Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-07-03

for supper, with what appetite we may
and mines as sharp as a thousand needles,
l give you warningi'
So much the better; and hope both
of you may be able to eat every bit of the
rabbit I've got for you; picture to see if
was-so plump and delicate looking"
"The onions, for the smothering process,
not forgotten, hope?"
"Real Spanish-the biggest and round
est / could pick out of window-full.' y
You make my eyes as well as my
mouth water with greedy anticipation,
he cried, with happy laugh. Suddenly
his manner changed, and, after listening
for moment, he said, with the faintest
touch of anxiety in his voice, "That
wasn't my bell rung, was it, Mrs. Thomp-
SOM"
"I didn't hear it-I don't think it rung
You are not anxious about Miss Henslip
coming home alone from the theatre, are
your" M .o
"No, no; not at all,' he answered
hastily, If / could not trust her to come
home alone, could not trust her to go to
the theater alone. know what you are
ready to offer; but there's no need to give
you that trouble. She'll be home present.
ly all right" TIA
"I'm sure I should never think it a
trouble, if you are under any uneasiness
about her?"
"You're always kind and thoughtful,
Mrs. Thompson. It's only that I have
been so long used to having her under my
own protection, that now feel it strange
not to be able to fetch her as usual. To-
night, too, I'm little nervous It's her
birth-night- that recalls many things
to my mind-some sorrows she and have
known together. But, God bless her to-
night / hope to spend-and have spent
eleven other birth-nights of my Carry's,
under your comfortable roof Mrs. Thomp-
son-in tranquil pleasure. When she
comes-which won't be more than five or
six minutes now-I shall expect you to
drink her health in a bumper"
"That I will, with all my hearth cried
Mrs. Thompson, cheerily. And there
she is that's her ring, | know"
The worthy woman hurried from the
room, which was on the first floor, and
down the stairs; before she had reached
the street door, however, the bell which
had summoned her was rung sharply a
second time.
Henslip bent his head and listened, and
his hand trembled on the arm of his chair
She's-shes not frightened, hope,"
he said aloud. It's a very little way from
the theater; perhaps she's only in very
high spirits, it being her birth night"
A young, bright, innocent-looking girl,
in bonnet and warm wraps, entered the
room somewhat hastily.
Nothing the matter, is there, darling 2"
asked her father, quickly.
"No, nothing, father" she answered.
"Pve run all the way home-and-and-
I'm little out of breath, that's ALL
She busted herself in taking off her
bonnet and shawls, turning her face away,
so that he could not see that it expressed
the working of some unusual emotion.
"You're home three minutes earlier to-
mig ght-hurried home to be wished no end
of happy returns and fill up innumera-
BILE bumpers for your old father to drink
your health inch ?"
She started and kissed him vehemently
without making any reply in words.
A moment later Mrs. Thompson, looking
rather puzzled, re-entered the room.
"There's young gentleman-aslls to
be allowed to see you, Mr.. Henslip."
"A young gentleman? Did he not give
you his name?"
"He says he is stranger to you"
His daughter had taken his hand in hers
when she kissed him; and now he felt the
little hand tremble.
Show the gentleman up" he said.
When Mrs. Thompson had left the
room, he looked anxiously into his daugh-
ter's face for the explanation of the
distress which she was obviously en-
during.
Something has happened, Garry. Why
II fnA, ,la 4 ,,I.x
Il shall be better in a few minutes, if
you let me go to my room. But kiss me
first, father, dear"
He kissed her fondly, and she hurried
out Of the room at the moment when Mrs
Thompson returned, ushering in the young
man who had left his stall at the theater
for the purpose of waiting at the stage
door till the Queen of the Realm of a Mil
lion Delights emerged from that dingy
portal of the Palace of Illusion.
John Henslip examined his visitor with
an anxious and inquiring gaze, which was
met by frank and open look that carried
with it assurance of honest purpose.
81 hope you will pardon me for intrud-
ing upon you at such late hour" the
visitor said.
"May l inquire to what circumstance I
owe this visit ?" inquired John Henslip.
cit would be great relief to me, Mr..
Alton, if could return an answer as direct
and brief as your question"
81 hope the motive of your visit is not
one that needs the disguise of many words
to fit it for avowal?"
Indeed it is not, sir; but, on the con-
trary, one which / fear l can only avow in
words too bold and abrupt"
Tat, hao t., l. Of +~ H.,
point"
In the fewest words, then-I love your
daughter, sir"
John Henslip started, and the look of
inquiry which he had steadily kept upon
the face of the visitor was intensified; but
the young mans answering look betrayed
no sign of guile.
You love my Carry?"
Miss Violet Alton"
eyes, yes; Violet Alton. Of course
you have seen my daughter at the theater
-as stage fairy, most likely. When, for
the first time?"
upward of two years ago; and the i'm
preston which her beauty then made upon
me has grown during long absence from
England. The memory of her loveliness
has been constantly with me in India,
China, Australia and America"
And when you returned you-you-
addressed yourself to my daughters"
II did So"
How long since?"
Three nights ago"
And my daughter listened to your pro-
testations Of love for herr"
81 have not dared to hope so much.
My prayer to her was that she would allow
me to come to you and openly avow my
passion"