The Dawson journal., 1885-03-26
LUClA's MISTAKE.
sY hose cAWIroS.


sinking low in the western sky
when a lady and gentleman paused
in their walk to rest at a rustic
stile that divided the field from
the pretty grove that had beer
spared by the woodman's axe, and
which added mush to the beauty
OF a scene naturally fine. The
gentleman was tall, finely-form-
ed man, with a gay, dashing man.
ner. The lady was almost as tall
as he. her figure full and graceful.
She was rather inclined to be toe
silent. Perhaps one of her attrac.
tions to George Enstaee was that
he liked to talk, and she to listen,
She was listening in silence
now, while he told her he loved
her, and asked her to be his wife.
Her eyes were cast down, and her
face flushed and troubled.
"Then you don't love me,
LuciaY' he said. when she made
no answer. "Then you don't love
meY he repeated; and the brown
eyes were sad enough now.
81 am afraid it would never do;
we are so unsuited to each other"
But her voice tremhlpd and her
eyes were downcast still the
dark fearless eyes that always
met every one SO earnestly and
trutbfully.
'Lncia,' = he sail, almost angri-
", ''yoa are afraid to trust me;
you think, because I laugh and
tatk gayly wit other girls, that l
cannot be true to one. Only try
me, laflingn Aud, encouraged
by her silence, he pat his arm
around her, and, bending down,
took his first kiss from her lips.
She did apt resist the caress:
she had known and loved him
since she was a child, and though
she knew his nature to be lighter
and more changeable than her own,
she loved him too we'll to refuse
to marry him. Besides, she knew
that tomorrow he ould leavA bis
home and her, that he was going
to join the army, and on this las
evening her heart was heavy at
the thought of to-morrow's part
ing. So, when he left her that
evening, she had given her prom
ise to be true to him, to wait for
him until he could come and claim
his bride.
She babe him goodbye, the
next day, sorrowfully but hope
folly; for had sha not his return
to L. * forward to? An,lthen his
lettersl What happiness to have
him write to her
And be did arite fn har, snch
tender, loving letters that she
brre his absence hraveiy, and
went about her household duties
cheerfully, taking many cares ell
her mothers hands. Add that
mother thought there vas no onr
So blessed Il, she ha,: always been
IN her daughter.
Months glided INTO years, T g
war was over, d Lucias heart
beat high with happiness, for soon
George woald be with her again.
Others who had been With him
came back - their homes, began
to take UP the old routine Of life.
But still he fingered, and a cloud
beg Il to obscure ths Sunshine OF
her life, for his letters grew short
or and came less frequently. But
still shs waited and hoped caring
nothing for the attention Of other
gentlemen, accepting them with
such indifference that she kept
them all at a distance
Her sister. gay, liSht-hsarted
girl, came running iuto her room
one day, whsrs Lucia wsS tyin2
to read.
Charley Reynolds stopped at
the gate. where [ was standing,
just now, and what do you think
Ae said, LuoiaY'
"That be waited to come in.
did not hep" answered Lucia.
"Nonsense, Lucial He told lac
something ahou. George EustaGs,
and 1 hope yos won't care AusA
about it," she said, wistfully.
"What is it yoS have heard,
Jonnis2 Tell mal' Lucia said,
steadily. but her face grew whita.