Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-11-14

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I'll think just as much of you. Are
you going far?'' she asked, looking
down at the ground.
"ToCalifornia,n said Angus, "and
know just what [ shall do when I
get there too. Father often told me
of valley in California where all
sorts of fruit will grow almost with
out cultivation. Father wandered
down there when he was out among
the mines, and being used to fruit
country he knew just what wonder
full place it was. He'd have gone
there himself if his sickness hadn't
come on, but he told me about it time
and again, and he gave me this little
map" and Rowland took an old torn
paper from his pocket, and carefully
opening it pointed out by the bright
moonlight which broke through the
trees the colorado of his hopes and
ambition. 'sThat valley is mine,"
said he, "and I am going there and
plant trees"
'tLuce!" called old Marsden from
the house, 'where are your"
s'Here am, father,n Lucia replied.
'tWell, it seems to me that you are
a mighty long time gone," cried the
old man, "but come to the house, for
young Hinton is here and wants to
see you"
Lucia saw the troubled look that
came into Rowland's face and hasti
ly murmured: Gather wants me to
marry him, but I won't; I'll marry
you Be sure and write often and
don't stay SO long," she pleaded as
she raised her face for a farewell kiss.
The next morning old Marsden said
to his daughter with an inquisitive
look, "Young Hinton didn't stay long
last night, did he?"
'iNo," answered Lucia, "not very
long"
s'Did he ask you to have him?" add
ed the old man.
ayes, father, he did," answered
Lucia, "but [ told him I couldn't.''
''Told him We couldn't" screamed
the old man. "Why couldn't ye?''
because I don't love him." said
the daughter, looking her father
steadily in the eye.
Glove him, Luce! l tell we people
don't marry for love. They marry to
make a good thing. When they get
the worst of it it's like any other bad
bargain; but young Hinton has mon
ey and, Luce, you'd better change
your mind and send him word that
you like him we'll enough. I'l1 give
you good start, and you'll find out
that you have pretty good old dad
after ALL"
Lucia kissed her father, but replied:
''Not him. can never marry him."
The years crept slowly by and
brought their usual round of bright
and cloudy days. Lucia had grown
taller and more beautiful. Her faith
er was still as grasping as ever. II
agree with you, Luce" he used to
say, EEthere's no special hurry; but
you drop them almost too quick some
times, it seems to me-" One day he
hobbled into the room where Lucia
sat at work and said in a severe low
tone: ''I hear that you get letters from
that Ang Rowland. Is it true?"
81 have received letters from him."
Lucia replied, ''and he is doing very
we'll, understand"
s'I don't care how he is doing. That
feller'n die poor, 'growled the old man.
He went outside and sat down on the
garden bench. EI'll see Cicely," said
he, with a crafty look on his face.
Cicely was the girl who sorted and
dealt out the mail at the village post
office. Not long after this Lucia ceas
ed receiving letters with a California
postmark.
Time passed and it was now nearly
ten years since Lucia and Angus had
stood at the garden gate and said
goodby. Old Marsden had fallen into
state Of dependency SO utterly alb
ject that Lucia was sometimes on the
point of yielding to his wishes, but she
thought, cpl wait awhile longer;
something has happened or he'd new
er have broken his word.''
One day her father called her to
him. He was unable to get about the
house now, but lay propped up in his
chair all day with his eyes closed, a
very unhappy man. "Luce," said he,
''I'll make short work of it. The last
investment I made staked all and I
lost. It was the first time, Luce, and
your father had had many a bargain
in his day, but this time has outdone
them all. In a month from now we
won't have house to cover our