Crawford avalanche., 1893-03-09

mo" answered Lucia; mot very
long,
ibid he ask you to have him "added
the old man.
Eyes, father, he did," answered Lucia
shut told him couldn't"
Told him We couldn't screamed the
o.L man. 'Why couldn't YET"
because don't love him." said the
daughter, looking her father steadily in
the eye.
Love him, Luce ! l tell ye. people
don't marry for love. They marry to
make a good thing. When they get the
worst end Of it it's like any other bad
bargain; but young Hinton has money
and, Luce, you'd better change your
mind and send him word that you like
him well enough. I'll give you good
start, and you'll find out that you have a
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 father was still as grasp
ing as ever. 81 agree with you, Luce, !"
he used to say, :" there's no special
hurry; but you drop them almost too
quick sometimes, it seems to ne." One
day he hobbled into the room where
Lucia sat at work and said in n severe,
low tone: " / hear that you get letters
from that Ang Rowland. Is it true !"
:" have received letters from him, y
Lucia replied, "and he is doing very
well, ] understand"
81 don't care how he is doing. That
feller'll die poor" growled the old man.
He went outside and sat down on
the garden bench. "I'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 postoffice.
Not long after this Lucia ceased receiv-
ing letters with a California post-mark.
Time passed, and it was now nearly
ten years since Lucia and Angus had
stood mt the garden gate and said good
bye. Old Marsden had fallen into a
state of dependency so utterly abject
that Lucia was sometimes on the point
of yielding to his wishes, but she thought,
'I'll wait awhile longee; something has
happened or he'd never 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, very unhappy
old man. Luce said he,' 'Ill make
short work of it. The last investment
l made / staked all and / lost. 1t was
the first time, Luce, aud your father has
had many bargain in his day, but this
time he has outdonc them all. In 9
month from now we won't have house
to cover our heads. / hoped this sick
ness might hurry me off, but | see it''
going to give me time. and I'll have tC
go to the poor house, Luce, unless, " anC
the old man looked at her pitifully, sun
less YOU save your old dad"
I'm work for you'll" cried Lucia
"You shall never go to the poor-house.
And she was more tender in the care o
her father after that.
, One day as she stood near her favorit
bed of flowers sadly thinking how sool
, she would have to leave them, voic
broke the silence of her meditations:
: beg your pardon, but your flowers lool
, very pretty and had to stop to admir-
, them.n and looking mp Lucia saw a tall
: we'll dressed gentleman standing at tn
garden gate. 81 raise q great man.
, flowers myself" said the gentleman
"and l always take an interest in them
I but live in a flower country where the
grow much more luxuriantly than here.
e Lucia gave startled LOOKOUT no
/ how foolish; it couldn't be he. Angu
Howard could never have developed int
2 such handsome man.
4 II declare, Luce, you don't kno'
me-" said the gentleman with smile.
4 ooh, Ang know you now. for yo
o speak with your old voice, but you hav
q been away u long time"
q "You stopped writing, and / read in
!: California paper that you were married,
q said Angus; ''but recently learned thi
v il was a false report, and am here one
;. more to ask you to be mine.
= Father, this gentleman wishes to 81
,e you." said Lucia, as she ushered How
4 land into her fathers room. The ol
is man opened his eyes and murmure'
d "Well, have a chair"
4 ssI understand that you have suffert
lv misfortune, said the gentleman kindl
.. The old man groaned. III have
W die in the poor-house; there's no he
10 for it."
le sIt NAV not be so bad as that" sa
| the gentleman.
ID The old man turned on him fercely.
s.What do you want with me, I'd like
We knowY Amt it bad enough to be RUNE
he but a lot of vultures have got to col
ap and hover around me before I'm dead
1T II have been investigating the matter
zee said the gentleman, land am sure Il
zh it is not so bad as you think, and here
Ter evidence that you will not be turned
i'd of your home at any rate" and he open
an before the old mans eyes the cancel
mortgage. This place is yours" ST
to the gentleman, "and all your other p
me perty is safe, for have been making
am vestigations."
rry .Who are you," cried old Marsd'
Tor "that comes at this time and saves
be from the poor houscl"
r." sIt Ia not so bad as that, said the g
The tleman, smiling, "but my name is Ane
HoYland."
D." The remaining few months of the
| il mans life worked a great change In
so character. One day when the autu
nto leaves were turning he called his cl
rou drcn to him. Goodbye" said he,
ley am going. You are good boy, Ang,
Of will make her happy" and bis eyes clio
ed, forever. -IChicago News.
- The Chinook Wind.
4
of There is only one impression respect
.vsrd phioh L think