Middletown transcript., 1901-11-30

M
at the river, but Toms gaze stoppeo AZ
her. which was scarcely any wonder, ior
Lucilla was very pretty. She was SEN
der and girIish-looking, with finely chs
eled features, rose-leaf complexion ana
a quantity of soft yellow hair. 1t was
Tom who broke the silence. DO you
suppose he asked, in hopeless sort Oh
tone ethat it would do any good II ig-
: nored this foolish quarrel and went 10
vour father like man and asked nun
for your"
Lucilla looked at him with horror
stricken eyes. 'That would be the most
foolish thing you could do" she said'
emphatically. "Father would order you
ont of the house, and, worse still, ne
would make me promise not to speak TO
you again." >,
"Well, won't run any risk OF that'
was TOMS decision. ''Do you think
there's the least chance of their making 1t
up2" he added. =
"No. l do not" Lucilla answered. Il
had hopes until Christmas drew near.
Always as long as my father can remem-
Der the whole Lawton family has eaten
Christmas dinner together. No matter
how much unpleasantness or bickerlng
were in the air, all hard feelings were
put aside, and for that one day, at least
we were united family"
weren't they good old times? sighed
Tom. "One year the dinner took place
in our house, the next in yours. DO you
remember the long, snowy tables, the
monster turkeys, and how impressed we
used to be at the imposing sight OF all
our august relatives in their best bibs and
tuckers?'
'sIndeed I do" and Lucilla sighed,
also. 81 did think that when Christmas
day came that silly quarrel would be for
gotten, but when mother sent invitations
to dinner to every member of the family
but your father and mother and you, and
I learned few days later that your
mother had also sent invitations, leaving
us out, l lost all hope. Things will be
worse than ever after Christmas, for the
people who accept your mothers invita-
tions will be in my mothers bad graces,
and the other way round. Oh, dear"
Lucilla ended, despairingly, "why can't
relatives agree any better?"
They're jealous, back-biting, small
minded set" cried Tom, in wrath, "and
after we're married, Lucilla, l say we
shake the whole lot, except our fathers
and mothers. It's the only way we'll
ever be able to keep out Of hot water"
''That would never do" declared Lu-
ella, gently. "We should miss them too
much. In spite of their quarrels they
think the world of one another Don't
you remember how good they were to
Aunt Emmeline before she died? She
needed SO much attention and was SO
peevish and unreasonable that she could |
not keep a nurse, and yet her relatives
took turns at taking care of her,"
Tom gave short laugh. II guess all
families are alike" he said. "Well, 1 |
wish they had deferred this affair until
after we were married; it would not have
mattered so much then"
NO." agreed Lucilla. II wonder why
that particular invitation, Of all you sent,
should have been the one to go astray."
As she spoke the girl turned to go.
Tom turned also, and the pair started
in the direction of the town, whose spires
and white cupolas were visible through
the. bare branches of the trees.
''Tom," said Lucilia, turning suddenly
to look at her lover, care you sure that
invitation was mailed?'
'Lucilla," replied Tom, solemnly, 81
dropped it in the post office myself.
And that reminds me, Pm due at a
meeting this afternoon to discuss the
advisability of putting up a new town
hall, but 1 can't say that Pm wildly
enthusiastic one way or the other. If II
had home here with you in it l could
take lot of interest in the town, but as
it is-if my father disowns me, as I am
afraid be will do after ] tell him mean
to marry you, why, I'll have to 90 some-
where else to earn my living. Then,
wheE have good start I'll come back
for you"
Lucilla smiled and sighed at the same
time. "That will be nice," she said.
"but it would be much nicer to be mar I
ried in our own church and live here
where we have SO many friends. A
moment later she added, nervously, as I
she caught sight of an approaching figure
In the distance, 'you must leave me now,
Tom; some one is coming, and if we're |
seen together and father hears of it."
II know" interrupted Tom, "he,ll
forbid your speaking to me. Well, I'll
go. Good-by, my darling, I'll watch for
chance for word with you after PRAYER
meeting tonight" Il
"All right, but do be careful" urged {
Lucilla. "And, Tom," she continued.
earnestly, "please go to the meeting this l
afternoon; no good will ever come of
your duty"
Il will. You're an angel, LuciIla, and I
lar too good for me-" With these words
Tom started off in another direction.
Lucilla walked home in a reyerie. She
was wondering why, when all she and
Tom wante ! was to marry and be bappv.
they must both be made miserable he.
cause of petty quarrel. II
The trouble had come about in this j
way. A good deal of rivalry had always q
existed between the two heads Of the
Lawton family because, being twins q
neither brother, and consequently neither 0
brothers wife, could boast supremacy.
The household Of James Lawton. LucilIa,s .
iatlier, claimed prestige by reason Of q
greater wealth, that Of Joseph Lawton. i
Toms adopted father, on account Of social I
position. : 1850 :