The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-04-13
BY CALVIN HENDRICKS

II
since Lucy Merton's marrlar. "a
George gray. i've months before. she
had not sent any money To- Prank
Bennett. but she still went To the let.
ter box at the po-iofIce to look for
his letters. When there were none
she drew deep breath of thankssiy.
ing.
Lucy Merton had lived with her
m"lher In the little old frame house
In Jouk. nourishing city. where
Frank Bennett woc.d her. That was
ten years ago. and she was a girl II
twenty.
Frank had gun. w-~t--he was n trav.
cling Inanand came back periodi-
cally. ami always al. engagement was
resumed. Lucy knew no other men
she was tied down to her invalid moth
er. and hardly left the house, except
for shopping And ~ Frank had no
rivals
Some women are like Lucy: when
they love. nothing can upset their
faith In their lovers instructive good.
ness Lucy felt that Frank had new
rr had a chance. About that time
she began to lct-l him mcney--smnll
sums. pitifuliy s,raped together cut
~ her scanty income.
So matters had drlfted. Al last
Frank had gone west. lie wrote home
glowing accounts ~ his opportunities.
Would Lucy scrap. together ~ much
a. ~. could for him 10 invest In lRndp
II was splendid chance for both 20
them Four az nv. times n year he
wrote To her. and every time she sent
something She made herself believe
that Frank wrote N. truth. II was
five years since she had seen him I:
hut when he wrote N Was always as
her lover.
Then suddenly her life had changed.
Her mother died. and she met George
GRAY. young architect ~ On. town.
lie woo-d her persisienily. In spite
~ her love fer Frank, Lucy felt drawn
toward her new sultor. Gradually she
fell In love with him. This chang. -
heart suddenly revealed Frank Hen.
nett In his true color~ Lucy now felt
that she had escaped from an intoler-
able slavery.
The GrRys m"yei 20 a distant SEQ
tlon ~ the town and Lucy sent no
more money Hut for years she had
letter box ~ The posiuffice that her
mother might not know ~ Franks
letters. and the leas. ~ u had several
,u.rtNs o. 80, NII..r..s.. H.. ,.a.....t
curiosity drew her To- the le,ter.box.
and whenever she saw letter inside.
she could not help taking Il out and
reading H.
Her first refusal to send money was
answered with urgent pleas and prom.
again. not even o. tell the fellow that
she was married already. The neS,
letter was indignant. the next nhu.
sly. Then threats followed.
She was seated upon the porch ~
her new home when man entered the
IL was Frank bennett. Lucy knew
him NJ once He had grown much Old.
or and looked disslpaied.
He assembled the steps ~ the porch.
and. taking 81 his hat with n flourish.
siood watching her
I'm selling books" he announced.
Il have here" h. touched packag.
Ia complete guide for the house
keeper. Il n very useful for young
wives. Makes their husbands contenied
and keeps their love"
II don't want any books" said Lucy
In "a strained voice.
Bennett. without answering. unfast-
en.d the package.
zone dollar down and enc dollar
munthly will give YOU full possession
~ these three companion volumes"
be- continued You'd better take
them. Don't you want to make your
husband happy Don't yOu want to
surprise him with
Il tell you don't want any books"
exclaimed Lucy Indignantly, rising TO
her feet
"You think you don't want them.
chr" sneered Bennett. Then. I'm sorry
fnr your husband Maybe he's -
well-io-do that he keeps couple ~
servants and you iusi have 20 doll up
and slt around all dnyf Now see
here I'm going to leave thes. books.
and when you've thought the matter
over you're going "a buy 'em. ! shall
come back here tomorrow "a get my
dollar"
"lf you're not out II her. within
one minute. I shall telephone a. my
husband o. have You arrested said
Lucy. Take yourself and your books
out ~ here. and don't ever let me see
your face again, or you shall be horse
whipped"
To her amazemsni. Rennett calmly
picked M the books and began 10 90
down the garden walk Ne did not
say anything nor seem indignant. III
shut the gate behind him and a
coupl. ~ minutes later Lucy saw him
entering the house neat, Ia her own.
beyond the vacant lots adjoining
All 40 once the explanation flashed
on her. tie had net recognized her
He had simply been trying 20
peddle hnoks In bis own Characters.
tic, lmpudsnt way. she dld not know
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