The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-25
LUCY DRAKE
DUPLICITY
The Story OF q Schemins
Friend
BY cLARIssA MAcKrE

longing to go down there in Decem.
Der and see how the cedar clothed
BLUFFS looked with a snowy overdress.
!, l wanted to see the steely blue OF the
bay under gray December skies;
wanted to hear the harsh cry Of the
gulls as they wheeled over the water;
wanted to partake Of the delightful
dullness OF Ounce Harbor in winter.
i Now, Captain Barnabas Fish, my
stanch friend and fellow fisherman.
companion OF many delightful eycur-
sions on and about Ounce Harbor,
had written me n most mysteriously
worded letter. in which he limited at
his engagement TO Miss Maria Weeks,
with whom l had boarded when in
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. I was
just wishing for you." cried Miss
Maria. running down the walk to meet
me. "You came in direct answer to
prayer"
! wondered whether II was not Cap
tain Barnabas' unspoken prayer that
had brought me. but | paid the stage
fare and followed Miss Maria, who
| was staggering under the weight OF
my bags. into the warm house.
How Is Lucy Drake" was my first
tactless question. but was interested
I'm Lucy. who lived next door TO the
Weeks house.
Miss Maria tossed her head as she
arose from placing my bags on the
floor. $50 far as / know, Lucy's all
right" she replied rather tartly.
'ln the last letter you wrote to me
you said that Lucy Drake was to be
your bridesmaid" l observed as l re-
moved my outdoor garments with Ma
ria's help.
Bridesmaid. indeed" she shifted
| scornfuliy. 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 1
even offered to provide the gown for
her, pink silk with pink roses" Maria
loosened my hair and brushed vigor-
ously mt the tangles, "Pink silk. she re-
peated. "what do you think OF that?"
| ut would have been lovely" j MUIR
INJURED, "but tell me why she refused
| to act as
"She didn't refuse. She accepted.
and the dress is oil made and the bou-
Quet is ordered from Smithvllle. The
| captain saw to all that himself"
"Tell me about 1t. Miss Maria. I
| 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 can 1t n marine wedding.
she thought Il would be something like
the military weddings she reads about
in the papers"
and what does Captain Barnabas
say?" / asked curiously.
II thought he was kinder taken with
the idea ut FIRST. but now Lucy has
talked so much about IL that he's tired
after all's said and done. Not being
married before and getting the ex-
perience Of having had wedding is
great drawback" She sighed as she
led the way downstairs.
at 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 1
haven't got any objection so long as
she don't trim up the church so it
looks like the bottom of the ocean. /
reckon she'd like to have clam shells
all up the aisle and IN orchestra of
those little fiddler crabs, with seaweed
dripping all around. She even wanted
me to have my wedding dress trimmed
with dingle shells aud seaweed."
Lucy certainly is romantic" I OBJ
served soothingly. do let me see
your wedding gown. Miss Maria, IL 1t
Is ready
"It's all done; it's here In the spare
room" This spinster OF forty-five
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 stiff enough to
stand alone. IL was made simply. but
knew 1t would be becoming TO Maria,
who was plump and pink checked,
with soft brown hair and dark eyes.
1T Is lovely" I 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 saw!"
I'm worried about Il Just the same.
Miss Telham. 1 haven't told you oil |
there Is to II. Lucy has been teasing |
the captain to have Orville Beers for
his best man. She's keeping company |
with Orville."
rs the captain willng?'
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. or course the captain got all over
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