Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-02-02

And great pity, too, say I, tor once
clear Of that house Lucetta would grow
into another person. Sunshine and love,
two, very good things Miss Butter.
worth, especially for those that are
weakly and timid."
l thought the qualification excellent.
Eyes" said i, 81 should like to see
the result of them upon Lucetta." Then,
with an attempt to still further sound
this woman's mind and with that the
united mind of the whole village, ! re.
marked: 1.-THE young do not usually
throw aside such prospects without ex-
cellent reasons. Have you never thought
that Lucetta was governed by principle
in discarding this very excellent young
MANI"
Principle? What principle could she
have had in letting desirable husband
go?''
"She may have thought the match
an undesirable one for him.
For him? Well. / never thought CT
that. True, she may. They are poor
but poverty don't count in such old
families as theirs. hardly think she
would be influenced by any such con-
sideration. Now, if this had happened
this year, after the lane got its name
and all this stir had been made about
folks disappearing there, / might have
given some weight to your suggestion
women are so queer, especially the wo.
men of old families like theirs-buS this
happened long ago and when folks all
| thought heap Of the Knollys, leastwise
Of the girls, for William does not go for
much, you know-too stupid and too
| brutal.
William Would the utterance of
that name heighten my suggestion? /
surveyed her closely, but could detect
no change in her somewhat puzzled
countenance.
| my illusions We're not in reference
to the disappearances said l. II was
thinking of something else Lucetta is
not well. D."
"Ah, know! They say she has some
kind of heart complaint, but that was
not true then, Why, her cheeks were
like roses in those days and her figure,
as plump and pretty as any You cou''
So MISS MISS Ras h sea Weax
ness lost him. She PROBABLY palled upon
his taste. 1t was Noticed that he held
his head very high in going out Of
town.
Has he married since?" / asked.
"Not to my knowledge, ma am. I"
| "Then he loved her." declared.
| She looked at me quite curiously.
Doubtless that word sounds little queer
on my lips, but that shall not deter me
from using it when the circumstances
seem to require. Besides, there was once
time But there, promised to fall
into no digressions.
| 'You should have been married your
self, Miss Butterworth, said she.
/ was amazed, first at her daring and
secondly that l was SO little angry at
it, But then the woman meant no Of
Tense, probably intended a compliment
rather.
II am very well contented as am,
l returned II am neither sickly nor
timid.
| She smiled, looked as if she thought
it only common politeness to agree with
me and tried to say so, but finding the
situation too much for her coughed and
discreetly held her peace. I came to her
rescue with new question.
"Have the Knollys ever been success
full in love? The mother of these girls
now-she who was Althea Burroughs
was her life with her husband happy?
have always been curious to know. She
and were schoolmates. "
"You were? You knew Althea Knoll
lys when she was a girl? Wasn't she
charming, ma am? Did you ever see a
livelier girl or one with more knack at
winning affection? Why, she couldn't
sit down with you half hour before
you felt like giving up everything you
had to her. 1t made no difference wheth-
the same. She had but to turn those
mischievous, pleading eyes upon you
and you became fool at once. Yet her
end was sad, ma'am; too sad, when
you remember that she died at the very
height of her beauty alone and in for
eign land. But l have not answered
your question. Were she and the judge
happy together? ! have never heard to
the contrary, ma am. I'm sure he
mourned her faithfully enough. Some
think that her loss killed him. He did
not survive her more than three years. "
1.-The children do not favor her
much" said l, "but see an expression
T! now and then in Lucetta which recalls
her mother family"
"They are pure Knollys' blood" said
she. Even William has traits which,
with few more brains back Of them.
would remind you of his grandfather.
who was the plainest of his race.
was glad that the talk had reverted
to William
HE seems to lack heart" said /, "as
we'll as brains. l marvel that his sisters
put up with him as well as they do. !"
''They cannot help it. He is not fell
low to be fooled with. Besides, he holds
third share in the house III they could
sell it'll But, deary me, who would buy
AN old tumble down place like that on
a road you cannot get folks who have
any consideration for their lives to enter
for love or money? But excuse me,
ma am; forgot that you are living just
10,