The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-10-02

AtANhNN Win HAtAAtN HtEaNANm ltANtas
81 want to take them 70 Lucy after
tea"
An, my SON" said the old lady
Folemnly. settling her spectacles on
her nose. I'm afraid you've been aw-
fully deceived In Lucy"
"Motnerl"
The young mans face became so
white and rigid all Of a sudden that
Mrs. Mar-den started.
Don't look at me so, Walter" she
pleaded. you surely cannot suppose
| have aught but your interests at
hcart?'
But tell me what you mean? In
sist upon knowing"
And then, piece by piece. almost
frightened at her own temerity in so
speaking Mrs. Marsden impaired to
her son the precious morsels Of gossip
with which she had become acquaint-
ed.
"Nonsense!" cried Walter, hotly; Il
don't believe a word Of it,"
But although he spoke honestly at
the time. the iron corroded his very
sonl; the green-eyed monster began to
enter into the paradise Of his love-llfe
from that moment thenceforward
Was 1t true that Lucy was in cores
pondence with another man? Who
was he, and why did she so seduously
conceal the fact from him? There
was nothing he so detested as mystery,
and he firmly believed there should be
no such thing as a secret between
plighted lovers.
He carried the tuberoses and hello
tropes to Lucy that evening, but the
Kiss with which he gave them was
colder than its usual wont.
Are you well tonight, Walter?" the
girl inquired, wistfully
She was one of the cream-skinned,
almond-eyed creatures that seem as
If they should have been born under
the intense blue of an Italian sky, and
her voice had a melting, futelike soft
ness in its ring.
AS well as usual" he answered
calmly, with his eyes liked on huge
portfolio which lay on a table in the
corner of the room, partially covered
with loose sheets of music. II did net
know you were much of a letter writer,
Lucy"
1 never write letters" she an
swered; but as she detected the direc-
ton which his glance had taken a deep
crimson ovcrspread her cheek, and the
token was not lost upon him.
He said nothing more, however, but
took his leave as usual, inwardly re-
solving to sound this mystery to its
lowest depths.
Il would rather live alone all my
life" he vowed to himself, than wed
a beautiful siren whom l could not
trust"
Long after Lucy Ward deemed that
her attianced husband had returned to
his home, Walter Marsden was pacing
the opposite side of the street, watch
ing her shadow reflected on the win
dow as she sat writing. And, later
still, he heard the door open, and saw
her, wrapped from head to foot in a
waterproof cloak, and Bridget, the
housemaid, at her side, issue from the
door, with a sealed packet in her hand
IT'S awful late, miss; nigh on to
IL oclock," pleaded the girl.
"Iknowit, Bridget, Lucy's fute-voice
answered, "but the mail box is only
at the corner of the street and l must
post this tonight. Mr.. Jefferson ex-
poets it, and must not disappoint
him"
In an instant Walter had walked
across the street and laid his hand on
Lucys arm. She recoiled with a
scream.
ooh, Walter, how you frightened
me! How-why are you here? What
has happened?"
Tell me-" he Kissed, IN a voice Of
suppressed passion, ito whom are you
writing? Tell me why you lied to me
tonight, in saying that you never wrote
letter. Lucy, Lucy, have believed
in you as l would believe in one Of
heavens angels
Believe in me still, she said softly.
Look at the contents of this packet,
If you will. have been writing a Sc
ries Of stories for the Elderbrook Mag
azine, one each week, to furnish our
house, when we are married, with the
money l thus earn. l wanted to sur
prise you, dear Walter. Was it wrong?
knew that you worked hard, and I
longed to add my little mite to the
new house which awaits us. That is
all tho snnrnt hnrrn 1rnnt From ,rn,,