Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-11-25

She was coming toward the fire with
the cooled iron In her hand, but she
stopped short, rs her father said.
Why, yes. Your mother and shall
so, but thought like enough that
you'd given up going, saw Mark
sheldon just now-~he was going by
and spoke to him over the fence, He
said that he was not going"
Again the father looked searchingly
at his child's face.
Lucy said nothing, but she stopped
quickly and exchanged tho iron she
held for n hot one, Perhaps Il was
the heat of the fire that caused the
vivid glow that oversprcad her face as
she turned again toward the table
But II could hardly have been that
which, few moments later. when she
slipped out OF the room, caused her to
give way to n passionate burst of
| weeping
When she had gone the father and
! mother looked at each other inuuir-
| ingly Lucy was their only child,
| Each held not and could not hold an
other thing or creature so precious TO
| them
Do you think she knew anything
OF this, mothorg" inquired Mr., Ell
worthy, after a moments pause,
No. father, should say she did
! not, replied Mrs, Elworthy In anxious
tones, She's been singing, rs she ~
ways does when she is happy. all the
morning, But | know we'll enough
she's gone OF to Iry."
What do you suppose possessed
the fellow"
Il can't tell, Jus! stopped him rs
he was riding by, kind o slow, and
never once looking toward the house
| said Good day and he answered,
kind o sober. And says |, 1 guess
wen have sleighin' for Thanksgivin' !,
II we do, I'll Just take mother In the
cutter. and you can take Lucy In
yours Thatll suit. | s'posc. 1 don't
think shall 80 to Mr., Crumbs, says
he, Why, Lucy asked you, didn't
she? Yes, but we shall have friends
at our house Uncle Richard and his
wife are coming over from Meriden,
I'm sorry, but guess Lucy won't
care and before could answer he
was riding down the road And now,
mother, II you can tell what Il all
means you'll do better than can"
I'm sure ! don't understand word
about It. replied Mrs. Elworthy. I'm
going up to see what she's doing,
and the mothers voice trcmbed as
she hurried ont OF the room.
Lucy WAS sitting beside the window
Her passion of tears was spent, and
she was beginning to hope that after
all her father was mistaken, II was
only last Sunday night that he had
promised to 20 with her, and the visit
connected with the annual family re-
union, was resigned to mark his pros
peotive relationship. II did not seem
possible that he should decide not to
go without coming to tell her the real
son why. He would surely call on his
return, ond then she could persuade
him to 60 Margaret and Rachel, who
were both older than she, had tri-
umphed over her a little the year
previous, when they came to grand
fathers with their lovers, and she had
her little vanity to please In introduce
ing her handsome beau
She turned face feebly smiling
toward her mother
Il just came here because | was
tired and warm. | hope you did not
think | cared about what father told
me-"
why, no. did not really suppose
you did care" the mother said, great
ly relieved But your collars will get
too dry. Hadn't you better come
down now?"
SHE don't seem to feel very bad, :
Mrs. Elworthy reported. ~ guess she
understands about It."
Three days we're yet to elapse before
Thanksgiving Mark did not call on
that day and on the next Miss Prud-
nelghborhood. She sewed and talked,
and It was difficult to tell whether her
hands or tongue moved faster All
day Lucy had been moody and htful,
but when night fell her spirits rose
in inverse proportion. She had begun
to despair-~there was but one day
more, and she said to herself that he
neod not come now, she did not care
And 30 she laughed and chatted until
Miss Prudence began to think what II
nice story OF the girls light hearted
ness she would have TO tell at her
next place.
The dress was done and hung In the
closet, with a sigh that contradicted
the smile with which she had received
! II from Miss Prudences hands. She
resolved that unless Mark came for
her she would not go; and though
she stitched the snowy lace into the
full sleeves and round the throat OF
the dress, II was with n feeling that
she should not need TO wear II. The
next day passed -Thanksglying eve
gave way to Thanksgiving morning,
and still he had not come.
"And 80 you won't 20, Lucy?" OK