The Opelousas courier., 1889-09-21

the sea before breakfast nave the r1gnG
# sitting on the beach all forenoon with
their hair spread all over their backs like
an enormous fan-to dry it of course!
Lucy Graham .hjoying the benefit of
this custom, R6Sng with a novel, at half
past 10 on Thursday morning, when
Major Bowring's stiff figure and purple
face made their appearance. The Major
made his way to his mistress's side With
lover-like haste. {,
envy dear Miss Graham!-or Lucynaf
may surely say now-how really charTffa3
ing you look this morning! I'm nG
fattering you now, really, 'pon myl
honor. / never saw you look half SO
! well.n
The gallant officers further intentions
were frustrated by an u~naccountable shy
ness on Miss Lucy's part, and the appear
ance of a couple of giggling girls from
behind the rocks. Lucy and her Major
| chattcd on for a few minutes, and then
she said: "By the way, Major Bow
ring"
"Won't you call me Tom, Lucy2" in
terrupted the lover, with quite an arch
look in his little pig-like eyes.
The girl only smiled in answer to this
tender appeal, and went n II heard
such a stupid, disagreeable report in Glas-
gov yesterday. 1t was most annoying.
People have been saying that 1 am very
! rich-quite an heiress, in fact. wonder
who could have started such an absurd
rnmor." IL
The Major stared at the girl, A6 she
had mes1nerized him. "But y65S are
rich! Your granduncle left you a Eln-
bred thousand pounds; I know it for a
fact!"
ooh, dear me, MOI" cried Lucy, laugh
ing heartily; s'what and absurd ideal"
f'Miss Lucy Graham, " said the warrior,
solemnly, "do you assure me that this is
truel" and as he spoke he glanced at the
dainty morning costume Of the young
lady beside him.
"Of course I do. What put that alb
surd nonsense into your head2 But,
dear Major Bowring, dear-Tom-that
doesn't make any difference between you
and me, does it?n@
"But indeed ffaEdoes, Miss Graham"
returned the officer, excitedly "'Pon
my honor, I don't know what to say.
It's deuced awkward. II in fact-it
i never would do-never. I've nothing
but my pay, you see; and"
Here Miss Lucy's handkerchief went
up to her eyes, and the gallant Major
could hear the words, sheartless-a poor
girl-who trusted-deserted like this
the very next lay" and also something
very ike a sob.
"Go away! you heartless, cruel, bad
mani" came from behind the delicate
little handkerchief.
The Major rose with a sense Of relief,
and after a dozen steps glanced back.
Miss Graham was peeping from behind
her handkerchief-and she was laughing!
He gasasd; his face grew to a deeper
red: he Struck his sticIson the ground
and left Drumsynisa EEg the next
steamer.
In half an hour more, Lucy was walk
ing through 81 romantic dell beside the
Hon. FranM Newlands. He was a
youngish mahn, carefully dressed in sum
mer tweeds. An eyeglass was the most
noticeable thing about his face.
Eyes, we shall be so happy" tnegirl
was saying in a low, murmurous voice,
'sand / am only sorry for your sake that
I have no fortune"
"That's a good joke, my dear Lucy,
upon my word"
Lucy opened her BLUE eyes innocently.
ats no joke at alts 1 assure you. Did
you imagine / was an heiress! If you did
{ You imagined 9 vain thing cnost GER
"Why, Lucy, it is well known1taaf
you are an heiress. Everybody knows
Everybody knows more than do,
then, I am sorry to say
The Hon. Francis Newlands looked abb
stractedly at his watch, and suddenly ex-
claimed:
"Wen, you see, my dear Miss Graham,
you always knew / had no money. We
can't marry witsfoutit. don't want to
tie you down to a long engagement"
ooh, If you really love me, don't
mind waiting any length of timefa ex-
claimed this perverse young lady; and
her lover trembled lest, after all, the way
of escape should be closed.
81 could not accept such a sacrifice
indeed I could not he replied earnest
IL.
uThen I understand. You loved me
warmly not very long ago. The fuel be-
ing gone, the fire dies out-natuarally.
Mr.. NeWlands, I have heard of girls marry
ing for O home-for money. It is bad
enough in a girl, but in a man. I wish
you good day"
The Honorable Francis bowed and re-
tired without a word. Lucy laughed as
his well dressed figure disappeared among
the trees; but the laugh was rather q
bitter one.
In half an hour afterward this naughty
girl was back ON her old sessssaon the
beach, and Mr.. John Sandman preseTts
appeared. Mr.. Sandman was q wealthy
cheese-merchant, about forty-fve years Of
age-a big man, withla horid complexion
and red whiskers tinged with gray meet
lug under his chin. AS he came up to
her, Lucy could see that he was troubled
in his mind.
aMiss Graham he began, rather ab-
rupIy, 81 have just heard the strongest
rumor about you-that it's all q mistake
about your money, / mean. don't
understand it, for.n The worthy
cheese merchant stonned. He could hard