Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-09-05
Lucy Wards Secret.
By Helen Forrest Graves.

SO do L. said Priscilla Epping.
But, dear me, what's the use CT talk
ing? Men always have been captured
by a pretty face from the very begin
ming of the world. and they always will
be-"
What a consolation II must be to
you, Miss Prissy." demurely interposed
roguish little cherry-cheeked Barbara
Ingalls,. that you never captured any
o. the mem"
1t is, indeed" said Miss Priscilla,
sharply. but never saw much to ad-
mire in Lucy Wards olive face and
great black eyes"
She is talented. too" added Miss
McGregor: speaks French. and plays
the guitar / should think it deal
more sensible if she understood plain
sewing and knew how to cook meal
And wonder Walter Marsden's
mother and sister hadn't warned him
against so much mere outside show. "
Hes poor, too" struck in Mrs.
Jones. Nothing but his salary from
the bank, and that isn't much"
And she has only FIVE hundred dol
lars of her own said Miss Epping.
We'll, we all know the old proverb.
When poverty comes in at the door,
love flies out of the window.
All this time Miss Meg Jamison had
sat In the corner OF the Sewing So
ciety" room, stitching diligently away
with her lips compressed. and a world
Of unsroken meaning in her face. Bar
hara ingalls, watched her with spark
ling, amused smile.
do speak out. Miss Meg" she said.
at last, ''or You certainly will have
spontaneous combustion or something
equally terrible. What do you know
that nobody else does?"
1--WE got a sister that lives across
the street from the house where Lucy
Ward boards" said Miss JaIlison,
mysteriously. lowering her voice.
do tell" chorused the maids and
matrons.
"And there amt no shades to
the windows, nothing but Venetian
blinds" went on Miss Meg. land every
week Lucy Ward writes long letters.
interesting ones they must be, too.
Mary Ann says by the way her face
lights up while she writes. And she'll
get up and walk about the ROOM and
press her hand over her forehead, as
If she was a-pickin' and a-choosin' the
sweetest words. And those letters,
mind you, is for a man."
How do You know" almost
shrieled Helena Travers. who had had
hopes" of Walter Marsden herself.
once before pretty Lucy Wards star
crossed the orbit of her ambitions.
Because l once picked up a bit of
torn envelope in her room when |
was in there fitting a dress for her.
and there was Esq on it,"
And does Mr.. Marsden know of this
correspondence" breathlessly de-
manded Helena.
You may rest assured he Doesn't
nodded Miss Meg. "Ah, she's sly
puss. that Lucy Ward. with all her
soft looks and her low voice, and her
appealing ways that the poor. deluded
men think are so pretty"
Didn't | always say so?" cried
Helena triumphaItly. Haven't | al
ways declared from the first that mis-
trusted that girl? Keziah Lamb, that
used 10 be music teacher in the semin-
airy before Miss Ward came, was a
mature. reliable woman who wore gold
spectacles and walked with crutch,
and how the trustees ever came to
appoint this fyaway girl of nineteen,
[ don't know"
Il think some one ought to let Wal
ter Marsden know" announced Miss
Epping. solemnly.
Il think everybody would a great
deal better mind their own business. -
hazarded Barbara ingalls,. who, being
young and pretty herself. made com.
mon cause with the aspersed Lucy
Ward. But nobody paid any atten.
ton TO this remark.
"Ill give Mrs. Marsden a hint
volunteered Helena Travers, with the
ofiicious malice of a disappointed rival
And Helena was as good as her
word.
Iii news is proverbialiy rapid il its
transit. and enc evening. when Wal
he found his mother with a grave
face.
Put these flowers in water for me
mother" said Walter with the affoc
tionate imperiousness OF an only son
as he tossed into her lap a delicate
bouquet Of tuberoscs and heliotropc
frnged with scented geranium leaves
Il want 10 take them To Lucy after
tea"
An. my son" said tho old lady
solemnly. settling her spectacles OF
her nose. I'm afraid you've been aw
fully deceived in Lucy
"Motner."
The young mans face became s,
white and rigid all of a sudden tina
Mrs. Marsden started.
'DoGt look at me so, Walter shr
pleaded; you surely cannot suppose
have aught but your interests a
hcart?'
But tell me what you mean? l in
sist upon knowing"
And then. piece by piece almos
frightened at her own temerity in 5,
speaking. Mrs. Marsden impaired I,
her son the precious morsels of gossiI
with which she had become acquaint
ed.
''Nonsense," cried Walter, holly; :"
dnn'f halipxa a word of if'r