more refined"
But I-I-that is, l really don't un.
erstand, Miss Lucia. He spoke of
on az q poor girl, y"u know"
Which l am" Interrupted Lucia
With inimitable composure.
" Bnt-really, Miss Barrett"-it war
' Mis- Barrett" Eow. you see, while
is manner became noticeably tiff aud
isfant. Really, ! have alwaysI,
card that Mis- Lucia Barrett was
leirtss to very considerahl. in fact,
very handsome fortune" |,
Lucia had ~ fret 10, ktd At him in
reat surprise then light Of under
landing gradually : ole over her pref
y Gestures.
fear you have been laboring un.
or n very serious dclusion, Mr..
rhodes" she placid y remarked, while
n actually pleased and mischievous
BOX began to sparkle In her eyes.
You have evidently mistaken me for
~ cousin, who bears the same name .
nd who really 10 an heiress, but who ,
pent the season at Newport, not Sara
ogo. l feel sorry for you. Mr.. Rhodes.
ne mistake, which L never suspected
ntll thts moment, must be very
certifying TO you. AS for myself,"I
he had been drawing off her gloveI !.
lille speaking, and now she dropped !.
- AM a. II