Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-24
[Copwtoht Secured An Rights Reserred.l Driven From Sea to Sea,
 Or, JUST A CAMPIN'.
HY 0. o. POST.

return to New York, and whose posi- tion in wealth was equal to his own; and althoug he told himself that Lu- cy's letter had broken his heart, it is probable that after the shock to his self esteem was over he was rather glad than otherwise.
 If Lucy expected or desired mora vehement protest ation of love from Ter discarded suitor than she received, her manner upon opening his letter did not reveal it.
 She read the letter in the presence of the family. and then calmly handed it to h r mother. The next day she replied to it. reiterating her desire to be free from their engagement and ask ing the return of her letters.
 'I shall send yours, together with the ring and other jewelry, by the same mail that takes this letter. she wrote him, and having sealed it and seen it, in company with the package, safely on its way to the office, she went about her usual duties with a cheerful, even mer- " air, which was great source of com fort to her parents, and of especial sat tsfaction to her father.
 ''f Rastus 'ud only come back now it 'ud be all right he unused. and feel ing certain that the young mans affec- tion for Lucy had not waned because of absence, fully expected him to come back and ask her to be his wife.
 For this he waited with impatience, wondering at Erastus' delay and in- venting excuses for it.
 "'Spect the poor fellow hasn't jest got the money by him to come on," he said to himself.
 And then again: 'May be he's put A:,.f l>:o c-:z it will be growk while he's gone." Or, ''like enough, he's a-workin' for some body else for spell an can't honorably get of right away'
 But as the weeks passed into months and the only evidence that Erastus had not forgotten them was a letter express ing his sorrow at the loss of their home, and hope that he might some time as- sist them if they should require it, but never word about Lucy or any inten- tion of visiting the family, all hope of seeing Lucy married to the man whom he loved as a son and respected for his manly qualities began to die out of John Parsons bosom.
 "'Rastus was always awful proud" he said to himself. "an' I reckon he can't get over the girls preferrin' of that young, jackanapes to him in the first place."
 He still supposed that Mrs. Parsons had Written Era tus of Lucy's dism ssal | of Annelsey. and it was not until months had passed and summer was | giving place to fall that he learned diff ferently.
 | He had never mentioned his hope that the young folks would make up' to any one.
 Erastus knew that Lucy was with her parents, but supposed her only waiting for her affianc ced to come and claim her, and so worked on, striving to con ,uer his love, but yer succeeding, even for a moment.
 And Lucy, although knowing that she loved Erastus, had always loved him. either supposed that he knew of her broken enga cement, and knowing it was silent becauN he had no love fo1 her, or, if she suspected he did not know, was restra ne by maidenly re- serve from taking any steps to acquaint him W tn the fact.
 One day Mrs. Parsons was helping her husband in the gar len. when some thing was said about Era>tus.
 II wonder remarked Mrs. Parsons "what he is doing now? It is gocC while since we heard rom hial. 1 wisl knew how he is getting along. Pool boy, he must have a hard me of il with no one to keep his clothes in order or do thlng or him. 1 wonder if he ever thinks ol gett ng ma rled?
 "Of course he must" she added, an. swering her own questions; "he has go 8 little start by this time and every young man on a farm needs a wife. hope be VII get good one when h' does marry"
 John Parsons ga''e his clothes little hitch, habit he had when at a loss fo word. Then turning h.s back to hi wife and putting an extra bit of forc' into the hoe he was using, sad:
 II had sort O thought may be he an Lucy'd make up, now Annelsey's out o the way, but it seems they don't Pears like 'Rastus is too proud to talk up with bein' second choice, though don't b'lieve the girl ever cared half a much for that ar popenjay Annelsey 8 she did for him, even if she did prom ise to marry him. I wish she'd writ to 'Rastus and tell him SO. I knov that 'ud fetch him. 'Ras ain't the fel low to get over that kind of a thing il a hurry, and know he loved her des prit, an it seems no more'n fair tha She should take the first step toward maKln up, unuer tne clrcumStanceS. His manner of saying this showe , that he intended it to be all argumen too strong for his wife to rebut. show ing reason why Lucy could, and should
 let Erastus know that she had change her mind and was ready to marry hir if he still desired it.
 , When he paused he felt that he ha , not made the case as strong as it shoul be, but not knowing exactly how t make it stronger he waited for repl
 from his wife, still keeping his bac
 towards her and his hoe going vigol 3 ously.
 But Mrs. Parsons knew that her hu' r band had not fin shed what he wishe a to say, and she remained silent. Prett 8 soon he began again:
 You see, Marty, it holds to rease l. that Lucy should be the one to spea " first 'R aCtuS lOvo1 har on, cbo Eno