Smyrna times., 1892-01-13

badly perverted taste, but | suppose
l must bow to your desires. Suffice it
to say that tor fourteen days I lived in
Paradise, while making arrangements
for speedy marriage.
The only thing that married our
happiness was that Lucilla appeared to
be OF a jealous nature. She would in
sist that / hirted, and asked me for
particulars of all the girls l had seen
during the day, and then would weep,
and put her face against mine, and pet
ulantly ask the atmosphere why men
were not true, which, l must confess
was rather annoying to an ardent spirit
like mine.
AT such times she evinced decided
tendency to become poetica, but
knowing the strong prejudices of my
friend Briggs, l always endeavored to
turn her thoughts in some different
| direction.
Then, sometimes she would say
quite mOurnfully, "Miggs l feel that
we are not destined to be happy.
fear some dread spectre may come be-
tween us, even at the alter, and part
US forever
Poor darling She was indeed a
jewel!
81 engaged apartments at Beach
mont, and on one fine Tuesday after
noon we were married. The fatal step
was taken, and 1 was no longer bach
elor.
Now said, after the ceremony,
I can breathe freely. am sure of you.
You are mine
'She replied by such look Of ten
derness and love, such radiance of
affectionate regard, that l blessed
thousand times the chance that led me
on that afternoon to the Growers Cliff
" Be true, darling, always be true =
she murmured softly and | declared
with emphasis that Cleopatra herself
would have found me as adament
| against her charms-that Lucilla
should be my sun by day and my star
by night.
When we arrived home in the ev-
ening, however, Lucilla was very much
upset. Her belongings, which should
have come during the day, had not
arrived. She wept a little, and | was
unable to pacify her. She became hys-
/ terical and | becaRe alarmed. She
asked me to go to her doctor, who
lived ten miles away, and bring her
something which he would give me.
l objected, she implored | used Ian
guage. She commanded, Ultimately,
with very bad grace, put on my hat
and went.
I'm the worst of humors, I boarded
the train and settled down for long
ride. And a long ride it was. Every
thing seemed to get in the way of that
unfortunate train, and delay its pro-
gress. l positively foamed at the
mouth with rage.
but when | reached the street and
number mentioned by Lucilla, and
couldn't find the doctor whose name
she had given me, went nearly mad.
No one had ever heard of such a per-
son, and his name wasn't in the direc-
tory. However, was bound to take
something back, SO called upon the
first physician came to, explained
the matter as best l could, obtained
some sort of draught, and wendell my
way dejectedly homeward, arriving at
about 10, AS / entered the house a
feeling of desolatiOn and misery took
possession of me. l entered our apart
ments. They were in darkness.
"Lucilla ~ cried.
There was no answer. lit the gas
and looked around no Lucilla.
shivered with apprehension.
Alas = l said. I shall find her at
Growers Cliff. She may be dashing
herself down the giddy steep. must
fly to her rescue, and perhaps I may
not be too late
81 rushed down stairs and then a
thought occurred to me. l called the
landlady, and asked her anxiously if
she had seen Lucilla go out.
Gracious sakes = exclaimed the
landlady. i thought you were with
her.
Why-why p 1 suffered.
Some one was,' she replied, and
they took away your large trunk with
them in a herdic, Mr.. Miggs.'
Sainted mother,in.law !! l cried.
Let me investigated
upstairs dashed with the landlady
after me. It was too true. The trunk
in which kept my money was gone.
l would not believe my ewes.
=" Here said the landlady, lis a note
addressed to YOU
She picked up piece of paper
which lay on the dressing table and
handed it to me. l unfOlded it with
feverish haste and persued the follow
ing:
'"Thanks for your love which won't return,
! Thanks for your letters which will burn,
Thanks fOl your trunk. The clothes in there
| Will qe just the things for my John to wear.
| Thanks for the dollars, two hundred OF three,
When in need of money, just think of mew
Gentlemen" said Miggs, when l
read that note the heat of my feelings
was so intense that it would have
boiled the whole Arctic Ocean. Lucilla
my peerless Lucilla-was a married
woman all the time"
There was a silence for about min
ute, and then as Diggs drank glass of
water to relieve his excitement, and
Higgs shook the suffering man sympa-
thetically and sorrOwfully by the hand
Briggs heaved sigh and said very
sOlemnly:
"Miggs, you're fraud ~