The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-02-03
Hy ERMINIE C. STRAY.

stantly in his way, and kept the quiet
orphan in the background.
1t was a clear, lovely June day Mr..
Stanley dropped in, firm in his resolve
this time that Miss Dean should an
swer him and give him an opportunity
to speak with her alone. He had
grown desperately in love with her,
and meant to tell her SO. But if he
told any of the Clarence ladies that
he wished to see Miss Dean, the an
swer was always: Miss Dean is en-
gagged, and will see no one," or Lucy
is not at home"
The ladies were all in the parlor,
even Lucy Dean, who looked as fresh
and fair as rose, although she
blushed slightly when Mr.. Stanley
came in
After a few commonplace remarks,
he took out his handkerchief, and
looking directly at Lucy, folded it, as
much as to say:
81 wish to speak with you"
There was such magnetic influence
in the look that he gave her, saying
palmer than words: Il will not be re-
fused" that almost before she knew
it, and for the first time in her life,
Lucy replied by tossing her handker-
chief over her shoulder, which signi-
fed Follow me-" and going out into
the rose garden, she waited with
downcast eyes and blushing cheeks
Would he follow her? Did he really
want to speak to her, or did he do it
to see if she would reply, and was he
even now laughing in his sleeve to
think what a fool she was? She
turned suddenly, determined to flee to
her own ROOM and never see him
again. But Mr.. Stanley frustrated
that plan by suddenly coming forward,
and taking both of her hands, said:
you have pitied me at last, Lucy"
What did you want?" she asked
abruptly.
Come with me, and l will tell you,"
and he drew her arm within his, just
as Madam Clarence came up to them,
her eyes literally swapping fire, but
her face wreathed in smiles, as she
said:
Don't you think this is a lovely
specimen Of the climbing white rose,
Mr.. Stanley?"
Eyes, it is very beautiful" he said,
quietly, determined for once not to be
thvarted He continued: Come,
Lucy, l believe you promised to walk
with me-"
She shrank and started back She
knew full we'll what Madam Clarence
would say when she returned, and she
dreaded the terrible ire of that lady.
But Vane Stanley was determined, and
drew her on, not at all prepared to
be followed by Madam Clarence, who
took Lucy's other arm, saying:
IF it will be no intrusion, l would
like to go along, too, for l dearly love
to walk"
We need not say that that walk was
short, and that they came
back to the parlor again anything but
satisfied. But the minds of two, at
least, were made up, and from that
time the handkerchief Irritation pro-
dressed rapidly. The signs were, how
ever, not so covert but that Laura
and Lily Clarence both discovered
them, and duly reported them to NAM
ma, who soothed them with the re-
mark:
Leave it to me. I'll attend to Lucy"
She came into Lucy's room an hour
later, with flaming cheeks and flashing
eyes.
you wicked, shameless hussy, will
ruin your character in Vane Stanley's
eyes, or am not Madam Clarence!"
For an hour she poured forth her
language, until Lucy
cried piteously for her to STOP She
had no thought, 'this bright, fascinat-
ing madam, that Mr.. Stanley heard
every word, and resolved to marry
Lucy at once. She went out, giving
her niece parting salute, but in a
low voice that reached only the girls
ears:
''Vane Stanley only laughs at you
Laura and Lily both say he laughs at
you"
The words rang in her ears for
hours. Vane Stanley laughed at her!
They changed her from sweet, tremb-
ling girl to a bitter, proud woman. She
would indulge in one more handkerchief
and let Vane Stanley know
that she was not to be laughed at.
The next time they met she an
swered his signal of wait for me"
with one equally as effective. Unmind-
ful of Clarence eyes, they continued:
81 love you," he signed.