Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-01-02
TheLOSt Invitation
BY INA BREVooRT ROBERTS.

Lucilla and Tom stood at the out
skirts of the town looking disconso-
lately off toward the frozen river,
where a skating carnival was in prog
ress. At least, Lucilla looked at the
river, but Toms gaze stopped at her,
which was scarcely any wonder, for
Lucilla was very pretty. She was slen-
der and girlish-looking, with finely
chiseled features, rose-leaf complex
ion and a quantity of soft yellow hair.
1t was Tom who broke the silence.
"Do you suppose" he asked, in a hope
less sort of tone, that it would do any
good if 1 ignored this foolish quarrel
and went to your father like man
and asked him 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 or
der you out of the house, and, worse
still, he would make me promise not
to speak to you again"
"Well, 1 won't run any risk of that"
was Toms decision. do you think
there's the least chance of their max
ing it up?" he added.
mo, do not" Lucilla answered. 81
had hopes until Christmas drew near.
Always as long as my father can re-
member the whole Lawton family has
eaten Christmas dinner together. No
matter how much unpleasantness or
pickering were in the air, all hard feel
ings were put aside, and for that one
day, at least, we were united family"
weren't they good old times?"
sighed Tom. Zone 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 rela-
tives in their best bibs and tuckers?"
Indeed l do" and Lucilla sighed
also. 81 did think that when Christ
mas day came that silly quarrel would
be forgotten, but when mother sent in
vitations to dinner to every member of
the family but your father and mother
and you, and 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 ac-
cept your mothers invitations will be
in my mothers bad graces, and the
other way round. Oh, dear" Lucilla
ended, despairingly, "why can't rela-
tives agree any better?"
They're a jealous, back-biting,
small-minded set" cried Tom, in
wrath, land after we're married, Lu-
ella, 1 say we shake the whole lot, ex-
cept 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 Luz
ella, gently. eve 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 nurse, and
yet her relatives took turns at taking
care of her"
Tom gave a short laugh. 81 guess
all families are alike" he said. "Well,
l wish they had deferred this affair
until after we were married; it would
not have mattered so much then"
NO" agreed Lucilla. 81 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 start
ed in the direction of the town, whose
spires and white cupolas were visible
through the bare branches of the
trees,
"Tom," said Lucilla, turning sud-
derly tn look at her lover, "are you
are that invitation was mailed?"
"Lucilla," replied Tom, solemnly, 81
iropped it in the post Office myself.
And that reminds me, I'm due at
meeting this afternoon to discuss the
advisability of putting up new town
hall, but l can't say that I'm wildly
enthusiastic one way or the other. If
[ had a home here with you in it 1
could take lot of interest in the town,
out as it is-if my father disowns me,
as am afraid he will do after l tell
him I mean to marry you, why, I'll have
to 20 somewhere else to earn my liV-
lug. Then, when have a 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
married in our own church and live
here where we have so many friends.
A moment later she added, nervously,
as 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"
81 know" interrupted Tom, "he'l
forbid your speaking to me, Well, I'll
go. Good-by, my darling, I'll watch for
a chance for word with you after
prayer meeting tonight"
Gall right, but do be careful" urged
Lucilla. "And, Tom" she continued,
earnestly, "please go to the meeting
this afternoon; no good will ever
come of Sinking your duty"
81 will. You're an angel, Lucilla, and
far too good for me-" With these
words Tom started off in another d.
rection.
Lucilla walked home in reverie.
She was wondering why, when all she
and Tom wanted was to marry and
be happy, they must both be made