The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-04-03
The Fool of
the Family
By Mrs. B. M. Croker
Copyright, by Joseph 3. Bowles.)

real, true and only reason ior Ine
sudden uprooting of the Lavender
family. For years she and stephen
Squire had been playmates, n iat-
terly %undeclared sw~eethearts. Stepn-
en- had been learning farming-he now
managed his fathers land-he was q
smart, ~good-looking young yeoman-
anG his father expected him to marry
we'll. He would never fulhll tneir
wishes, by lettering in the lanes Win
Lefty Lavender, the daughter OF a
widow in humble circumstances. HIS
sisters could not forgive her for her
pretty face, his father could not over
look her empty pockets. but notnlns
could be said against her family
for it was known that a hundred
wears ago. the Lavenders were great
people-and gentlefolk; tEeir impress
sive monuments covered half the
walls in the village church-but gamD-
ling and the bottle. brought them
down to the rank of cottagers IN iess
than three generations; and all tnat
remained to Lefty, was her beauty
her self-will, and her pride. h was
aware that Stephen, her old playmate
was warned on" from her society.
His sisters had insulted her in pubic
whilst his father had sought out
and brought home an acceptable future
daughter-in-law. But still Stephen
was staunch. With eager eloquence.
he suggested to Lefty that they should
marry, and 60 out to e zealand
and make their home there. out she
refused. She would not leave ner
mother and brother, and make . sort
of runaway match. Then she n
Stephen had sharp words. He WAS
he said. ready to sacrifice his family,
and all his prospects,, but Lefty wouid
O ever meet him quarter way-and
she was SO cold and distant, he De-
Neyed she did not care q straw ABOUT
him. At this crisis. Mss Bulger ap'
reared ON the scene. Stephen vas
seen in her company-at churcf-and
flower show-and the breach was com
plete.
Lefty felt that she could not endure
to remain in Silverstream. receiving
the compassion of the villagers. After
a Anal scene with Stephen, she q
up her mind to escape from her Old
life and make a fresh start elsewhere
Az q dressmaker in London. for IN
stance Her mother would not listen
m the word separation" II Lefty
went. they would all go. Dan, ne
lanky. shock-haired boy, was OF "a
inheritance in family councils. Let
tvs imagination was active. che
planned the move entirely. When the
Mace was duly advertised, and . suit
able purchaser found-she decided
that they would take a nice little dai
IN L0ndon. where marketing wal
cheap. and everything was so conven
lent. She would go into the dressmak
ing business.
In London she would forges Stephen
Mrs. Lavender, q thin. fair woman
Jan. her shc -k.headed, half-wittet
con Of 16. and .Letty-her pretty. en-
serprising daughter. came to Londor
IN the month Of August. accompanied
BY "Mun," the cat. They took twt
furn,shed rooms in q house near thu
vauxhill road, and prepared to ente'
IN their e kingdom.
October c---r-with n, We OF thu
var IN Sout' -.lca-Lo-dJn TILED
but trade was still slack, and facel
were long a. gloomy. Christmas ar
rived-and found the Lavender fam
sly still in the two squalid rooms, still
unemployed. and one and all secretl!
yearning to be back in Rosedale. Bat
eews had arrived with the New
FEAR. Mr.. Tonk-who was insensibl,
to letters, or even kilograms, had sud
denly bottled. having quietly dispose,
Of all the effects at Rosedale. H,
owed two hundred and thirty pounds
he had only paid twenty on account
This disaster, so entirely unexpected
was q terrible blow to Mrs. Lavender
whose meager savings were rapid,
diminishing in London. And tn
money was gone-Tonk had secretl,
made away with all the stock and fur
niture. sent the key to the landlord b,
post, and vanished. His reference,
had been supplied by a ~rascally sole
itor-his confederate-and he ha,
enjoyed three months residence II
the country gratis-and carried OF
substantial booty.
Another grave piece of intelligence
Steve Squire having refused to fal
IN With his fathers wishes, and MARI,
Miss Bulgerl and four thousand pound
had suddenly enlisted in the yeo
many, and departed to South Africa
Poor Letty-misfortunes neve
come singly! Stephen wrote to he
hafore he sailed, and babe her q drs
matte farewell.
II blame myself. Lefty for my no