The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-01-14
A FREAK OF FORTUNE.

The morning sky was all alight with
flying clouds as Lettice Grayson coming
into the barn, with basket in her hand,
paused moment on the threshold and
listened.
al thought So" said she "It's the
tune he always whistles. I've caught
him this time
Lettioe was light of foot, aud as she
came softly on the hay-carpeted floor of
the upper loft, George Carton never saw
or heard her. but worked steadily away
al his canvas.
Suddenly a hand came down with
quick. sudden emphasis on his shoulder.
''Nowr' cried Lettce. eXultantly, II
know who it is that has been stealing
all our eggs! III tell my uncle, aud have
you locked up. And-oh. my goodness
me, declare. | thought it was Joe
Smithers. the farm-lad.'
And taking ANONYMOUSLY to her
heels. Lettice He'd; at the same moment,
Il beautiful speckled hen took cackling
flight from the nest in the corner that
George Carton had been sketching.
The Young artist rose and shook the
scattering bits of hay from his can
vas.
Upon nv word.' said he. ''this is
rather an unexpected interruption. So
she suspects me OF sinister designs upon.
the fresh eggs, does she?"
He lay down in the fragrant hay, in
a sort of gracefully careless attitude.
with hands clasped under his head, and
looking dreamily up at the peaked root,
where the swallows came and went.
And as he gazed he thought of Lettice
Graysons great glittering eyes and oval,
dimpled face.
"A rustic nymph." he said to HIM
self; "a dryad in the wilderness. So
she is the niece thatold Farmer Bulkeley
spoke about. Well, she will prove an
additional attraction to the dull old
farmhouse if once [ can manage to
make her acquaintance"
But he saw Lettice no more.
NO. can't, aunt" said the girl;
latter the dreadful mistake that made,
l never. never, can look him in the face
again"
.Nonsenser's Aunt Bulkeley;''ai
we all liable to make mistakes?"
But some mistakes are worse than
Others said Lettice, bursting into
tears.
So the black-eyed houri disappeared
from the farm, and Mr.. Carton had the
old barn to himself once more.
'Oh, yes" said Aunt Bulkeley. ''She's
bright. lively girl, Lettice is, with a
deal of book learnin' at her fingers
ends; but deal too independent to live
OH her relations And so she took a
place at milliner's in London. 1t
don't suit her, but it's better than moth
ing. And she always spends her holi-
DAYS here"
The more Mr.. Carton thought about
it, the sorrier he was that Lettice had
gone.
Il believe 1 should have liked that
girl, he thought. Il should like to
meet her again"
Thus meditating, Mr.. Carton returned
to the great city.
1t was scarcely six months before Let
tice came back to the farm. 1t was win
ter there now-the woods were hung
with icicle figures, the streams fettered
in chains of ice.
"Bless me-" cried Uncle Reuben,
peering inquisiti7ely through his spec
tacles; what brings you here at this
time of year,
you haven't lost your situationP"
chin1ed in Aunt Bulkeley. Don't tell
US that"
Yes" said Lettice, flinging aside her
fur wrapping. as she hugged the old
people and sat down by the red blaze
of the wood fire MY fathers rich old
cousin has died and left me a fortune.
I'm rich now"
Goodness mer' said Aunt Bulkeley,
dropping her spectacles. Whatever
will you do with a fortune?"
The first thing" said Lettice, exul-
family, will be to pay the mortgage on
this farm: and the second--oh," with
sudden blush, II shall be so busy tit-
ting up my grand new house. And,
first of all, you and Uncle Ruben are to
come up and make me long visit.
This was the beginning of Lettice' 8
new acquaintance with George Carton.
She was an heiress now; he only a
struggling artist And the very first
pictures she bought, with Aunt Bulke-
lev to help her select, was a rustic scene
the interior of great, dimly-lighted
barn. with blue-speckled hen brood
ing on nest of pearl-white eggs, and
a young man dreaming over his canvas
close by And the name of the picture
was Patience.
OF course Mr. Carton came to help
hang it. OF course he came often after
that. And Aunt Bulkeley smiled and
nodded over her knitting.
Young folks will be young folks, y
said she. And l declare to goodness,
should feel deal better satisfied if
Lettice had a good husband to take cara
of her"
.Lettice." she ventured TO say at last,
I've sort OF a notion that Mr.. Carton
likes you.
Yes" said Lettice shyly; Il think he
does. And | consented this morning to
be his wife. And he has promised.
added Lettice, never to allude to
that horrid day in the barn when
slapped him on the shoulder and &C.
cused him of stealing our fresh eggs"