The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-05-27
The Metamorphosis
of Lucretia Pepper
BY HOWARD DEVINE
Copyright. 1901, by Daily story Pub. Co.,

| c AMUEL HOPEFIELD married Lu-
y Cr"tia Pepper with his eyes wide
omen and despite the warning and pro-
test of all their mutual friends Indeed
he married her despite her own fair
warning
IF ever marry" It had been her habit
to declare with Il tos - OF her 1t GepC ndcn,
head. Il will be the commander In chief
of the domestic establishment. Give up
my liberty to become the handma d Of n
man? Catch me, II ever | marry, IT
will be understood TINT the clnging vine
Idea will not prevail
Thcsc and many similar expressions
calculating her state of mind regarding
matrimony had found utterance In tho
very presence Of Samuel Ilopeield as
well as all the others of her acquaint-
ancc So you can readily see that II was
altogether his own fault II the marriage
proved disappointing. Lucretin was
| honest and open and STRAIGHTFORWARD
about II. and Samuel knew just what to
| expect But when man falls In love
with girl II is seldom indeed that he
| will heed warnings And Lucrctia GER
| taiEly was most attractive girl. both
as 10 personal attractions and graCcs of
| mind and character
| So Samuel shut his eyes, apparently,
to the threatening aspect OF her mind
| regarding the marriage relation and
| married her.
| The strange thing abou, It was that
| he showed no dIsappoin. and the
marriage seemed as happy and peaceful
| as could be desired The weeks sped. the
| honeymoon passed and while the world
| waited for the crash they were sure
| would come II came not nj all Lucre-
tia appeared to be more and more af-
| foCtionatc and tcndc- toward Samuel I'M
! III she became positively defcrpntial.
Al first, to be sure. she talked some to
her friends In the old defiant strain.
81 get no meals at all hours for my
man" she said To Il group al the Sow
inG society one day Sam gets homo
at six O'Clock for supper or he gets only
a cold pickup"
But presently II was noticed that the
iiopt1elds were having supper nj any
time from six to $50. and the men re.
ported that Samuel was the most care.
less man In town a. to breaking away
from business or pleasure to get home
To meals
Why, he'll start game of billiards
after Six, reported one of his cronios
And you ought to see the swell sup
per he has when he gets home at any old |
time" broke In another "IIe dragged |
ne home with him the other evening |
Lncrc;ia was not expecting company |
but everything was out of sight.
she always said she never would en-.
dure having company brought home |
without warning" choTuscd several |
ladies present
she was as sweet MS peach about It."
stnuily contended the nan, "and the
perfect soul of hospitality"
Somebody asked Samuel about II one
day He looked surprised
Why. she the sweetest disposItioneG
girl in the world" he said Didn't yor
fellows know that knew II all along. q"
In order to understand the mctamor
phosis Of lucrct!a Pepper under the
fiopctield system It will be necessary to
take the reader within the sacred circle
Of the iIorcnCld married life and III tho
curtain upon few events which were
landmarks In the lndy's development.
After the mystic words had been
spoken by the clergyman, which gave
into Samuel Hopeheld's eager arms the
fair form of his desired Lucretia and
after the honeymoon trip was over. the
pair settled down in coy little home
all spick and span new in furnishings
which had teen selected
needless 10 say. by Lucretia. without So
much as a word of consultation with
Samuel
Lucretia started In right. according
to her theories OF what married III,
should be and how man should b,
trained properly from the first She
aid down the rules of the household
very sweetly. but very firmly, and the
schedule as to hours for meals and the
'ther regular events Of domestic life.
lyon know Samuel" she said, at sim.
lliiios very greatly the work and man.
,gemcnt Of Il house II things move alonr
nethodically and according to well.
lefined system. II If Just us easy to form
habits Of punctuality and system II We
tart right. So ! am determined that we
hall start right"
samuel listened with becoming meek.
L
less and agreed with her thoroughly
he system was inaugurated, and all
vent well for some days. Then one
Vening Samuel was half hour late 10
upper-was detained at the Office, he
Explained. He found Lucretia Just fin.
'hing her evening meal. grim and de-
erm'ned. Everything was cold. He
Gated himself al the table with MI.
awber-like cheerfulness, and tackled
he cold and soggy victuals, all the time
liking affably. Lucretia was dignifed
nd uncompromising. IL
Il am sorry that yon were detained, |
amuel, she said. because we had such \
good supper" :
On the supper's all right" he re.
led. But I'm sorry on your account
was detained. I'm afraid II makes you
ore trouble" IN
Il can stand II II you can she re- nv
led, erimly. as she poured him some 70
kewarm coffee.
But Samuel refused to be an object Of i,
or to permit an atmosphere ia,
embarrassment to gather. lie rat mi
"a on In most interesting manner fro