The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-02-13
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
LUCY DRAKE S:
DUPLICITY
The Story OF a Schemine
Friend
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE

had stayed away from Ounce Har
Dor for two months, and, although 4
small seaport is a dull place indeed
during the midwinter season. 1 felt 9
longing to go down there in Deem
Der and see how the cedar clothed
bluffs looked with snowy overdress
wanted to see the steely blue of the
bay under gray December skies;
wanted to hear the harsh cry Of ths
gulls as they wheeled over the water
| wanted to partake Of the delightful
dullness Of Ounce Harbor in winter.
Now, Captain Barnabss Fish, my
Btanch friend and fellow fisherman
companion of many delightful excur,
sions on and about Ounce Harbor,
had written me a most mysteriously
worded letter, in which he limited at
his engagement to Miss Maria Weeks.
with whom / had boarded when il
the seaport. and suggested that a con-
versation with me would enlighten
him concerning several rather prob.
lematical social questions.
Lord bless you, Miss Telham, / was
just wishing for you" cried Miss
Maria, running down the walk to meet
me. you came in direct answer to
prayer"
wondered whether 1t was not Cap
tain Barnabas' unspoken prayer that
had brought me. but l paid the stage
fare and followed Miss Maria, who
was staggering under the weight Of
my bags, into the warm house.
How is Lucy DrakeT was my first
tactless question, but ! was interested
In Lucy, who lived next door to the
Weeks house.
Miss Maria tossed her head as she
arose from placing my bags on the
door. 80 far as | know, Lucy's all
right" she replied rather tartly.
''In the last letter you wrote to me
you said that Lucy Drake was to be
your bridesmaid | observed as / re-
moved my outdoor garments with Ma
ria's help.
Bridesmaid, indeed" she shifted
scornfully. II did ask her to be, and
glad enough she was to accept. never
having been SO near the altar before In
her life-not that way, mean-and i
even offered to provide the gown for
her, pink silk with pink roses" Maria
loosened my hair and brushed vigor-
ously at the tangles. Pink silk!' she re-
peated. What do you think of that1'
1T would have been lovely" / muir
INJURED, but tell me why she refused
to act as
''She didn't refuse. She accepted,
and the dress is all made and the bou-
quet is ordered from Smithville. The
captain saw to all that himself"
Tell me about it, Miss Maria. /
shall never know until you do" ]
urged
There isn't much to tell, only Lucy
has taken full charge OF my wedding
and Is bossing everything. Miss Tel
ham, she actually advised the captain
to wear one Of his old yachting uni
forms and call 1t q marine wedding.
She thought it would be something like
the military weddings she reads about
In the papers"
And what does Captain Barnabas
sayf' asked curiously.
II thought he was kinder taken with
the idea at first, but now Lucy has
talked so much about it that he's tired
Of 1t. He don't know what to wear
after ais said and done. Not being
married before and getting the ex-
perience Of having had wedding IL q
great drawback" She sighed as she
led the way downstairs.
ut must be-" | murmured, wonder
ing what questions the doubtful cap
tain wished to put before me. And
so Lucy Drake will not be the brides
maid after ALL" said, disappointed at
this outcome.
'Oh. yes, she says she will, and i
haven't got any objection so long as
she don't trim up the church 30 it
looks like the bottom of the ocean. l
reckon she'd like tc have clam shells
all up the aisle and an orchestra OF
those little fiddler crabs, with seaweed
dripping all around. She even wanted
me to have my wedding dress trimmed
with dingle shells and seaweed-n
Lucy certainly is romantic" / OBJ
served soothingly. do let me see
your wedding gown. Miss Maria, II 1t
Is ready"
''It's all done; it's here In the spare
room" This spinster Of forty-flve
years Internationally led the way to
the little bedroom that opened OF the
sitting room and prepared to show me
her simple trousseau.
The wedding dress was Of gray silk.
pearly gray and almost stir enough to
stand alone. 1t was made simply, but
knew 1t would be becoming to Maria,
who was plump and pink checked.
with soft brown hair and dark eyes.
"It is lovely" / said, kissing the
bride to be on both pink cheeks.
Don't fret about Lucy Drake. know
it's going to be the loveliest wedding
you ever sawP'
I'm worried about it just the same,
Miss Telham. haven't told you all
there IL to It. Lucy has been teasing
the captain to have Orville Beers for
his best man. She's keeping company
with Orville."
ISIS the captain willing7"
Mercy. no! Orville and him amt
spoke for twenty years Seems he and
the captain were both after the same
girl In the days mean. and Orville got
her. OF course the captain got all over
1t, only mes always been mad at Or
vile because he got the best of him.
Orville's wife died last spring, and he's
been after Lucy Drake. She limited
that shed rather have a white silk
dress because she could use It later fol-
her own wedding
When l was alone l could not resist
a hearty laugh at the thriftiness OF
Lucy Drake. She was Maria's age
but the difference in the two women
was marked Maria in her blunt. plain
way seemed to behold her marriage tc
Captain Fish as the start OF a new
life. q life Of congenial, affectionatt
compsnionship. with placid happiness
that should last them during the re
mainder Of their half lived lives. Hel
love for the handsome old captain was
sincere to the core. Her contempt fol
the foolish romantic notions Of Lucy
Drake was equally sincere. was
vexed at Lucy for intruding her no
lions in the midst of Maria's quiet little
wedding preparations
The wedding was set for Thursday
evening, and because Maria's house
was small and because everybody In
Ounce Harbor would expect to wit
ness the marriage Of two such popular
persons, it was decided to hold the GER
emory in the church. Captain Fish
had ordered palms and white flowers