Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-03-18

through the trees, the Eldorado of his
hopes and ambition. THAT valley is
mine, said he, land l am going there
and plant trees"
"Luce" called old Marsden from the
house, ''where are you"
"Here | am, father" Lucia replied.
'.Well, it seems to me that you are a
long time gone" cried the old man,
''but come TO the house, for young Hin
ton is here and wants to see you.H
Lucia saw the troubled look that came
into Howland's face and hastily muir
INJURED Father wants me to marry him,
but won't; I'll marryyo BE sure and
write often and don't stay so long" she
pleaded as she raised her face for a fare
we'll kiss.
The next morning old Marsden said to
his daughter with an inquisitive look,
young Hinton didn't stay long last
night, did he9"
mo" answered Lucia; "not very
long"
'sDid he ask you to have him added
the old man.
Eyes, father, he did," answered Lucia
''but told him | couldn't"
Told him We couldn't /" screamed the
cd man. "Why couldn't ye9"
Because don't love him." said the
daughter, looking her father steadily in
the eye.
''Love him, Luce I tell We. people
don't marry for love. They marry to
make 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 we'll enough. I'll 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. l 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 me-" One
day he hobbled into the room where
Lucia sat at work and said in severe,
low tone: " l hear that you get letters
from that Ang Rowland. Is it true ~
:" have received letters from him."
Lucia replied, "and he is doing very
well, ] understand"
81 don't care how he is doing That
fellerll die poor" growled the old man.
He went outside and sat down on
the garden bench. "rll see Cicely,"
said he, with crafty look on his face
Cicely was the girl who sorted and dealt
oat the mail at the village postoffice.
Not long after this Lucia ceased receiv-
ing letters with California post -mark
Time passed, and it was now nearly
ten years since Lucia and Angus had
stood at the garden gate and said good
bye. Old Marsden had fallen into q
state of dependency SO utterly abiect
that Lucia was sometimes on the point
of yielding to his wishes, but she thought,
'1'll wait awhile longer; 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. 'Iuce," said he, > ''rll make
short work of it. The last investment
| made | staked all and | lost. 1t was
the first time, Luce, and your father has
had many bargain in his day, but this
time he has outdone them all. In
month from now we won't have a house
to cover our heads. l hoped this sick
ness might hurry me off, but see it's
going to give me time, and I'll have to
go to the poor-house, Luce, unless, - and
the old man looked at her pitifully, Gun
less you save your old dad"
"Ill work for you'll" cried Lucia
"You shall never go to the poor-house"
And she was more tender in the care of
her father after that.
One day as she stood near her favorite
bed of flowers sadly thinking how soon
she would have to leave them, a voice
broke the silence of her meditations ~
beg your pardon, but your flowers look
very pretty and had TO stop to admire
them" and looking up Lucia saw tall,
well-dressed gentleman standing at the
garden gate. g raise a great many
flowers myself" said the gentleman,
g" and | always take an interest in them,
but live in flower country where they
grow much more luxuriantly than here
Lucia gave a startled LOOKOUT no
how foolish; it couldn't be he. Angus
Howard could never have developed into
such a handsome man.
81 declare, Luce, you don't know
me" said the gentleman with a smile.
"Oh, Ang know you now, for you
speak with your old voice, but you have
been away n long time"
"You stopped writing, and read in a
California paper that you were married, y
said Angus; "but recently learned that
it was false report, and am here once
more to ask you to be mine"
Father, this gentleman wishes to see
you" said Lucia, as she ushered How
land into her fathers room. The old
man opened his eyes and murmured,
"Well, have a chair"
81 understand that you have suffered
a misfortune, said the gentleman kindly.