The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-13
A Very
Naughty Girl
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

btepmother 10 son OF John Ferguson
who had been wild. had quarreled
with his father and left home, Since
his departure he had never been heard
from.
John Ferguson had brought his
daughter Lucy up with the understand
ing that ahe should marry a wealthy
man Lucy had her own notions
about that, but said nothing. Her ia
ther communicated his idea ON this
subject to his wife and charged her TO
keep an eye on his daughters asso.
ciates, seeing that she did not become
involved with some poverty stricken
young fellow who would give her a
! life Of hardship.
| Mr.. Ferguson was n very busy man
and was much away from home. This
made II especially essential that his
wife should look after Lucy, One day
before starting on long trip he charg-
ed Mrs. Ferguson not to permit Lucy
to receive any one young man at the
house oftener than once a month dur
ing his absence and not TO allow her
to 60 out with any young man at all
Lucy was in an adjoining room during
the giving of these instructions with
her ear to the keyhole in connecting
door.
For couple of weeks after her IA
theirs departure Lucy appeared to be
perfectly contented at home No men
called on her, and she never went out
in the evening There had been no
more sympathy between her and Mrs.
Ferguson than there usually is between
stepmother and daughter. but during
this period Of her fathers absence
Lucy evinced SO much feeling for her
wife as TO quite win her heart.
lucy" she wrote her husband, "is
much changed. She seems content
with me only for a companion and has
taken TO calling me mamma You
There is no one at all attentive to her"
One afternoon when Mrs, Ferguson
and Lucy were in the sewing room the
ioorbell rang. Lucy went downstairs |
and opened the door. Then Mrs. Fer |
yuson hsrd the following dialogue:
Lucy-Oh, my goodness gracious!
Mans Voice-Do you know me, Lucy? !
Lucy-Know your Indeed do.
The Voice Who am II
Lucy-Why, Tom. OF course. Oh,
Tom. how could you be 80 cruel as to
70 away as you did7
The Voice--I deserved to be shot.
But I've changed I've come home re
,entant and will try to make up for
ny misdeeds Do you think father
viii forgive me?
Lucy seemed hopeful as to this, but
aid that much would depend upon
ow the matter would be broken to
heir father He was away at the time.
nd If he knew that his son had re- I
Irned she believed he would write TO I
ave him sent away. But IL they wait Z
d till he had returned and Lucy :
hould announce the arrival OF the G
rodigal. at the same time imploring {
Or him her fathers forgiveness, she
elieved she could obtain t.
But you must meet our new mam-
Ia" she added. shes perfectly love
!, and I'm sure she VIII help US"
So Lucy took Tom up into the sew
lg room and introduced him to the
epmother He was dressed very
labbily and seemed TO have had
ard time OF e. Mrs. Ferguson. who :
as a kind hearted woman, pitied him. i
esides. she knew that her husband A
Id grieved over the conduct OF his h
lily son. and II a reconciliation could G
, effected il would be pleasant for all
She invited her stepson 10 :
Ike up his quarters in HIS former 3
,me. but Tom declared that be would o
! no account do that TIL after he had ii
ceived his fathers forgiveness
So ia was agreed among the three
at Tom should make himself az home
the house during the day. but should a,
cupy room elsewhere Mrs Fer b
Ison acceded 70 Lucy's plan that the In
lsband and father should not be noti- r.
a Of his sons return TN Lucy broke !
e news 10 him after his arrival. =
Never were there a more affectionate \,
other and sister. Mrs. Ferguson sew =
Al times surprised them sitting In IN
'se proximit. and every time Tom m
me IN or went out they kissed. This @
ntinued till the evening " Mr. Fer. r
sons arrival He came unexpected ~
and was received BY his wife. Lucy \,
d Tom. Lucy and Tom knelt before
n and Lucy said pleadingly
Papa forgive me. This Is my bus.
nd We we're married week ago %.
What Mr. Ferguson said In reply IL n
. necessary 10 this story. What Mrs Tf
rguson said was %,
Oh. heavens. what have ! doneY an
ir Ferguson reGa rdcd HIS wife stern inl
he had relied upon her - keep =
daughter from IN alliance ~ her :,
u choosing lie asked some oues- II
1s - 10 h0w TIE young nan red - ID
ted an autranoe - the family cir ~
whereuprn Lacy confessed the
3 she Rad lsid for her strrmothsr in g.
-o1ufIng Der lover az Der brother
J tpok en- The responsibility upon
aalf
l.e rnrpir verr fnaHy f9rriren- tn-
a there a. uufhrr s'ss 10 a. m
D fszes-auf 81 en8ff hnurTv The
. Tom rnuie hnrk lntnf on tut n
i r1sf seai - umr IS ranriu-s
sfeTtuafl.ar fhrf - uss nat an im-