Year: 1868

l
her father.


When Lucy came to her fathers bedside,
with every trace of emotion carefully effaced
he feebly extended his arms, and drawing
her down till her head lay on his pillow,
fondly stroked her hair.


"The mothers been telling me all about
it, my darling, he faltered. Martins not
good enough for ye, though he is well-to-do;
and know the day when wouldn't have
consented but now,-Tm fain thankful that
yell not be left destitute all Of ye when I'm
gone.


''Dont speak of dying, father! Please
God, you'll recover YETI


He shook his head. ssNever! and now
I've lost the wish to live. May be it's a
wrong feeling. hut couldn't have borne to
meet even child that knew me, I'd rather
go humbly penitent to my Maker, and sub
NIT to his judgment, than stay here to BIS
scoffed at by my fellow w-creatures."
Lucy tried to evoke a more hopeful spirit,
but John Pearson, though he tried to smile,
was not convinced. "Well, well dear; it'll
he for the best anyhow. and it'll soothe my
last hour to know that my wife and the little
ones won't go 10 the work house."
The chain was drawing close around her.
Without replying, she smoothed the clothes,
and leaving him returning to her work in
the lower room. Already Mrs. Pearson had
found an opportunity to whisper her glad
tidings in the ears of some of her neighbors
and it spread like wildfire through the vii
lage, that Martin Holt was going to marry
Lucy Pearson, and the wedding would be
''most directly"


There were moments when half maddened
at the thought of the future before her, Lucy
was ready to start up, loudly proclaiming
the horror that oppressed her, and her read
mess to do anything anything
sooner than become the wife Of a protligate
No one guessed the effort 1t cost her, to sit
all through that long afternoon and even
ing, plying her needle and listening to the
difjointed, but always cheerful talk and hap
| py mother. About the last to hear the report
of Martins wedding was the woman who
ruled at "Thc Holt" She had long lost
her hold on his affections, but violent tenn
per that no one cared to provoke, and some
inward shame for having wronged her, had
made him put up with her presence. Now,
however, she must co. Even he, with his
Indifference to the worlds opinion, and
bluuted sense of right and wrong, intuitive-
ly felt that the pure Lucy must not find her
at ''Thc Holt But the bold, reckless man
as he was, he knew not how to tell her this;
and it was not until, with bent brow and
swelling throat, she asked the meaning of
the rumor that had reached her, he dared to
confess that the license was in his pocket,
and Lucy's cold consent given to their i'm
mediate union.


The woman raved, and threatened darkly,
but Martin laughed at her threats; and for
the rest, offered what he had hitherto found
an infallible remedy,-money. 1t was scorn-
fully flung at his feet ; and then he whistled,
and walked to and fro, till her fury gave
place to tears when he left her with an as
surance that if she would but be reasonable,
and quit "The Holt, she should have what
ever she chose to demand.


In the morning she fawned round him
submissively.


said more than meant last night, Mar
tin. know 1t isn't the likes of me that a
rich man should marry; but don't send mt
away. THE Holt's' like home to ME now
and can bake, and wash, and she neet
never know"


But he had the good sense to see the i'm
possibility of such an arrangement. Finally
he babe her collect all she called her own
and leave the house.


She forced smile.


swell, if must, must I'm not baby
TO grieye for what can't have; but I'll moi
go till I've put the place straight


"Nonscnse ! charwoman can do that"


But, no, in this she would not be denied
and u thorough cleansing commenced, which,
despite Martins grumbling, was persisted in
until the day of his wedding.


1t was an unlucky omen that as he left his
house, to meet Lucy at the church, this wo-
man was the last to cross his path. He was
naturally superstitious, and the circumstance
annoyed him, Speaking to her sharply, and
bidding her beware that he did not find her
at 'The Holt" on his return, lie strobe past,
without listening to her reply.


She watched him with an evil look, until
some trees concealed him from her view.


Get away wi myself, you said, my mas
ter, did ye' Clear out before your penni-
less wife comes to play the fine madam in
my place. But I'm not gone yet, and it isn't
to the daughter of Pearson, the laborer, that
Ill gle ye up, brute though you've been to
me"


Now, missus, said one of the carriers,
"the mares in the chaise, and I've orders t.
drive ye to the town as soon as ye're ready.


With an oath, she thrust the lad aside
strobe into the house, and locked herself il
one of the chambers.


J Meanwhile, Martin, hot and vexed at tht
silent opposition to his will that this woman
had evineed, went quickly towards til,
church. Contrary to his intentions, hi
marriage was to take place with all tn,
, privacy that is possible in village wher'
! every one knows, or guesses, every one'