Milford chronicle., 1889-03-29
LUCILLE.

= Mary ran away with that Frenchman
, Dubreuil, my father washed his hands Of her
/ and to the day Of his death he never men
r toned her name, not even when the news o
her husbands death came 70 US. They'v
always lived in France, and l thought W
. were rid OF them. She has no claim on us
and yet she writes to me on her deathbed
asking me to take her daughter
> WELL she thought as you and Hiram so
all the property, and she was disinheritsd
you ought to give her daughter a home, an
swered Mrs Hart.
She was almost as cold and hard and un
demonstrativo as her husband but, unlike
him, she was not selfish, and beneath her un
sympathetic exterior she had strong senss
Of duty
THAT girl didn't give US a chance to say
yea or nay,n Mr. Hart continued angr.ly.
"She writes that she would sail the day after
her mothers funeral, and by this telegram
she must be here on the train today Pretty
piece of busiuessl I've the greatest mind in
the world to send her packingp
The harsh lines on William Hart's face
grow harsher as he dwelt on his grievances.
IL should not have been a grievance TO give a
home 10 a poor orphan niece He was %
wealthy farmer, with three sons, two Of
them coarse and robust like himself; the
] Youngest, Robert weakly, fretful invalid
! about is years old
! II don't see the use Of making a fuss" Mrs
| Hart said in a cold voice. "Hirans's dead,
| and you happen TO be Lucille Dubreuils only
relative, so you've got to take her You
can't turn a girl Of Il out on the world.
dare say she'll give a deal Of trouble-girls
always do; and then she's hreign and not
used TO our ways"
1T don't matter her not being used u our
ways. reckon they're good enough for a
pauper; but the question with me is, How are
going TO put up with hersl l always did de
spise Frenchiied people,"
Here comes the train now' said his wife
And yes, there's n girl getting out, in
deep black. suppose it's she"
The station was only a few steps from the
farm gate, but those few steps Mr. Hart did
not take. He and his wife leaned upon the
low gate, and watched curiously a little
figure hurrying toward them. 4 lad who
was showing hsr the way pointed to the
farmer and his wife, and then returned to
tho station.
She ran hastily forward, her veil thrown
back from her small, pale face, her large gray
eyes alight with eagerness, and an appealing
smile ON her lips.
''Ah, you are mon onclein she cried, and
the next moment her arms were around the
farmers neck, and her kisses on his cheek
He almost pushed her from him
YES, I'm your uncle,n he said, coldly,
"but you needn't choke me. This is your
Aunt Janen
HIS voice and repellant manner Jared
upon Lucille's sensitive nature She drew
buck, and gazed timidly at the tall, stern
faced woman before her She dared not
proiIer a caress which had already been re-
pulsed, but she took Mrs Hart's hand with a
look which would have gono to any woman's
heart. Whether it did or not, it never en-
tered her aunt's mind to kiss the girl and
make her welcome.
''Yes, I'm your uncle's wife" she an
swered, stitly, "and hope you're going to
be a good girl, and not make US too much
troublen
why, she isn't but a mite" her uncle
said, gazing at her disapprovingly, "and
Mary was fine, large girl. But then that
little whippersnapper Of a Frenchman wasn't
bigger than pint cup"
Hush" said his WIFE, in a low voice
But Lucille, who had never heard the word
whippersuapper' before, and understood
English but imperfectly, only gqSed inquir-
ingly at the speaker
"Well, come to the house and take of
your bonnet said Mrs. Hart She led the
way, Lucille following her, with all elasticity
gone from her steps, and half frightened
look in her eyes. Was this to be her home,
and that harsh, coarse man, was be her uncle.
and her lovely mammals brotherl Oh, why
lid mamma send her to them!'
Here's your ROOM Mrs. Hart said, OPEN
ing a door, "and there's your trunk been
brought up. You'd better have a wash be-
'ore you come down to dinner"
"Merci madame!" Lucille said. 81 mean
tanl; you, my aunt"
You'll have to talk better English than
hat" Mrs. Hart said, with grim smile.
or you'll be laughed at Hurry up, for l
ant keep your dinner waiting; it's against
ny rules
As she closed the door Lucille sank on her
,nees BY the bed, and burying her face in it,
yept violently. "Ah," she sobbed, in her {
wn dear language, Il don't understand their
vords bat their looks, yesl They do not
want me. They grudge me the shelter Of
heir roof. They despise mo. All, why,
'hen mamma died, did not stay in Dinard
S servant, nurse, anything rather than
ONE TO these cold heartsl Ah, dear Dinardl
could 20 back, If 7 could wake up in my S
wn little room and find this an ugly
ream!"
She closed her eyes, and before her rose the
elds of Diuard, with their masses of scarlet
oppies against the dull green background of
'avinS grain. The solemn rhythm of the S
"a was in her ears, she was dancing the C
onde with her playmates by moonlight, and
cr mothers beautiful eyes were smiling
,nderly ut her. a..
"Ah, she wanted me to comeln Lucille L
lid, resolutely. She knew what was best for
,e, and l viii be brave and cheerful and try f
} make them love me-" f
As she smoothed her hair before the small
lirror, you saw Lucille was not pretty. She 4
as pale and thin, but her eyes were full of r
spression, and her movements easy and b
racefuL There was refinement in the girls "
'ery look and gesture, the refinement of L
pod breeding and good blood on her fathers
de, and her pretty mother had been quick
mold her own habits and tastes on those
her husbands, The family was half
rough dinner when Lucille entered the
tchen. Her uncle looked up
"You can't be hungry much, or you take
10 long to drink. This is your cousin Lucy,
)ys. That's her name in this house, for no
renchiled Lucille for me.
'Lucy, that's your cousin Stephen point
g with his knife to the larger Of the two
il young men, who grinned and looked
espish, but did not rise from their seats.
III extend hand Of welcome This is u.
INES and here is Bob, a no account Grip &,
G, as you can see. You'd better sit by him, =,
reckon, you're both so puny.n .,
The young men stared and looked more ~
eepish than ever, as their cousin, with her ~
city, graceful step, went to each, shook OF
nds, and tried to say few courteous VI
'rds in English, which only made them
ire harder, and giggle GStl their faces in
re red Al
If you don't talk the funniest lingol7 her as
Gle cried, with a rude laugh. Il tell you, La
ICY the first thing you must learn is to ho
K English so that folks can understand II
u" Lei
She smiled good humoredly. We
All yes, mon oncle, haf no English. We
k it not in Dinard. Only 70 strangers. po