Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-04-07
The Metamorphosis
of Lucretia Pepper
By HOWARD pEvINDe


c ANUEL HOPEFIELB married I.u-
y cretia Pepper With his eyes vide
open ard despite the warning and PRO-
test II all their uurual friends Iudsed
be married her despite her oAu fair
warning
II ever marry. p 81 bad been her habit
20 declare with a toss of her Indepe udent
head u will be the ~om uarder In chief
- the domestic establishment Give up
my liberty 10 becon, the handma.d q a
iran, Catch me-, II ever I marry. IL
viii 10 understood that the clingiuE vine
idea will not prevail
Ttese and many similar expressions
eluriS7'ine her state % mind regarding
m1friuony had found utterauce in the
very presence ~ Samuel Hopeheld as
well ar al the others ~ her acquaiut-
ance So yoa cau readily see that IL was
altogether BIS own fault II the marriage
proved appointing Lucretia vas
honest and open and straightforward
about it. and Samuel knew just what to
expect But when man falls in love
vith a girl it IS seldom Indeed tha; he
Z
tairlv vas a most attractive girl. both
as 20 personal attractions ard eraccs OK
mind and character.
So samuel shut his eyes apparently.
~ the threatening aspect ~ her mird
regarding the marriage relation and
married her
The strange thing about II was tha.
a 4
marriage seemed as happy and peaceful
as could be desired. The weeks sped. The
honeymoon passed ord while The world
waited for the crash they we're SIRE
would come it came rot a, all. Luere-
tia appeared 70 20 more and more az
fectionate and teul'r toward Samuel m
I'll she became positively defereutial
A. first 90 pc sure she talked some TO
her friends in the old defiant strain.
y get no meals az all hours for ny
man she said 20 a group a. the sew
ing society one DAY sam gets home
az siV o'clock for supper or he gets only
a coid rIcS-up.~
But presently il WIS noticed that the
Hopefsids were having supper AZ any
tine from SIX 20 s-so. and the msu re
ported that Samuel vas the most care
less man in town as to breaking away
from business or pleasure 70 get home
to meals
why. he'll start a game Il bill ards
after six. reported one % his cronies
And Won oUSht TO see the swell SUP
per he has when he gets home At any Ole
time broke in another lie dragged
ne home with him the other evening
Lucretia was not expecting company.
but everything vas ont Of sight.
she always said she never would er-
ture having company brought home
without warning chorused several
ladies present.
she was as sweet rs a peach about II. -
stoutly eoutenied the man. and the
perfect soul q hospitality
Somebody asked Samuel about II one
tav He looked surprised.
Why. shs-sthe sweetest disposltlored
sirl IN the world. he said Didn't Won
fellows know that Knew II al along Sc
In order 10 understand the mstamor-
phOsis of Luersta Pepper under the
Iopsield system II EflI b necessary 70
take the reader within the sacred circle
Of the Hopsfsld married life and lift he
curtain upon 4 few events which were
landmarks in the Iady's DEVELOPMENT
After the mystic words had been
spoken by the clergyman. which gave
into samuel Hopeheff's eager arms The
fair form Of his desired Lueretia. ane
after the honeymoon trip vas over. n.
pair settled down il a ccz- little home
all spick and span new in furnlshings-
Furnishings which had hesn selected
needless to say b. Eueretia. without 81
much as 4 word Of consultation with
samuel
Lucretia stared in right. according
To her theories Of What married If
should be and how a mar should be
trained properly from the first. So
laid down TIE rules Of TIE household
very sweef.y. bur very firmly. ard ~
schedule as TO hours FOR meals AID The
other regular events q aouss-.e lie
You Know. samuel she said. III sim
pl!fes very greatly he Eork and nan.
ageuent q a house IL things move aionE
Intellectually and according 70 a vel
defined system + i just a easy 10 form
habits q punctuaIity ard system 4 -,
start right So am determined that a,
shall start right
Samuel listened with becoming meek
ness ard agreed with her thoroughly
The system was fnaugura Cd. and al
went well for some days Then on,
evening Samuel was half hour late q
suppsr-vas detained az the Office. h
explained He found Lucretia just fin
ishiug her evening meal. grim and de
termius Everything was cold II
seated himself At the table with Nj
caEber-like cheerfuIness.- and tackle
the cold and soggy victuais. all the tin
talking arahly Lucretia vas diguifei
and uncompromisiuE
L an sorry that you were detained
Samuel. she said. because We had sucl
a good supper"