The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-04


Lets run to our room as fast as WI
CAM she faltered, s'before Uncle Gerald
finds it OUT
mo- said Lucy, valiantly. "Whers
is Mr.. Vance I'll go and tell him Al
once" Mr.. Vane, as q tall figure wa
seen entering through a side door, C
broke the jar"
ibid you, indeed? Miss Brown,
presume" with a formal bow, as Efie
came timidly forward to kiss him.
Isn't he handsome" Lucy Whispered
to her schoolmate, as they went up stairs
together.
but he's so stern-looking," sighed
Efie. Never mind; let's get dressed
for dinner as quick as we can, for uncle
can't bear to be kept waiting
Lucy Brown, whose one-dyed silk dress
required no long and painful adjustment,
was soon attired and down in the gar
den.
dear mel" said Lucy. tHere's {
whole box of frogs. Some cruel boy has
shut them up. I'll just run down to the
brook and give them their liberty.
She was proceeding, when Mrs. Cald-
well called TO her from the window.
"Miss Lucyl Miss Lucym
"of you go, froggies! Don't they
jump charminglyr' Lucy cried, clapping
her hands as one by one the reptiles
FLASHED into their native element.
"What did you say, Mrs. CALDWELL"
The housekeeper uttered a groan OF
despair.
"Mr. Gerald's frogs that he's been try
ing some scientific experiment with, these
three daysp she uttered.
ooh, DEAR said Lucy, witha comical
gesture of terror, eve been and gone
and done it again. / really do think
was born under an unlucky starp',
Three weeks Lucy Brown remained a
guest at Vane Hall-three weeks of un-
mitigated disaster, tribulation and devas-
tation. She broke the sash of Mr.. Vane's
camellia-house she lost his pet italian
greyhound. She tipped a bottle of ink
over an essay he had just completed
for the s.Savant's Monthly" and
ruined his collection of dried butterflies
by accidentally sitting down on them
leyhen they were airing in the window
seat. Literally, she ssdid what she ought
not to have done, and left undone those
things which she ought to have done.n
"How is it," said Lucy, obviously,
. 'sthat | IN always getting into scrapes
and Ef1e here isn't2 What is it, Mrs.
CALDWELL Mr.. Vane wishes to speak to
me2 Therel / knew it was coming.n
'Knew that what was coming2n asked
Ehie, blankly.
"He's going to turn me out of doors!
He can't endure me any longer, and I'm
sure I can't blame him much. Well, I
shall have to go back to Madame Me
tours, Isuppose."
Miss Lucy, do go to your room
first, = pleaded Mrs. Caldwell. saYour curls
are all in q tangle, and your mouth is red
dened with raspberry juice, and there's a
rent in your gown a quarter of a yard
long, where you've caught it on the
sWeetbriar bush, and-n
ssFiddlesticks!n said the irreverent
Lucy. sTm as bad as T can be already
in Mr.. Vanc's eyes, SO there's no use in
prinking. And Pm sorry, too,n with a
little culver Of the lip, for ] wanted
him to like me just a little.n
She went boldly into the study to face
her doom, while Efie Parker sat down on
the doorstep and began to cry.
sIf Lucy goes Of to leave me, I shall
die Of homesiekness and lonelinessTn she
sobbed.
II was fully three-quarters Of an hour
before Lucy Brown came out Of the au-
dfence chamber.
Unjust have been an awful long lee
ture. thought Efie with . shudder.
ssHow flushed she looksl | wonder il
she has been crying. Come hero, Lucy,
darling, and tell me all about it.
Lucy nestled down beside her friend
without d word.
.Was he very GROSSLY asked sympa.
thetic Fife.
1sNo-no, not 50 very
ibid he scold youa'
No. Lucy made. answer, in a voice
so low as to be scarcely audible.
ibid he tell you you couldn't stayan
ssNo.a
s.No, no, nor nnimicked Efie, begin.
ming 10 be little nettled. sThen do tell
me what be did sayln
aHe asked me to marry him. said
Lucy, with a hysterical ming.ing of laugh
and sob.
EiIie started to her feet.
ssAsked you to marry himl And what
did you say
II said yes. 3
81 never was 80 glad Of anything in all
NV lifep, cried Fife. exlltinply: ssfo,l