The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-12-21
"Closer-miIes cIoser,n mew

| NlOSNl NlOetl IL
"Who? Do you mean any one of ouI
loyalist neighbours
Lucy ran her thought over her short
list of friends. All the valued names
had been expunged by her mothers
strict censorship or pushed back among
mere acquaintance.
"Have you forgotten your father" the
butler asked.
Forgotten! go every day, when no
one is by, and lift up the corner of the
curtain over the Vandyck. Our ances-
tor is my father himself. look at him
and pray God to forgive him for being
so wicked and breaking my mothers
heart"
"PohI'
Lucy drew back in establishment, as
if Paixhan blowgun had exploded at
her side.
"Pohr again burst out Voltaire's
double corked indignation. "If there
was wicked one in that pair it wasn't
him. If there's heart broke it's his"
Lucy for moment did not think of
this as an assault upon her mother.
"What, Votaire" she cried. "He is
not dead! Not bad man! Not a
REBEL"
"Rebel!" says the French radicals
namesake. "Why shouldn't he be Il
rebel for freedom? Bad! he amt bad
enough TO marry off his daughter only
to git shet Of her. Dead! No, Miss
Lucy; he's up to Fishkill, and sends you
his Tub by me, if you want it,"
Love-even disguised as "lub"-it was
such fair angel of light that Lucy
looked up and greeted it with a smile.
But this was not IA day for smiles.
Storms were come after long gray
weather. Only tears now-bitter tears!
They must flow, sweet sister, 1t is the
old, old story.
docs he really love me? Is this true2
Was he true? Was deceived Why
did he and my mother separate? Why
did she drive him out? Whom can |
trustI Is every one liar? What does
this mean? Answer me, Voltaire! An
swer me or shall die"
Voltaire looked and dih not answer.
To answer was terrible revelation TO
make TO this innocent girl. Faith was
putting the old fellow TO very cruel
works.
"Speakv said Lucy again, more pas
sionately than before, and her voice ex-
pressed the birth of a new force within
her. Speak! What have you to say
of my mother? | dread some new sor-
row. Tell me what it is or / shall die"
Again these pages refuse TO listen to
the few dcplorable words of his reply.
! He whispered the secret of her mothers
disloyal life.
81 will not believe it," said the horror
stricken girl
She did believe it.
She had touched the clew. From this
moment she knew the past and the pres
ent-vaguely, as pure soul may know
the mystery of sin.
For the moment she felt herself
crushed to q deeper despair that before.
She recognized the great overpowering
urgency of fate. She could not know
that this recognition marks TO the soul
! its first step into conscious immortality:
and that the inevitable struggle TO con.
quer fate must now begin in her soul.
What can | dor" she said; and she
looked guiltily about the chamber, as if
every object in that house were the ac-
complete of sin.
Run away with me to your fatherl"
said Voltaire.
She shook her head weakly. She was
great, great way yet from any such
exploit with her infant will.
mo" she said; ~ must obey my
mother. That is my plain duty. She is
pledged and am pledged TO this mar
riage. | must submit" Tears again,
poor child! The old habits are still too
strong for her.
"But suppose your father should tell
you TO obey him and not submit" Vol
taire propounded. Suppose he should
help TO run you Off"
"HOw can heY'
81 will steal off tonight TO Fishkill
and see him."
"You risk your life"
"Pohw
'Poh!' is not word TO use to a young
lady, Mr.. Voltaire. Yet perhaps nothing
could express 30 well as that explosive
syllable how much and how little he
valued life when the lady's happiness
was at stake.
"But | didn't want Miss Lucy 10 be
frightened, Of course" says he TO Major
Skerrett, $50 | told her | was safe
enough in the Highlands, and when /
got here | didn't believe Major Scram-
mel would let me be shot for a spy"
Here he gave a monstrous sly look
Peter Skerrett again felt his cheeks
burn and his forehead Jingle, and the
stilled Muse Of History reports that che
uttered a phrase indicative Of reprehen-
sion and distrust."
In short, he said 10 himself, "Scram-
melt damn the fellowl"
Certainly Why not2 But II must not
be forgotten that ii is Scrammel who
suggested this expedition. Voltaire told
Scrammel Of the marriage. Scrammel
would do one of his meanest tricks to
be himself the bridegroom. And his
scheme seems TO be in fair way to for.
bid tho banns.
And so guileless Lucy Brothertoft had
consented 10 her first plot. Her accom-