The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-05-20
A Very
Naughty Girl
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS


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 she should marry wealthy
man. Lucy had her own notions
about that. but said nothing Her IA
Their 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 a very busy man
and was much away from home. This
made it 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 go 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 n couple of weeks after her IA
Tiers departure Lucy appeared to be
perfectly contented at home. No men
called on her. and she never went out
Al hg1 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
fathers wife as to quite win her heart.
Lucy" she wrote her husband, sis
much changed. She seems content
with me only for a companion and has
taken to calling me mamma You
have no need to worry about her.
There is no one at all attentive to her.
One afternoon when Mrs. Ferguson
and Lucy were in the sewing room the
doorbell rang Lucy went downstairs
and opened the door. Then Mrs. Fer
guson heard the following dialogue:
Lucy-Oh. my goodness gracious!
Mans Voice-Do you know me, Lucy?
Lucy-Know you? Indeed l do.
The VOice-Who am 1?
Lucy-Why, Tom, of course. Oh,
Tom, how could you be so cruel as to
go away as you did?
The Voice. deserved to be shot.
But I've changed. I've come home re-
pentant and will try to make up for
my misdeeds. Do you think father
will forgive me?
Lucy seemed hopeful as to this, but
said that much would depend upon
how the matter would be broken to
their father He was away at the time.
and if he knew that his son had re-
turned she believed he would write to
have him sent away. But if they wait
ed till he had returned and Lucy
should announce the arrival of the
prodigal. at the same time implorinS
for him her fathers forgiveness, she
believed she could obtain it.
But you must meet our new NAM
ma" she added. "She's perfectly love
ly. and I'm sure she will help us.
So Lucy took Tom up into the sew
ing room and introduced him to the
He was dressed very
shabbily and seemed to have had a
hard time of it. Mrs. Ferguson, who
was a kind hearted woman, pitied him.
Besides. she knew that her husband
had grieved over the conduct of his
only son, and if a reconciliation could
be effected it would be pleasant for all
She invited her stepson to
take up his quarters in his former
home. but Tom declared that he would
on no account do that till after he had
received his fathers forgiveness.
So it was agreed among the three
that Tom should make himself at home
in the house during the day, but should
room elsewhere. Mrs. Fer
guson acceded to Lucy's plan that the
husband and father should not be noti-
fed of his sons return till Lucy broke
the news to him after his arrival.
Never were there a more affectionate
brother and sister. Mrs. Ferguson sew
eral times surprised them sitting In |
close proximity, and every time Tom
came in or went out they kissed. This !
continued till the evening of Mr. Fer
suson's arrival He came unexpected |
v and was received by his wife, Lucy |
and Tom. Lucy and Tom knelt before
him, and Lucy said pleadingly
Papa. forgive me. This is my hus-
band. We were married a week ago.
What Mr.. Ferguson said In reply Is
not necessary to this story. What Mrs.
Ferguson said was:
"Oh, heavens. what have done"
Mr.. Ferguson regarded his wife stern
". He had relied upon her TO keep
his daughter from an alliance OF her
OWN choosing, He asked some ques-
ions as to how the young man had eff
sected an entrance to the family cir
,le. whereupon Lucy confessed the
ran she had laid for her stepmother in
her lover as her brother
md took all the responsibility upon
herself.
The couple were finally forgiven-in-
Iced. there is nothing else to do in
ucb cases-and all ended happily. The