The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-01-20
THE STOLEN LETTERS.

Lucy Watson had two lovers--this
would be an unfair allowance in these
days, but fifteen years ago there were
more marrying men in India and fewer
maidens. Besides, Lucy was really
sweet enough to monopolize the atten-
ton of any number. Of these two
swains one was an elderly swain-that
is, if the collector Of district on two
thousand and some odd hundreds of
rupees q month, and fund of the
most liberal nature can properly be
called swain at all, which is doubtful.
He was good fellow, was John Nc
Allister, but at least twenty years older
than Lucy, and, what was more to the
point, very prim and stiff and solemn
and serious, and, in fact, destitute OF
not only appearance, but the thoughts
and ways of youth.
And so when Col. Watson cited in
stances of the happy marriages he had
| seen between elderly gentlemen and
youthful lassies-he used occasionally
to draw on his imagination little
poor Lucy would piteously reply:
Yes, papa, but it isn't his age that's
nothing, nothing oh, Lucy, Lucy
bat he's so old in his ideas and habits;
he has nothing in common with
girl
And then there would be little
break down in the voice, and tear
would fall on the Colonels hand, and
he would turn away to smoke cheroot,
md make the best of it, for he did not
want to force his child into distaste-
full marriage, he was too fond of her for
that but with six sons ranging from
fifteen to five, that his one daughter
should marry well-to-do man was dis
tinctly desirable.
Pensions were good in those days, but
even 91, 100 year seemed small with
such troop OF boys to educate and put
into the world. And then there was
trihe of debt which McAllister would
but what was the use of thinking about
it if it would make little Lucy unhappy :?
1t is almost superAous to say that the
other adorer, whom Lucy did like, was
a hopeless ineligible. George Farleigh
was subaltern in her fathers regiment,
of about five years service. A fine
young fellow, good at sports but with
absolutely no prospects. There was no
chance of the adjutancy falling vacant
for long time, and there were no de-
partmental openings, SO far at least as
he was concerned.
In small, up-country station these
two had many opportunities of meet
ing, and, to do them justice, they took
advantage of all they could get. But
Lucy was not without mixture of
sound common sense, and she would
not pledge herself to George until he
could show some reasonable grounds for
believing that his position would soon
Justify marriage; she would not listen to
the idea Of an indefinite arrangement.
Matters were thus at deadlock, and
there seemed no hope of solution.
Months passed by, weary months to all
concerned. Then, all of sudden,
came change. The new Governor
General arrived in the country, and it so
happened that in former years he had
,nown Georges father rather init
nately. The natural result followed.
For boy who had passed nothing but
the higher standard in Hindustani it
VAS not possible to do much at once,
| Dut he might be tried. So, down came
the offer OF semi political appointment
in native State for six months, the
continuance of which was to depend
lpon Georges progress and ability.
There was fearful parting.
Now, mind, you are not to write to
me until L write to you first. Papa
would be very angry if you were to
write direct to me; and, of course, ]
won't have anything done in round
ont way. When l write to you, if I
rite at all, sir, then you may an
swer."
- half laughing, Lucy dismissed
illm and both the Colonel and McAllis-
,er said goodby with a sigh of relief.
The sagacious Lucy had a reason for
the condition she imposed. Over and
above the difficulties of correspon-
,ience to which her father would object,
ne wanted to test her lover. Married
d, lies, often prone to dismal advice,
lad snitfiingly told her of the incon-
,tancy of man, and she had also read
about it in novels and poems, so she
thought that an experiment should be
made.
IF we begin by writing to each other, !"
she argued to herself, "he won't have a
chance of forgetting me; but if there is
40 communication between us for some
Cime then that will show whether his
affection is sincere"
Left alone in the field, good, honest
McAllister could make the running at
his own pace; but somehow he never
eemed to get any nearer the winning
post. s4s . -
But the three months never passed,
for one fine day the Colonel, with a
white face and broken bones, was
drought back in dhooly from the
parade ground This horse had fallen),
md though the bones were soon mended
complications set in, and the doctors
ordered him home-'internal injuries;
never get right in this place; voyage
will give him strength" etc. Then the
poor man told Lucy that she really had
letter make up her mind, that he could
i'll afford the expense of taking her to
england, and reminded her that she did
not get on too easily with her step
mother, who was looking after the boys.
And Lucy did make up her mind. She
wrote straight to George that very after
noon, telling him everything.
Il hope it isn't very unmaidenly,
dear, but there is no time to stand
| nnnD- fortnolitiao Tf Won cfslI ooro foY