St. Landry democrat., 1893-04-29
pleaded as she raised her face for fare
1,,,o

we'll kiss.
The next morning old Marsden said t.
his daughter with an inquisitive look
young Hinton didn't stay long las
night, did he2"
7No," answered Lucia; "not yer!
long"
"Did he ask you to have him "added
the old man.
eyes, father, he did," answered Luci;
"but told him I couldn't"
"Told him ye couldn't !" screamed the
o.l man. "Why couldn't yea"
"Because | don't love him." said the
daughter, looking her father steadily in
the eye.
"Love him, Luce I tell yc. 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 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. II 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: ~ hear that you get letters
from that Ang Rowland. Is it true 2"
~ have received letters from him.
Lucia replied, "and he is doing very
we'll, ] understand.
II 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 rccciv-
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
state of despondency so utterly abject
that Lucia was sometimes On the point
of yielding to his wishes, but she thought,
'I'll wait awhile longer; something has
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
old man. 'Luce,' said he" "I'll make
short work of it. The last investment
| made 1 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 a
month from now we won't have house
% 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
20 to the poor-house, Luce, unless, y and
he old man looked at her pitifully, "un-
ess you save your old dad
''Fll work for you" cried Lucia.
You shall never 60 to the poor house"
Md she was more tender in the care of
Ter father after that.
One day as she stood near her favorite /
,ed of flowers sadly thinking how soon
he would have to leave them, a voice
'roke the silence of her mcditations: II
'eg your pardon, but your flowers look
cry pretty and l had to stop to admire
hem" and looking up Lucia saw a tall,
gentleman standing at the
arden gate. g raise great many
overs myself said the gentleman,
and always take an interest in them,
ut | live in flower country where they
row much more luXuriantly than here"
Lucia gave a startled LOOKOUT no;
ow foolish; it couldn't be he. Angus
Toward could never have developed into
lch handsome man.
Il declare, Luce, you don't know
le,' said the gentleman with a smile.
"Oh, Ang. know you now. for you
peak with your old voice, but you have
cen away long time"
You stopped writing, and I read in a
al'tornia paper that you were married."
i'd Angus; "but recently learned that
was false report, and am here once
ore to ask you to be mine"
Father, this gentleman wishes to see
III. said Lucia, as she ushered How
nd into her fathers room. The old
al opened his eyes and murmured,
Well, have chair"
Il understand that you have suffered
misfortune, said the gentleman kindly.
The old man groaned. "IIl have to
C in the poor-house; there's no help
r it," ,,
1T may not be so bad as that" said
e gentleman.
The old man turned on him fercelv. +
"What do you want with me, I'd like to
low? Amt it bad enough to be ruined, 3
1t lot of vultures have got to come 8
ID hover around me before I'm dead2" !;
II have been investigating the matter"
id the gentleman, "and | am sure that r
is not so bad as you think, and here is q
idenco that you will not be turned out !,
your home at any rate" and he opened !
fore the old mans eyes the Cancelled h
ortgage. "This place is yours" said J.
e gentleman, "and all your other pro- r,
rty is safe, for have been making i'll +
stigations." T.
who are you," cried old Marsden, 81
hat comes at this time and saves me 4
I'M the poor house?" &
"It Is not so bad as that" said the gem
man, smiling, ''but my name is Angus
,wland."
The remaining few months of the old
ms life worked great change in his =,
aracter. One day when the autumn N N
yes were turning he called his chill ~ a.