Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-15
CHAPTER KILL
COCRTSBIP.

near approach of the riders.
 CHAPTER KILL
 CoURrsHIp.
 The second day after the picnic Mr. Annelsey called at the Parsons cottage, and was met at the door by Lucy and l invited into the sitting-room. Her de- meanor showed clearly that his coming was not unexpected, but whether it caused her more pleasure than embar- rassment would not have been so easy | to determine.
 MT. Annelsey himself had no doubt ot 1t, however. Had she not told him on parting at the lake that he might call, and was she not blushing and embar- rassed now? What better proof could he desire that she was pleased and flat tered by his attentionsP
 l None, he thought, and he was corre- spondingly elated and became really entertaining in relating his experience in camping at the lake and at the mine Ian experience which to him possessed all the pleasure of novelty.
 Lucy had intended to tell her mother and Jennie that MT. Annelsey had asked permission to call on her. but had knowing at what time to expect his coming. had deferred speaking of it, hoping some opportunity would arise without herself having to introduce the subject.
 But although the family did not know that he had requested permission to call, it is probable that they were not greatly surprised at seeing him, They knew him to be in the neighborhood. and perhaps others besides Erastus sus- pected that his appearance at the picnic was not purely accidental.
 although the young man had called especially to see Lucy, Jennie was per haps more pleased at his coming than her sister. or than any other member of the family. She liked him exactly as she liked other young men who were pleasant company, and hoped he would
 remain in the vicinity and take part in
 their occasional pastimes during the
 summer; and she had mono of Lucy s
 feelings of being made conspicuous by
 having been selected as an object of
 especial attention by him.
 As for their mother, she saw nothing
 objectionable in the young man. He
 was gentlemanly, and appeared to her
 to be as moral as other young men; and
 what mother was ever offended that a
 young man of wealth and standing in
 society saw attractions in her daughter
 which he did not see in the daughters
 of others?
 Mr. Annelsey was given a cordial in. | vitation to remain to tea; an invitation
 which he was not slow in accepting,
 and so met MT. Parsons and Erastus,
 both of whom treated him courteously
 though the greeting of the younger
 man was certainly not excessive in its
 cordiality; and who, as soon as the mea
 was over, made an excuse to leave the
 house and did not return until Annelsey
 had departed.
 On the other hand, MT. Parsons wa.
 pleased that he had called, and showed
 it. He wanted to see him. He wanted
 to learn how the work at thu mine was getting on and how
 soon they would probably b.
 ready to turn on the water and begin
 washing down the hills, and hls name
 was such as to still further imbue An nelsey with the idea that he was helt ,, in high favor and that Lucy and he parents felt honored by his attentions In reply to MT. Parsons questions h. told him that the work on the tlum ! which was to conduct the water to tn 9 reservoir was progressing rapidly
 portion of it over two miles long having
 been completed; that the remainin , mile would be finished by the time tn !, tunnel and the sluice for carrying ava . the debris and saving tho gold would b ! ready, which would probably be i 2 . about three months, and that then the would be ready for active operations. Not wishing to wear his welcome ou e he declined an invitation to remain 8 Il the cottage over night and returned
 his camp by the lake, where his guid awaited him, and on the following da ,f again took possession of the quarter l. assigned him at the mining camp. whic V | already aspired to be called 8 town, b number of clapboard shanties and d lodging house with the usual bar-rool Q attachment having been erected. # It was not long before he was agai !. at the Parsons cottage; and soon d came to be expected that he woul h make one of any company of youn ,t people that assembled for a merr, - making in the neighborhood. If he di .a not always escort Lucy he spent gre ,s portion of the time at all these gathe s ings in her company, and her compal 10 lons were constantly reminding her
 a laughing way that she had capture the young New Yorker. whom rum'
 asserted was heir to a million or two. he All this was a source of great anno le. ance to Erastus, and at times caus, si- him to appear less gracious, both t ou wards MT. Annelsey and others, ths he was usual with him. With Lucy | 70, mood was changeable, depending nd great deal upon the frequency of l ses rivals visits.
 n, If 8 week or more elapsed without oee coll from Annelsev Erast,,a resnm