The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-04-21
The Metamorphosis
of Lucretia Pepper
BY HOWARD DEVINE
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

AMUEL HOPEFIELD married Lu-
y cretia Pepper with his eyes wide
open 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
10 declare with a toss of her independent
head,''I will be the commander in chief
of the domestic establishment. Give up
my liberty to become the handmade of
man? Catch me! If ever l marry, it
will be understood that the clinging vine
idea will not prevail"
These and many similar expressions
calculating her state of mind regarding
matrimony had found utterance in the
very presence of Samuel Hopefield as
well as all the others of her acquaint-
ance. So you can readily see that it was
altogether his own fault if the marriage
proved disappointing. Lucretia was
honest and open and straightforward
about it, and Samuel knew just what to
expect. But when man falls in love
with a girl it is seldom indeed that he
will heed warnings. And Lucretia GER
tainly was most attractive girl, both
as to personal attractions and graces of
mind and character.
So Samuel shut his eyes, apparently.
30 the threatening aspect of her mind
regarding the marriage relation and
married her.
The strange thing about it was that
he showed no disappointment 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, it came not at all Lucre-
tia appeared to be more and more af-
fectionate and tender toward Samuel I'M
ill she became positively deferential
At 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 a group at the sew
ing society one day. Sam gets home
at six O'Clock for supper or he gets only
a cold pickup"
But presently it was noticed that the
Hopefields were having supper at any
time from six to $50, and the men re-
ported that Samuel was the most care
less man in town as to breaking away
from business or pleasure to get home
to meals.
why, he'll start a game of billiards
after six" reported one of his cronies
And you ought to see the swell sup
per he has when he gets home at any old
time" broke in another. He dragged
me home with him the other evening
Lucretia was not expecting company
but everything was out of sight
''She always said she never would en-
dure having company brought home
without warning" chorused several
ladies present
She was as sweet as peach about it -
stoutly contended the man, land the
perfect soul of hospitality"
Somebody asked Samuel about it one
day. He looked surprised.
why she's the sweetest dispositioned
girl in the world" he said Didn't Won
fellows know that. knew it all along"
In order to understand the metamor-
phosis of Lucretia Pepper under the
Hopefield system it will be necessary TO
take the reader within the sacred circle
of the Hopefield married life and lift the
curtain upon few events which were
landmarks in the lady's development.
After the mystic words had been
spoken by the clergyman, which gave
into Samuel Hopefield's eager arms the
fair form of his desired Lucretia. and
after the honeymoon trip was over. the
pair settled down in a coy little home
all spick and span new in furnishings
furnishings which had been selected
needless to say, by Lucretia, without so
much as word of consultation with
Samuel
Lucretia started in right, according
10 her theories of what married life
should be and how man should be
trained properly from the first. She
laid down the rules of the household
very sweetly, but very firmly. and the
schedule as to hours for meals and the
sother regular events of domestic life.
you know Samuel" she said. cit sim
plifies very greatly the work and man.
agement of a house if things move along
methodically and according to a we'll
defined system. 1t is just as easy to form
habits of punctuality and system if we
start right So am determined that we
shall start right"