The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1901-11-01
PEELED to return to his college With
I Ill

to Lucinda in young Randell's hand
writing came after he went away, but
the postmaster, who was friend and
sort of dependent Of the squire, saw
to it that none of them ever reached
her. Finally one of the letters re-
ceived after Randell had left the
place, was returned to him, 80 I've
heard, with the notation across the
face of it that the person to whom
it was addressed, was dead.
1T was cruel and wicked thing
to do, but such things will happen
when penniless student falls in love
with a nabob's daughter.
"Years passed. Squire Peek finally
died, and then it was discovered that
the most of his fortune had been
wasted in unwise speculations. The
big house on the hill was sold, and
mother and daughter moved into
small cottage at the other end of the
village. A year later Mrs. Peek died
(of broken heart, it was said), and
Lucinda was left alone in the world.
She was now 80 years of age, and
though there was look of settled
sadness on her countenance, she was
still the handsomest woman in the
place, and it was rumored that she
had refused many fattering offers OF
marriage.
"Well, ten years rolled around, and
those of us who had been young once
were growing old, Lucinda among the
rest. The savings bank had failed
that spring, business was almost at q
standstill, and Eden Center was in .
bad way generally. Right in the
midst of the stagnation a stranger
suddenly appeared in town. He was
a middle-aged gentleman, with iron
gray hair and beard, and had the air
of q prosperous business man. he
engaged board at the hotel, saying
he was from California, and was look
ing around for some quiet eastern
village in which to spend the summer.
I told him I thought he would find
Eden Center quiet enough, just then,
and he said, in a sort of absent-mind-
ed way:
eyes, it does seem quieter than it
used to-
"'Why, when were you here be-
fore?' asked, giving him quick
look, and vainly trying to place him.
"He colored up and said he had
been thinking of something else
when he spoke, and the matter was
dropped.
"Well, the first night he was there
he sat around, listening to every
word that was said by the villagers
who dropped in, but taking no part
in the conversation. After awhile the
crowd began to discuss the bank
trouble, and one of the party said:
"'Too bad about Lucinda Peek,
isn't it? They say she lost every
cent she had by the savings bank
failure, and it is, only question of
time when she will have to give up
her cottage and go out to work for
living
"Before the sentence was fairly
ended, the stranger was standing at
the desk before me, with face white
as sheet.
"'For Gods sake, tell me quick!
he gasped-*is Lucinda Peek alive?'
"'Why, of course she's alive,' said 1.
"'And her father and mother" he
asked next.
They're both dead,' I replied.
"'And she no longer lives in the big
house on the hill-in her old home?
he questioned eagerly.
mo- said I; she is now living in
c,,,o11 ont <1o-s
"'Excuse me for interrupting,' he
broke in, impatiently. MY name is
Ilandell. used to know Miss Peek.
I must see her at once. Have you
some one you can send with me to
show me the way to her house?'
II called in Joe, my man of all
work; and, by the way, Joe is still in
my employ, and I think I'd better
let him tell the rest of the story"
Stepping to the door opening into
the hotel storeroom, the landlord
sung out:
"Here, Joe; come in and tell the
ladies and gentlemen what happened
the night you showed the stranger
from California the way to Miss
Peek's COTTAGE"
"Well," began Joe, apologetically,
as he stepped into the room, II reck-
on yell all be disappointed, because
there didn't anything happen with
mentionin' scarcely. In the first
place, the gentleman didn't say
word all the way to the cottage-jest
walked; that's all; an had to run
purity nigh all the way to keep up
with him.
AN when we got to the gate, an
I told him that was the place, he
went flynn up the walk an began
knockin' at the door as if he was
there on some mighty urgent bust
ness. In a minute or so, Miss Peek
opened the door, an heard him say:
Lucinda, don't you know me?' an
she held out both hands an said:
why, it's Henry!' an the next min
ute they were hangin' onto each 9TH
err, laughin' an cryin' both at onct,
like pair of softies, an seen I had
no further bizness there, so I come