The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-28
LUCIA's RIVAL.


restaurant to read the diDgy price iisu Oh
eatablee posted outside. He was big,
roughly handsome fellow, dressed In new
suit Of ready made clothes. She was
fresh, neat, modest looking country girl,
whose jaunty sailor hat came just to the
level of his shoulder
81 guess we can feed here, Loosh, Z" no
said, looking down at his companion with
an indulgent smile. "'Tain't very ex-
pensive. We've got to save enough money
to buy tickets home, you know"
yes" she assented trustfully and con-
tentedly. Anything that Seth proposed
was altogether right.
They stepped into the dirty little res
taurnnt with the pretentious name and
seated themselves at one Of the uncovered
tables. A waitress, who had been loung-
ing against the wall, came forward and
swept a greasy napkin over tho board.
Then she stood waiting imperatively for
their order Nothing so offends a waiter
In a cheap restaurant as lack of precedence
of the bill Of fare.
Tho young man had been studying the
list with his sweetheart for some time be-
fore he looked up. When he did raise his
eyes to give their order, an unexpected ex-
preston came into them, an expression
OF mingled surprise and admiration. He
u
ward his own, with a hHf contemptuous,
half Interested look in tho large brown
eyes. The features were smaH and ex-
quisitely regular The face was a Herfect
oval, the complexion such a transparent
olive TINT underneath the skin you could
SEQ the faintest, most delicate lingo of rose.
Wanton, disordered locks of hair hoated
about the warm temples The mouth was
red and small and curved like Diana's
bow. You have seen them, these carelessly
beautiful girls serving tables in cheap eat
ing housesi Seth Petty never had. He
showed 1t in his eyes.
The girl took the young countryman's
order and shouted 1t at an opening into
the kitchen. The voice was loud, pene-
trating, but not unmusical:
"Stood chick an dumpp'
Then the young woman sidled over to
another waitress, idling against the wall,
and whispered: "See that Teller an his
girlf Watch me mash himl Get onto the
way I'll cut her outr'
''That was an all fired pretty girl that
waited on us, Loosh," remarked Soth as
he paid his 40 cents, took toothpick and
led tho way out
WAS shei" asked his companion inno-
Gently. I'm sure didn't notice"
Yes" reiterated Seth, 'she was. And
sho had an almighty lot of style about
her"
A sudden little shadow Of pain fitted
across the face under the sailor hat A
timid hand stole beneath Seth's arm. He
put up his own hand and stroked it. That
was enough. All the world was filled with
sunshine again. The shop windows were
an endless panorama OF wonder and beau
ty, and the discordant music of the street
bands had note Of heavenly sweetness in
1t.
II dunno whit makes Seth g'win ter
town SO often these days. 1t kinder wor-
rits me. I'm feared he's lookin for job,
IN don't seem q II could spare him off'n
the farm
Farmer Petty was out in the wood shed
removing his boots, He spoke through
tho open kitchen door to his wife, not
knowing that Lucia Gray was in the room
with her. The girl had dropped In on her
way from the store. She dropped In fire.
quently of late. A strange uneaslness pos
sessed her. She wondered why Seth did
not come to see her oftener. He called
hardly twice week now, and he used to
come nearly every evening. 1t was very
strange.
She started when she heard Mr.. Petty's
words, and q sudden, sharp pain pierced
through her heart. She knew that Seth
was not looking for job in the city He
had told her that he could never live there
1T would craze him He loved the quiet
and homolikeness of the country. Yet he
certainly was going into town oftener and
oftener. What could draw himf In an
instant tho girls thought flashed back to
that memorable visit 10 tho metropolis.
Lucia made some haBty excuse and es.
capped into the gathering dusk. She re-
IN mn hat In bad ri Of
the young men at the store talking about
the price of wool in town, and one of them
had jokingly remarked that he wouldn't
give much for certain young mans wool
II his girl found out the party he was
dealing with.
Oh, God! What II it had been Seth
they were talking abouta
That evening when the IL O'Clock train
Il om the city stopped for moment at
Barnet Station the muffled lguro Of girl
met the solitary passenger who alighted.
II kind Of thought you might like COM
pany home Seth, " she said timidly. MA
Isn't feeling very well tonight, and I've
been down to DIR. Small's for some medi-
cine"
Tho young man turned to her with a
strange blending of ycxation and tender
ness in his manner. what fool you be,
Looshl' he said "But SO longs you re
here come on.
The wind was tossing the trees over the
dark, deserted country road as they
plunged into the night. What u moaning
sound the branches made
"Sethl" Tho voice was trembling and
faint.
What do you want, Looshp" He had
to stoop llttlo TO catch her words, the
wind was blowing SO hard.
to, Seth2"
A long minute passed before there was
any reply. Then the young man faltered:
! Yes Loosh do-more. But / don't
deserve to, and You hadn't ought to let
| mo.
"oh, Seth Why" She threw up her
arms and drew his face down to hers.
| "Bccuz--bGcuz I've ben thinkin Of Civ
In you up for a stylisher girl Godl What
fool wasl l don t ask you to forgive
me, LooSh-I don't see how you could But
God knows don't want nothin more to
do with with that other thing. She amt
worthy to tech what you've throwed
AWAY" He Strengthened himself up and
shook of her cllnging arms. IL amt fiji"
he cried Don't ever think of me ag in.
| Come on--let's go.
But tho arms were about his neck again
SO close, so warm He tried to unloose
thom, but they were like tho vine that
| holds tho oak In n century's clasp No
word was spoken, but in their hearts they
understood perfectly. Field Wash.
ington.
Not the Place.