Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-08-22
THREE AT ONCE.

"Why three lovers, of course-three
proposals"
s'Whatl All at once?" exclaimed Hat
tie, her eyes full of CONSERVATION.
"To be sure, Ihave, answered Lucy her
bright face beaming with merriment.
"Why not three as well as onel 1t will
come all to the same thing in the end"
"But, Lucy, dear, isn't it shame to
go SO far9"
"Not bit. Not one of them cares a
pin for me. Didn't tell you they would
all rush at me like flies at treacle as soon
as they heard l was rich. Well, there's
Major Bowring. He was the first. oh,
dearl laugh whenever l think OF it. l
laughed for quarter of an hour after he
left me. Then came the Hon. Francis
Newlands, and after him Mr.. Sandman,
the cheese factor. So simply took them
all, one after the other"
'But aren't you afraid9 Won't there
be complications, and-oh, Lucy! you
dreadful girl, what would you do if two
of them were to meet you at once2"
"I'll manage it all right" said Lucy,
carelessly, as she flung off her hat-the
prettiest little Partisan hat in the world
and sat on the sofa at her cousins
feet.
"The only one I can't bring down."
she went on, ''is Godfrey Cunningham.
At one time 1 thought he was going to
be one of my lovers, but for the last fort
night he has deserted me. He has always
been with you. Why are you blushing,
Hattie7 Do you think that he cares for
youG" she asked eagerly, as she looked
Into her little cousins pale face, over
which faint rose blush was stealing.
"You looked so pleased just now. Tell
me, Hattie, is it true2"
Hattie turned half round and gazed
over the blue sunlit Firth, while the
blush deepened on her delicate white
face. She did not speak.
"You needn't say word, Hattie; I
know. And if it does come, wish you
Joy, darling; for he's the only one of
them all that's worth o straw"
II suppose auntie will want us to go
up to Glasgow with her tomorrow" said
Hattie after pause.
"Yes," said Lucy; "I told all my low
ers should be away the whole of to-
morrow, but I've given them appoint
ments for Thursday; the Major on the
beach at half-past 10; the fine gentleman
in the lane that runs up the hill at half
past IL, and the cheeseman on the beach
at half past IL. I'll take him On the
way home to lunch. 1 had no idea il
would be such good fun. I'm going tc
run down to the postofiice. Good-by,
little one."
Left to herself, Harriet Graham al
lowed her book to fall into her lap, and
sat idly gazing out of the window at the
scene before her. There lay the Firth O.
Clyde, shining clear blue in the summer
sun, dotted with white sails. Near a
hand were the trim lawn, the white roat
skirting the sea, and then the white
beach. Except the twitter of birds th'
only sound in the air was the continue
murmur from the sea. For the Clyde
unlike an English watering-place as
Highland clachan is unlike a manufac
turing town. The substantial Glaswe
gian builds his shouse at the salt water,
or takes one furnished, and inhabits
from June to September in peace an
uuietness. There are thousands of thos
houses, great and small, teach in il
nook of leaves" along the long windin
shores of the Firth and the lochs.
Mrs. Mackenzie, distant connectio
of the girls, had taken one of these houses
called s'Bracken Brae," near villaa
called Drumsynie. and the two cousins
both orphans, were her guests.
While Harriet was still gazing over th
blue water, Godfrey Cunningham W;
slowly proceeding along the dusty roa
on his way to Bracken Brae. Godfre
was now the sole representative of one
the Oldest and poorest families in IL
southwest of Scotland. Godfrey held
commission in cavalry regiment, but
was continually debating with himse
whether or not he was too old to chans
bis trade and Ego into business"
Like several others, the Lieutenant hi
come to Drumsynie, attracted by the 7
port of Lucy Graham's wealth. T
money had come from an uncle of b
fathers, and people said that the su
reached six figures. And Lucy Graha
was nice girl; there was as little dou
about that-tall, rather handsome, brigl
good -natured, and fond of fun. B
Godfrey could not keep his eyes off t
the little pale maiden who lived with Lu
as friend and companion, under t
shadow of her cousins wealth. Her &c
tie nature and sweet, expressive face h
fairly won the young soldiers heart, a
now he was seeking her with the int
ton of telling her that fact. For
moment, poverty and care were forg
ten.
Godfrey found the girl he loved sitti
in the garden, hidden by great hed
of fuchsias. For while he was v,
silent; he could not ''lead up" to the s,
iect by any avenue he could think of, a
so at last, apropos of nothing, he bu
out with:
'sDo you think poverty is very dre'
full thing, Miss GrahamG"
''It is sometimes hard to be poor"
swered the girl, absently.
"It is hard and poor lifeI haveto o.
you; but if you thought you could sh